Ranganathittu

Just a few kilometers from Srirangapatna is the famous Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, possibly one of the country’s largest bird sanctuaries. It is made up of a bunch of islets that have been formed by the flow of the river Cauvery. Some of them are bare and rocky while others are thick with greenery, which provide the perfect habitat for water birds and other migratory varieties. Among the species found here are egrets, cormorants, open billed storks, darters, herons, spot billed ducks, plovers, swallows, wagtails and many more. Painted storks and pelicans too can be spotted here during the season while a few trees on one of the islets are home to hundreds of fruit bats. The best way to experience the sanctuary is through a boat ride, which enables you to get closer to some of the birds; though alighting on any of the islets is prohibited. Some animals which can be spotted include marsh crocodiles, civets and foxes.