Surwal Lake, Ranthambore

Surwal Lake is another popular tourist destination, which offers beautiful view of flora and fauna in Ranthambore. This lake is situated at a distance of 25 km from Ranthambore. The ideal time to visit this place is during the months of November to March, when nature presents beauty at its best.
During winters, many migrated birds can be seen at this lake. Plenty of birds which can be witnessed by visitors are demoiselle cranes, pelicans and many others. The place is mostly frequented by nature lovers, who can enjoy sunrise and sunset along with the chirping of birds. Tourists should avoid visiting this place in the months of April and May because there is no water in the lake.

Surwal Lake is a seasonal lake and home to almost 300 species of birds. About 10 km from Sawai Madhopur Township, is the Surwal Lake, a quiet sojourn amidst the dense forests of Ranthambore. The Lake is not situated inside the Ranthambore National Park and is free to access even when the national park is not open and there are not many restrictions for visiting and bird watching as in the national park.

The lake is beautiful in the winter months between October and March with plenty of water and lush vegetation surrounding it. This is the time when many migratory birds fly into this serene habitat and the other water bodies both inside and around the Ranthambore National Park.

Professional bird watchers, nature photographers, and nature lovers have a field day sighting the many varieties of birds. During these months, birds can be seen hunting for food and building nests in the early mornings, especially before daybreak. Birders can come out with their binoculars and sharp cameras and identify at least a 100 bird species in one morning. The chirping of the birds accompanied by their calls and song make it an experience to remember.

Some of the birds that visit the lake are the Graylag geese, painted storks, bulbuls, mynas, spoonbills, quails, flamingoes, and Saras cranes, bee-eaters and Kingfishers. Also present are larks, pipits, woodpeckers, Prinias, cormorants, egrets, herons, bitterns, darters, crows, snipes and sandpipers. Falcons, eagles, and vultures are some of the predatory birds that are permanent inhabits of the park and often visit the lake for prey.

During the summers, due to the intense heat in Rajasthan, this shallow lake dries up and birds migrate again till the next season. So plan your trip to Ranthambore and the Surwal Lake in the winter months between November and March to relax in the pristine surroundings of the Surwal Lake and take home some lovely memories and pictures of the wild.