Chhari Dhand
A seasonal wetland that pulls thousands of migratory birds out of the desert sky
Water in the desert
Chhari Dhand is a conservation reserve built around a seasonal freshwater wetland near the Banni grasslands. When the monsoon fills it, the dhand becomes one of Kutch's richest birding sites, drawing cranes, pelicans, flamingos and raptors that seem improbable this close to the Rann.
A birder's calendar
Common crane flocks winter here in their thousands, alongside houbara bustard, harriers and a long list of waterfowl. Early morning is the best window, when the light is soft and the birds are most active at the water's edge.
Banni backdrop
The reserve sits within the Banni grasslands — Asia's largest tropical grassland — so the drive in and out is its own reward, past hamlets of circular bhunga huts and grazing herds.
