Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary
Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary
Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary
4
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
55 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
25
Average
6
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Amolak Rattan K
New Delhi, India2,974 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
You will find peace and tranquility in a lush green environment and beautiful nature. Their migratory birds can be seen and many of them are close to water body. It is a refreshing and wonderful experience. Must visit.
Amolak Rattan Kohli
Former Governor of Mizoram
Amolak Rattan Kohli
Former Governor of Mizoram
Written 19 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sreemoyee G
Kolkata (Calcutta), India26 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
My friend has a retreat just beside this sanctuary.We had actually gone for a picnic, and decided to visit the place.
The entry fee is very minimal.The sanctuary is open from 7 a.m. - 5p.m. throughout the year.
In the middle of nowhere, there is this dense foliage with a narrow walking trail helping you to cover the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is very well maintained,with proper security inside.They have made resting places at regular intervals.
We got to spot drongo,oriole,water hen,bee eater.
We went in the evening,the chances of spotting are more in the early morning.
Food is not allowed inside and there are no places to eat inside or outside the sanctuary. You have to drive down a kilometre for refreshments.
Ideal for a winter day trip.
The entry fee is very minimal.The sanctuary is open from 7 a.m. - 5p.m. throughout the year.
In the middle of nowhere, there is this dense foliage with a narrow walking trail helping you to cover the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is very well maintained,with proper security inside.They have made resting places at regular intervals.
We got to spot drongo,oriole,water hen,bee eater.
We went in the evening,the chances of spotting are more in the early morning.
Food is not allowed inside and there are no places to eat inside or outside the sanctuary. You have to drive down a kilometre for refreshments.
Ideal for a winter day trip.
Written 22 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Agniva Das
Kolkata (Calcutta), India103 contributions
Feb 2013 • Solo
Hidden away in one corner of Narendrapur is CKBS, a garden locally known as "Kayaler Bagan". This little patch of 20 acre forest is a bird watcher's paradise as it plays hosts to a diverse collection of birds throughout the year. If you are interested in bird watching/photography & you are coming to Kolkata this place is a must visit.
For newbies this place might be a little challenging because of the thick forest. Roaming about in the sanctuary doesn't require a guide & is a refreshing break from the city's bustling crowd & traffic.
Visitors are however advised to maintain sanctuary decorum & ethics to avoid problematic encounters with wildlife.
For newbies this place might be a little challenging because of the thick forest. Roaming about in the sanctuary doesn't require a guide & is a refreshing break from the city's bustling crowd & traffic.
Visitors are however advised to maintain sanctuary decorum & ethics to avoid problematic encounters with wildlife.
Written 18 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian W
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Overpriced and under-maintained. Very disappointed with our experience here. The entrance fee (500 rupees each) is very high compared to other tourist attractions, particularly considering the lack of maintenance and interest shown by the staff.
Written 31 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iandyou
Kolkata (Calcutta), India566 contributions
Jan 2015 • Solo
if you are a bird lover & happen to be in kolkata between dec to feb, you must visit here for watching a wide range of birds, butterfly & spider web design. must visit between 7 to 9 am only for a handful bird watching. few names--scarlet backed flower pecker, emerald doves, white throated fantail, blue throated flycatcher, if you are lucky can fin jackle too.
Must carry binocular, long lense camera, do not make sound, food is not allowed, entry ticket 50, well maintained, clean toilet.
Near Narendrapur Ramkrishna Mission.
You definetly enjoy in week end from busty kolkata.
Must carry binocular, long lense camera, do not make sound, food is not allowed, entry ticket 50, well maintained, clean toilet.
Near Narendrapur Ramkrishna Mission.
You definetly enjoy in week end from busty kolkata.
Written 23 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rangan B
Calcutta, West Bengal, India13 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
It is unbelievable that such a place actually exists in a bustling metro and I would not have known about it had not my better-half dragged me to this place. This is a small orchard earlier privately owned but now converted into a sanctuary by the tireless efforts of Chintamani Kar, a well-known sculptor. The dense foliage is home to Bamboo trees, Mango trees and Jackfruit trees. Because of the dense foliage, the winged hosts are quite difficult to spot, however some very rare species of birds & small creatures like jungle & civet cats are said to exist there. The area around the sanctuary also is home to a wide-variety of winged & small creatures due to the presence of many water bodies, palm & fruit trees, but now this area is undergoing rapid urbanization which means doom for this beautiful well-maintained green place.
Written 28 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joy_Sinha
Kolkata (Calcutta), India2,371 contributions
Dec 2013 • Friends
It's a rarity to find areas densely covered with trees and foliage these days within a metropolitan city but Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary (short form - CKBS) , also known as "Kayaler Bagan" is a pleasant sight in the city of joy -Kolkata. Though the sanctuary is not located in the heart of the city but it's presence is of great importance to a large aviary community in its surroundings ,on the fringes of the city.
The Sanctuary opens at 7 in the morning and is open till 5 in the evening and is a treat for any bird-lover as it houses a wide range of birds and certain reptiles like the monitor lizard. Though a number of birds found in the sanctuary might be available with the city, hovering around housing complexes but to find them in their natural habitats is a pleasing sight.
Ways to reach the sanctuary:
The Sanctuary is located about 15 KMs from the heart of the city and the nearest railway station is Sonarpur on the Sealdah-Diamond Harbour Line. From Sonarpur station, one can hire an auto which charges a nominal fare for a ride of 20 minutes. The Sanctuary can also be reached via the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass road.
Best Time to visit:
Birds are found through out the year but the ideal time to visit and enjoy the environment would be between the months of November and January.
Entry Fee :
INR 50 per head. No charges for Camera.
There are paths laid out in the jungle which could be followed to reach the various corners and along those paths, one would find a large variety of foliage with the birds chirping away between them.
A stroll in the sanctuary for a couple of hours on a weekend is an ideal escapade for any nature lover or specifically a bird lover !!!
The Sanctuary opens at 7 in the morning and is open till 5 in the evening and is a treat for any bird-lover as it houses a wide range of birds and certain reptiles like the monitor lizard. Though a number of birds found in the sanctuary might be available with the city, hovering around housing complexes but to find them in their natural habitats is a pleasing sight.
Ways to reach the sanctuary:
The Sanctuary is located about 15 KMs from the heart of the city and the nearest railway station is Sonarpur on the Sealdah-Diamond Harbour Line. From Sonarpur station, one can hire an auto which charges a nominal fare for a ride of 20 minutes. The Sanctuary can also be reached via the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass road.
Best Time to visit:
Birds are found through out the year but the ideal time to visit and enjoy the environment would be between the months of November and January.
Entry Fee :
INR 50 per head. No charges for Camera.
There are paths laid out in the jungle which could be followed to reach the various corners and along those paths, one would find a large variety of foliage with the birds chirping away between them.
A stroll in the sanctuary for a couple of hours on a weekend is an ideal escapade for any nature lover or specifically a bird lover !!!
Written 15 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sukanya D
Kolkata (Calcutta), India1,123 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
This is probably Kolkata's (Calcutta's ) best kept secret. Not even hardcore, never-been -anywhere-else Kolkata-ns know about this. Passing Ramkrishna Mission Ashram, Narendrapur (on your left)on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (NSC Bose) Road you drive on for about 30 seconds more and take a right (there is a sign board on the right but it is high up and you may miss it...so if you pass a small green temple on the right, stop and reverse..you have missed the turn) and there it is Chintamani Kar (a sculptor) Bird Sanctuary (CKBS)that used to be called Kayal-er Bagan (Mr Kayal's garden). Rs 50 gives you the right to enter...your cameras enter free with you (but no plastic stuff...this is a plastic-free zone).
It is a cool, quiet place with winding paths that take you to bamboo groves and under tall trees laden with orchids. Lots of mosquitoes and bugs, we should have taken some insect repellents but the bird song will steal your heart and after a while i hardly noticed the bugs. There are many, many types of birds here and in the early hours most sing to welcome the morning. Spotting them is a little difficult because the trees provide cover, confuse the eyes and confound the camera. But suddenly you spot one and your day is made!
There are cemented areas where the birds are provided with drinking water; many blogs show birds drinking here...but we were not so lucky. Maybe in summer....
We were lucky that we asked one of the many patrolling guards if he could help us spot any birds worth mentioning ...because most of the ones we had managed to see were not lifers for me. With a smile and a politeness that is rare in Bengal, he showed us not one but two species...a Nightjar and a Fish Owl, His name? Milan Biswas and I will remember him with happy gratitude forever.
What bids did I see? Rufous tree pie (a nuisance that scared away smaller birds), Tailor bird, Ashy drongo, Hooded Oriole,Lesser Flameback woodpecker, Kingfisher, Parakeet, Blue-throated Barber, Lineated Barbet, Babblers, Bulbuls (both red vented and red whiskered)..etc.
There were butterflies galore; Blue Tiger, Common Tiger, Pierrot, Bushbrown, Common Jezebel,Common Crow, Common Mormon...many other.
There were moths, grasshoppers, dragonflies, damselflies, snails, mushrooms, pretty flowering weeds, peculiar seedpods and attractive red apple-like fruits.
The best part was that there was a lovely silence about the place with only natural sounds...the few people who were around all had photography equipment in their hands and generously whispered tips about what they had found and where. Hand gestures were used to indicate a bird when someone spotted one; but usually we were almost all alone ...free to wander at will.
The mistake we made was to leave the drinking water, sandwiches and coffee in the car ...we should have carried it in our side bags and munched as we walked...I, for one could have stayed here much longer than the 3 hours that we did (It passed in a flash). But maybe food is not allowed in?
This place gets full marks for having a decent toilet. It gets bonus points for the pleasant guy who smiled as he sold me the tickets and for the non-greedy, helpful staff we encountered. I repeat: a rarity...but then CKBS is a rarity too...an oasis and a birding paradise in the heart of chaotic Kolkata.
Fair warning: No food stuff inside CKBS...nearest tea stall is on NSC Bose Road.
It is a cool, quiet place with winding paths that take you to bamboo groves and under tall trees laden with orchids. Lots of mosquitoes and bugs, we should have taken some insect repellents but the bird song will steal your heart and after a while i hardly noticed the bugs. There are many, many types of birds here and in the early hours most sing to welcome the morning. Spotting them is a little difficult because the trees provide cover, confuse the eyes and confound the camera. But suddenly you spot one and your day is made!
There are cemented areas where the birds are provided with drinking water; many blogs show birds drinking here...but we were not so lucky. Maybe in summer....
We were lucky that we asked one of the many patrolling guards if he could help us spot any birds worth mentioning ...because most of the ones we had managed to see were not lifers for me. With a smile and a politeness that is rare in Bengal, he showed us not one but two species...a Nightjar and a Fish Owl, His name? Milan Biswas and I will remember him with happy gratitude forever.
What bids did I see? Rufous tree pie (a nuisance that scared away smaller birds), Tailor bird, Ashy drongo, Hooded Oriole,Lesser Flameback woodpecker, Kingfisher, Parakeet, Blue-throated Barber, Lineated Barbet, Babblers, Bulbuls (both red vented and red whiskered)..etc.
There were butterflies galore; Blue Tiger, Common Tiger, Pierrot, Bushbrown, Common Jezebel,Common Crow, Common Mormon...many other.
There were moths, grasshoppers, dragonflies, damselflies, snails, mushrooms, pretty flowering weeds, peculiar seedpods and attractive red apple-like fruits.
The best part was that there was a lovely silence about the place with only natural sounds...the few people who were around all had photography equipment in their hands and generously whispered tips about what they had found and where. Hand gestures were used to indicate a bird when someone spotted one; but usually we were almost all alone ...free to wander at will.
The mistake we made was to leave the drinking water, sandwiches and coffee in the car ...we should have carried it in our side bags and munched as we walked...I, for one could have stayed here much longer than the 3 hours that we did (It passed in a flash). But maybe food is not allowed in?
This place gets full marks for having a decent toilet. It gets bonus points for the pleasant guy who smiled as he sold me the tickets and for the non-greedy, helpful staff we encountered. I repeat: a rarity...but then CKBS is a rarity too...an oasis and a birding paradise in the heart of chaotic Kolkata.
Fair warning: No food stuff inside CKBS...nearest tea stall is on NSC Bose Road.
Written 22 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DebduttaGhosh
Kolkata (Calcutta), India89 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
Chintamoni Kar is not actually a bird sanctuary, rather a large property turned into jungle. The place is located in the extreme southern fingers of Kolkata. Water bodies inside have dried up and very less birds pay a visit nowadays. There is no watchtower or a resting spot and only small walkways to navigate inside. It is really difficult to spot birds because of the tall trees and with no watchtower, only chirping can be heard. If one is lucky, they can spot 5-6 different species of common birds like parakeet, oriole, owls etc. The dirt roads are very narrow and full of spider webs and mosquito. Overall very limited maintenance and hardly any facilities for visitors even though they charge ₹50 for entrance.
Reaching there could be tricky for newcomers as the property is located off main road. Private transport is the best option to reach there.
Reaching there could be tricky for newcomers as the property is located off main road. Private transport is the best option to reach there.
Written 8 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vaibhav
London, UK57 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
To be honest, you don't have to be either to visit but it's a bonus if you've any remote interest in birds, photography or nature!
This is slightly outside the town and hence not so crowded (a bonus for an attraction in Kolkata!).
The entry fee is INR 50 and the best time to visit is in the mornings in the winters.
This is slightly outside the town and hence not so crowded (a bonus for an attraction in Kolkata!).
The entry fee is INR 50 and the best time to visit is in the mornings in the winters.
Written 30 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is this sanctuary open now? It is showing as temporarily closed on Google. Can anyone confirm?
Written 26 December 2020
Nope it is a bird sanctuary and its rules are according to West Bengal Forest Department
Written 5 January 2019
Is it open currently? I was hearing some kind of renovation going on. Need confirmation from somebody who had visited on lask week.
Written 14 October 2017
1) Is it currently open to visitors?
2)What time of the day best for bird watching/ photography?
3) Is there any water body to attract water birds?
Written 11 March 2019
Is car parking available ?
Written 21 September 2017
There is no car parking for the sanctuary. but you can park the car half a km away in a lane from the sanctuary
Written 22 October 2017
somadkhare
Kolkata (Calcutta), India
When is the right time to see plenty of birds? When does it open? 6or7am?
Written 16 March 2017
If I remember correctly it opens at 6 am. If you can't get in - there are Birds to be seen at one end from outside. Bring mosquito repellant.
Written 17 March 2017
Hello,
I have a few queries.
1. Is there any camera fees/charge?
2. Planning to visit alone...Is there any chance to get lost? Are pointers available inside the area?
I saw a picture of the map but that is not very detailed.
3. Does this remain open all 7 days?
Thanks in advance.
Written 27 December 2015
1. There is no mention of separate camera charge
2. The area is not too large to get lost. You can locate the starting point almost from the end.
3. It remains open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the week.
Written 29 December 2015
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