Tenughat Dam & Wetland Bird Sanctuary

About Tenughat Dam & Wetland Bird Sanctuary

Tenughat Dam was built across the Damodar River for power generation, and as the reservoir filled, wetland margins developed at its fringes — mudflats, open water, and fringing vegetation that together attract a diverse waterbird community year-round and a spectacular migratory influx in winter. Between November and February, bar-headed geese — birds that cross the Himalayas at altitudes above 7,000 metres on their migration — winter at the reservoir in significant numbers alongside pintail ducks, spot-billed ducks, teals, coots, and waders exploiting low-water mudflats. The open water draws diving ducks and occasional large congregations of cormorants and darters. The surrounding deciduous woodland adds depth: the transition from wetland to scrub forest supports a separate community of woodland birds, making a single visit productive across two distinct habitat types. The combination is comparable to Udhwa Lake in Sahibganj but less developed, with far fewer visitors. Access requires a personal vehicle. The best birdwatching positions are the dam embankment itself — wide unobstructed views across the full reservoir — and the agricultural tracks along the eastern shoreline where wetland margins are closest. Early morning before 9 AM is essential.