19km from Mysore. The nesting season runs broadly from June into November, when painted storks, pelicans and herons crowd the islands. Go early for the best bird activity and book the boat online, as slots sell out
The rocky islets that form the sanctuary were created when Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wodeyar built an embankment across the Kaveri River between 1645 and 1648. Ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali surveyed the site in 1939-40 and persuaded the Maharaja of Mysore to declare it a protected bird sanctuary on 1 July 1940 under the Mysore Game and Fish Preservation Act of 1901, making it one of India's earliest formally protected bird habitats. Located about 3 km from Srirangapatna, its six islets remain a major breeding ground for painted storks, herons, and other migratory and resident waterbirds.