Biosphere Reserves in India
India has 18 Biosphere Reserves, which include a mix of forests, deserts, coastal zones, islands, and mountain ecosystems. Some are internationally recognized under UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
List of Biosphere Reserves in India
Sl. No. | Name of the Biosphere Reserve and Total Geographical Area (km²) | Date of Designation | Location in the States/UT |
1. | Nilgiri (5520) | 01.08.1986 | Part of Wyanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani Hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka). |
2. | Nanda Devi (5860.69) | 18.01.1988 | Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Almora Districts in Uttarakhand. |
3. | Nokrek (820) | 01.09.1988 | Part of East, West and South Garo Hill Districts in Meghalaya. |
4. | Manas (2837) | 14.03.1989 | Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darang Districts in Assam |
5. | Sunderban (9630) | 29.03.1989 | Part of delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra river system in West Bengal. |
6. | Gulf of Mannar (10500) | 18.02.1989 | Indian part of Gulf of Mannar extending from Rameswaram island in the North to Kanyakumari in the South of Tamil Nadu. |
7. | Great Nicobar (885) | 06.01.1989 | Southern most island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. |
8. | Similipal (4374) | 21.06.1994 | Part of Mayurbhanj District in Odisha. |
9. | Dibru-Saikhowa (765) | 28.07.1997 | Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts in Assam |
10. | Dehang Debang (5111.5) | 02.09.1998 | Part of Upper Siang, West Siang and Dibang Valley Districts in Arunachal Pradesh. |
11. | Pachmarhi (4981.72) | 03.03.1999 | Part of Betul, Hoshangabad and Chhindwara Districts in Madhya Pradesh. |
12. | Khangchendzonga (2619.92) | 07.02.2000 | Part of North and West Districts in Sikkim |
13. | Agasthyamalai (3500.36) | 12.11.2001 | Part of Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu and Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanmthitta districts in Kerala. |
14. | Achanakmar-Amarkantak (3835.51) | 30.03.2005 | Part of Anuppur and Dindori Districts of Madhya Pradesh and Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh |
15. | Kachchh (12,454) | 29.01.2008 | Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendranagar and Patan Districts in Gujarat. |
16. | Cold Desert (7770) | 28.08.2009 | Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu and Kibber Wildlife sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh. |
17. | Seshachalam (4755.997) | 20.09.2010 | Seshachalam hill ranges in Eastern Ghatsemcompassing part of Chittoor and Kadapa Districts in Andhra Pradesh. |
18. | Panna (2998.98) | 25.08.2011 | Part of Panna and Chhattarpur Districts in Madhya Pradesh. |
