East Kolkata Wetlands

পূর্ব কলকাতা জলাভূমি

A Ramsar wetland of fish ponds that cleans the city’s waste water.

About East Kolkata Wetlands

East of the Bypass lie about 12,500 hectares of bheris (fish ponds), vegetable farms and paddy. For a century fishermen here have used the city’s sewage, treated by sunlight and algae in shallow ponds, to raise fish. It is often described as the largest system of its kind in the world and was listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2002. It gives Kolkata fish, vegetables and flood protection at no cost.

Why visit

Wide water, big skies and birds, and a remarkable piece of working ecology.

What to see and do

Bheris stretching to the horizon
Fishermen netting at dawn
Egrets, kingfishers and winter ducks

Plan your visit

Area: Tangra (Chinatown), East Kolkata
Nearest landmark: East of the EM Bypass
Best time: Sunrise or sunset. November to February.
Time needed: About 1½ hours
Cost: Free
Entry: Seen from the public road only. Viewed from public roads. The ponds and embankments are working private fisheries.
Getting there: Car or app cab along the Basanti Highway.
Walking: Some walking
Photography: Good for photography.

Tip

See it from the public roads that cross it, such as Basanti Highway and the roads near Chowbaga. The bheris are private working fisheries: do not walk on the embankments without the owners’ permission.

Nearby and related places

Science City: One of the largest science centres in the subcontinent.
Tangra Chinatown: The Hakka Chinese quarter where Indian Chinese food was shaped.
Chinese Kali Temple: A Kali temple run by Tangra’s Chinese community, with noodles as prasad.
Aquatica: A water park at Kochpukur, Rajarhat.

More guides

Last checked on 2026-10-02. Each place was checked to exist and its position confirmed. Timings, closing days and ticket prices are shown only where known and can change: confirm before you travel.