The best birdwatching spots in Delhi NCR

About 46km from Delhi in Gurugram district, Sultanpur is a lush stretch of trees, thorny shrubs and bougainvillaea. Every winter, around 90 migratory species check in for food and warmer weather. Four watchtowers (machans) are spread across the park, and the Educational Interpretation Centre is the place to learn what you're looking at. Staying longer? The tourist complex inside has rooms, a restaurant and a bar. 

Best time to visit: October to March, though birding is possible year-round

Key species: Greylag and Bar-headed Goose, Greater Flamingo, Demoiselle Crane, Greater Spotted and Bonelli's Eagle, Peregrine Falcon

Spread across roughly 32 sq km, Asola Bhatti sits on the rugged outliers of the ancient Aravalli Range. Conservation work by the Department of Forests and Wildlife, GNCT Delhi, has documented around 250 bird species here, including residents, local, winter and breeding migrants. Several are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List. Don't skip the nursery, which anchors the restoration projects across the sanctuary.

Best time to visit: June to August for monsoon finds at the nursery; November to February for peak birdwatching.

Key species: Red-headed and Egyptian Vulture, Greater Spotted and Black Eagle. Bonus: 86 butterfly species, including Chocolate Pansy and Common Mime

Address: Shooting Range Road, Suraj Kund Rd, Asola, Delhi 110044

Covering nearly 300 hectares near Surajpur village in Greater Noida, this is one of NCR's most underrated birding spots. Think of it as the indie find of the Delhi-NCR scene: less famous, more rewarding. The reserve forest blends moist and dry deciduous vegetation with wetlands, making it ideal breeding and feeding ground for waterfowl like the Spot-billed Duck and Gadwall. It really comes alive in winter, when ducks, geese and other waterbirds arrive in big numbers.

Best time to visit: Year-round, ideally a few hours after sunrise. Avoid heavy monsoon days.

Key species: Lesser Whistling and Comb Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Greylag Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Common Teal, Northern Shoveler

Address: Surajpur, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201306

On the banks of the Yamuna at the Delhi-Noida border, Okhla spans roughly 4 sq km. The Okhla Barrage creates a rare mix of wetland and grassland habitats, and more than 320 species have been recorded here, including 43 migratory waterbird and 26 migratory woodland species. Several threatened species have turned up too. There aren't many dedicated viewing platforms, but it's one of the easiest ways to spend a morning in NCR.

Best time to visit: November to March

Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm.

Key species: Jungle Babbler, Rufous Treepie, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, White-throated Kingfisher, Painted Stork

Address: Noida Plaza, N Block, Pocket K, Okhla, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

Few university campuses double as biodiversity hotspots. JNU does. Built around the South Ridge of the Aravallis, it has held on to much of its ecological richness despite decades of urban sprawl. Along the ridge trails, birders regularly spot woodland species, plus the odd nilgai, porcupine or tree snake. Rare sightings over the years, including Eurasian Sparrowhawks, have made it a cult favourite among Delhi's birding community.

Best time to visit: Sunrise or sunset, especially after rain. Entry is restricted, so check access before you go.

Key species: Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Egyptian Vulture, Indian Scops Owl, Spotted Owlet

Address: New Mehrauli Road, JNU Ring Rd, New Delhi, Delhi 110067

Among Delhi's most popular birding destinations, Sanjay Van sprawls across the Southern Ridge and works year-round. Between spotting sessions, you can cycle, picnic by the lake, poke around nearby monuments or grab a bite at Rock Café. For serious birding, head to Hauz Neela Lake and the woodland trails around it. A short trek usually pays off.

Best time to visit: Sunrise in summer; any time of day in winter

Opening hours: 5am to 8pm. Entry is free.

Key species: Indian Peafowl, Rose-ringed and Alexandrine Parakeets, Red-vented Bulbul. Also good for smaller insectivores like the Common Tailorbird, Purple Sunbird and Ashy Prinia

Address: Near the Qutub Institutional Area, Mehrauli

Okay, we’re cheating a bit. But this is a worthy day trip: roughly 220km from Delhi, 55km from Agra and 185km from Jaipur. A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Rajasthan, Keoladeo is famed for its extraordinary birdlife, including rare and endangered migrants that turn up every winter. More than 230 species have been recorded here.

Best time to visit: October to March Best time to visit: October to March

Key species: Sarus Crane, Siberian Rubythroat, Demoiselle Crane, Pelican, Painted Stork and various raptors

Address: Bharatpur, Rajasthan 321001