Kanjli Wetlands

The Kanjli Wetlands in Kapurthala, Punjab, are a man-made wetland that subsumes the Kanjli Lake. Created in 1870 by constructing headworks across the perennial Bien River, a tributary of the Beas River, the wetlands were initially developed to provide irrigation facilities to the hinterland.

The rich biodiversity of the wetland, which includes aquatic, mesophytic, and terrestrial flora and fauna, was recognized internationally by the Ramsar Convention in 2002, designating Kanjli Lake in the List of Wetlands of International Importance.

The wetlands cover an area of 490 hectares, with the Kanjli Lake water spread being 184 hectares. The wetlands play a vital role in maintaining groundwater regimes and supporting the ecology of the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, another Ramsar site.

The Kali Bein Conservation Reserve, which includes the Kanjli Wetlands, is a significant religious site associated with Guru Nanak Dev Ji.