Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary near Ahmedabad officially reopened to visitors on October 9 after its annual monsoon closure, with new visitor facilities, online permit bookings and a planned fleet of 100 certified motorboats and five rescue boats.
The wetland had remained closed since June as part of seasonal conservation and safety measures. Although visitor movement had reportedly resumed during the preceding week, the sanctuary is now operating officially for the tourist season, according to a report by Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad.
The Gujarat Tourism Department has spent approximately ₹26 crore on development works at the sanctuary. The facilities include a new watchtower, an upgraded entrance gate, a food court and expanded parking. The work is intended to improve the visitor experience at one of Gujarat’s best-known destinations for birdwatching and wetland tourism.
Nal Sarovar will remain open from 6 am to 5.30 pm. The period from November to February is considered the best season for seeing domestic and migratory birds, making the reopening significant for visitors planning winter trips and for local guides and boat operators dependent on seasonal tourism.
Boating arrangements are being reworked following safety concerns. Local boating operations had remained suspended for the past two years, but the Forest Department and the Gujarat Maritime Board are preparing to introduce 100 new motorboats certified by the two agencies, along with five rescue boats. The boats are expected to be introduced in phases by Diwali.
Boatmen are currently receiving specialised training. Only those who complete the training and pass the required assessment will be authorised to operate the boats. The authorities have also introduced a licensing system and fixed official fares, aimed at reducing disputes over charges and limiting arbitrary pricing for visitors.
The addition of rescue boats and the certification process follow heightened attention to visitor safety after the Harni Lake accident in Vadodara. The boating system at Nal Sarovar is therefore being presented not only as a tourism upgrade but also as a regulated operating framework involving the Forest Department and the maritime regulator.
Visitors can book entry permits through the Forest Eco Tourism Gujarat Booking portal, where the Nal Sarovar permit link is active. The online process is intended to allow visitors to plan their trips in advance and provide a formal channel for entry management during the busy winter period.
The department has stated that if payment is deducted but a permit is not generated because of a technical problem, a refund is expected within 15 to 20 days under the applicable rules. Visitors can send the relevant details to dfonalsarovar@gmail.com in such cases.
Registered local bird guides have also begun accepting advance private bookings for the winter birdwatching and photography season. The sanctuary’s next operational milestone will be the phased introduction of the certified boats and rescue fleet by Diwali, after the boatmen’s training and assessments are completed.
