Bakhira Sanctuary

The Bakhira Bird Sanctuary is the largest natural flood plain wetland in Sant Kabir Nagar district of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. the sanctuary was established in 1980. It is situated 44 km east of Gorakhpur city. It is a vast stretch of water body expanding over an area of 29 km2. This is an important lake of eastern UP, which provides a wintering and staging ground for a number of migratory waterfowls and a breeding ground for resident birds. The sanctuary is named after the village Bakhira located adjacent to the lake along with as many as hundred and eight villages surrounding the lake within the 5 km radius. The villagers from the surrounding villages depend on the wetland for their livelihood in the form of fishing, agricultural activities and fuelwood collection from it.

Getting There

Gorakhpur is a major railhead with direct trains connectivity to the rest of the country.

Attraction

The Indian Purple moorhen (Porphyrio porphyrio) also called Purple Swamp-hen is one of the beautiful common water birds found in India. A handsome but clumsy purplish blue bird with long red legs and toes, bald red forehead and size resembling the village hen. This bird is a common breeding resident of this sanctuary and is locally coined with the name "Kaima".

There are more than 30 species of fish found in the lake. However the dominant species are Labeo rohita and Chana sp.

External Links

* [http://www.wii.gov.in/publications/newsletter/annual2002/article9.htm http://www.wii.gov.in/publications/newsletter/annual2002/article9.htm]
* [http://www.india9.com/i9show/Bakhira-Wildlife-Sanctuary-46427.htm http://www.india9.com/i9show/Bakhira-Wildlife-Sanctuary-46427.htm]