What to expect
Highlights
- The wintering pelicans and painted storks.
- The old Meadows Taylor tank.
- Dawn and dusk birdwatching.
Bonal Bird Sanctuary
A wetland bird sanctuary around the Bonal tank in Shorapur taluk — the second-largest bird sanctuary in Karnataka after Ranganathittu, on a 17th-century tank later enlarged by Meadows Taylor, drawing pelicans, painted storks and migratory waterfowl. This wildlife guide is organized from Shorapur in Yadgir district, with practical planning for routes, timing, nearby stays, food, operators and direct local inventory. Use it to compare what to see, how long to spend, when to go and which verified stays, local guides, jeep or taxi operators, food stops, permits and safety-aware activity providers should be verified around Bonal Bird Sanctuary.
B
Bonal Bird Sanctuary
Place
Practical guide
Plan Bonal Bird Sanctuary
Who's going?Tailor Bonal Bird Sanctuary to your trip
Typewildlife
Nearest baseShorapur
DistrictYadgir
Best timeNovember to March, when the migratory…
Time needed1.5 to 2 hours
EntryFree
Places to visit4→The Bonal Bird Sanctuary surrounds the Bonal tank in Shorapur taluk and is the second-largest bird sanctuary in Karnataka after Ranganathittu.
It sits on a 17th-century tank later enlarged by Meadows Taylor, drawing pelicans, painted storks and migratory waterfowl.
Getting there
How to visit
- At Bonal village, by road from Shorapur or Yadgir; best at dawn or dusk.
- Keep quiet, watch from a distance and carry binoculars.
Distance by road
- Kalaburagi100 km
- Raichur80 km
- Vijayapura170 km
- Hyderabad200 km
- Bengaluru560 km
Road km to Yadgir; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
November to March, when the migratory birds are present.
Weather in Bonal Bird SanctuarySeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Bonal Bird Sanctuary
Sunrise6:11 am
Sunset6:35 pm
Golden hour best light5:35 pm–6:35 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:35 pm–7:00 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 278°
Moon tonight🌗 Last quarter · 50%
South-west monsoon. June to September brings heavy rain to Karnataka. Trails, falls and ghat roads can be slippery, swollen or closed at short notice, and forest departments sometimes suspend access. Check locally on the day before you travel.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- A protected wetland — keep back from the water and do not disturb the birds.
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Bonal Bird Sanctuary
Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around Bonal Bird Sanctuary — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.
Verified inventory is being added here.
Verified places are being added. The category filters will fill in as approved stays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and nature listings go live.
List your placeRanked guides
Top experiences around Shorapur
3 more places around Shorapur, each worth a day of its own.
fortShorapur Fort
10.8 km · ~18 min by cab
The hill fort and Raja Venkatappa Nayaka palace of Shorapur (Surapura), capital of the Bedar Nayaka palegars from 1639 to 1857 — whose last ruler Venkatappa Nayaka was among the earliest 1857-era rebels against the British; the colonial Taylor Manzil of Meadows Taylor stands on the same hill.
heritageKembhavi Temple Town
19.1 km · ~32 min by cab
The old temple town of Kembhavi in Shorapur taluk, with a cluster of Kalyani-Chalukya-era shrines and inscriptions — a small heritage settlement of the Krishna–Bhima doab.
heritageKodekal Basavanna Shrine
33.4 km · ~56 min by cab
The shrine and matha of Kodekal Basavanna at Kodekal in Shorapur taluk — the 16th-century mystic-saint and author of the "Kala Gnana" prophetic verses, a revered pilgrimage centre of the region.
Roampedia is commission-free — own or know a stay, eatery, guide or shop near Bonal Bird Sanctuary? List it and it appears here once verified.
Add a nearby businessBefore you go
Bonal Bird Sanctuary — at a glance
TimingsBest at dawn and dusk
Best timeNovember to March, when the migratory birds are present
Entry: Free or nominal
Getting here
How to reach Bonal Bird Sanctuary
At Bonal village in Shorapur taluk; by road from Shorapur/Yadgir
Getting back
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and Bonal Bird Sanctuary is easier to reach than to leave. We do not publish departure times: there is no official live feed we are permitted to republish, and a wrong time here would strand you. Check the operator directly on the day.
- KSRTC — the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries. Online booking.
- Indian Railways — live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Bonal Bird Sanctuary
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
If you need help at Bonal Bird Sanctuary
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Bonal Bird Sanctuary
On the map
Where Bonal Bird Sanctuary is
Good to know
Bonal Bird Sanctuary — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Bonal Bird Sanctuary?
November to March, when the migratory birds are present.
What are the entry fee and timings at Bonal Bird Sanctuary?
Entry: Free or nominal. Timings: Best at dawn and dusk.
How do I reach Bonal Bird Sanctuary?
At Bonal village, by road from Shorapur or Yadgir; best at dawn or dusk. Keep quiet, watch from a distance and carry binoculars.
How much time do I need for Bonal Bird Sanctuary?
1.5 to 2 hours.
What else is near Bonal Bird Sanctuary?
Nearby you can pair Shorapur Fort (10.8 km), Vanadurga Fort (12.3 km), Hunasagi Prehistoric Site (16.1 km), Sagar Fort Town (18.8 km).