Sultanpur National Park

Sultanpur National Park is a small wetland park in Gurugram district, Haryana, about 45 km south-west of central Delhi, centred on a shallow lake. It covers only about 1.4 square kilometres, but its position on the Central Asian flyway makes it one of the best places to watch birds near the capital.

Sultanpur National Park was declared a national park in 1989 and a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 2021. More than 250 species have been recorded. Resident birds include painted storks, black-headed ibis, cormorants and sarus cranes, and from October to March the lake fills with migrants: greater flamingos, pelicans, bar-headed geese and ducks such as northern pintail and shoveler. The endangered Siberian crane, once listed among its visitors, has not been seen here for many years. The ornithologist Salim Ali was among those who campaigned for its protection.

What to see

• The walking trail that circles the lake
• Watchtowers for views across the water
• Flocks of migratory ducks and geese in winter
• Painted storks nesting in the trees
• Nilgai antelope in the scrub around the lake

What to wear

Sultanpur National Park has no dress code; wear muted greens or browns so you do not disturb the birds. Winter mornings are cold and misty, often under 10°C, so wear warm layers you can take off later. Wear walking shoes, as the trail can be muddy. Bring binoculars and a hat. Traditional Haryanvi dress is still seen in villages: men in white dhoti, kurta and pagri, and women in the long pleated daaman skirt with a kurti and a bright chunder veil.

Local food to try

Haryana's food is simple and dairy-rich: bajra roti with white butter, kadhi pakora, singri ki sabzi, bajre ki khichdi, churma and tall glasses of lassi. There is little food inside the park, so eat in Gurugram, where restaurants serve every Indian cuisine, or at dhabas on the road for paranthas, chai and lassi. Vegetarian food is the norm in rural Haryana.

Good to know

• Best from November to February, at first light
• About 7am to 4:30pm; closed Tuesdays
• Small entry fee, higher for foreign visitors, plus a camera fee
• Allow two to three hours
• About 15 km from Gurugram and 45 km south-west of central Delhi
• Keep quiet on the trail and do not feed the birds

Nearby places

Indira Gandhi International Airport is about 30 km north-east, and the Qutub Minar is about 35 km east. Surajkund is about 40 km east, on the other side of Gurugram.