Gujarat Geography for UPSC: Interactive Map, Rivers and Protected Areas

Narmada

Rises Amarkantak plateau (Madhya Pradesh); flows to Gulf of Khambhat (estuary at Bharuch) · 19 km

India's largest west-flowing river; the Sardar Sarovar dam is on it.

Tapi

Rises Multai, Betul (Madhya Pradesh); flows to Gulf of Khambhat at Surat · 192 km

The Tapi (Tapti) is India's second-longest west-flowing river, in a rift valley parallel to the Narmada.

Mahi

Rises Vindhya Range, Madhya Pradesh (Dhar district); flows to Gulf of Khambhat, Arabian Sea · 182 km

The Mahi rises in MP's Vindhyas and crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice before entering the Gulf of Khambhat.

Sabarmati

Rises Aravalli hills near Udaipur (Rajasthan); flows to Gulf of Khambhat · 334 km

Flows past Ahmedabad; the Sabarmati riverfront and the Dharoi dam are on it.

Banas

Rises Aravalli hills near Sirohi; flows to Little Rann of Kutch · 228 km

Gujarat's Banas (distinct from Rajasthan's) drains north Gujarat into the Rann.

Nal Sarovar

Gujarat's largest wetland bird sanctuary near Ahmedabad, a Ramsar site (2012), a shallow lake that hosts thousands of flamingos, pelicans and other migratory birds in winter.

Ramsar (2012); Gujarat's best-known birding lake.

Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary

A bird sanctuary near Jamnagar designated Ramsar in 2022, where freshwater wetlands meet the Gulf of Kutch's marine waters, an unusual mix supporting over 300 bird species.

Ramsar (2022); where freshwater meets the Gulf of Kutch.

Wadhvana Wetland

A wetland in Vadodara district designated Ramsar in 2021, an irrigation reservoir that doubles as a wintering ground for waterfowl.

Ramsar (2021); reservoir wetland near Vadodara.

Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

A man-made wetland near Ahmedabad designated Ramsar in 2021, a popular birding site for wintering flamingos, pelicans and cranes.

Ramsar (2021); wetland bird sanctuary near Ahmedabad.

Chhari Dhand

A seasonal saline wetland in the Banni grasslands of Kutch, designated Ramsar in January 2026, hosting flamingos and common cranes in winter.

Ramsar (2026); seasonal saline wetland of the Banni grasslands.

Great Rann of Kutch Biosphere

India's largest biosphere reserve, spanning the saline deserts of the Great Rann and its grasslands, home to the Indian wild ass, flamingo breeding colonies and the Banni grassland pastoral economy.

India's largest biosphere reserve; wild ass and flamingo colonies.

Gir Forest NP

A park in Junagadh and Gir Somnath districts, the last refuge of the Asiatic lion, the only place in the world outside Africa with free-ranging lions. Dry teak forest and thorn scrub support about 700 lions, leopards and the Maldharis' cattle economy.

Last refuge of the Asiatic lion, the only wild lion population outside Africa.

Marine (Gulf of Kutch) NP

India's first marine national park (1982), in the Gulf of Kutch around 42 islands with coral reefs, mangroves and mudflats. Home to dugongs, dolphins, sea turtles and the largest coral reef tract on India's west coast.

India's first marine national park (1982); dugong habitat.

Blackbuck (Velavadar) NP

A park in Bhavnagar district of open grassland, home to one of India's largest blackbuck herds and the rare Indian wolf, with harrier roosts in winter.

Grassland of the blackbuck and the Indian wolf.

Vansda NP

A park in Navsari district in the Western Ghats of south Gujarat, with dense moist deciduous forest and tall teak, home to leopards and flying squirrels.

South Gujarat's Western Ghats forest; tall teak and leopards.

Wild Ass WLS

A sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch, the last home of the Indian wild ass (khur). Its saline flats also attract flamingos and are fringed by the 'bets' (islands) used by the Agariya salt workers.

Little Rann of Kutch; last refuge of the Indian wild ass.

Jessore Sloth Bear WLS

A sanctuary in Banaskantha district on the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, created for the sloth bear, straddling dry deciduous Aravalli forests.

Created for the sloth bear on the Rajasthan border.

Barda WLS

A sanctuary in Porbandar and Jamnagar districts, once a princely hunting reserve, now a second home being prepared for Asiatic lions to reduce Gir's single-population risk.

Being prepared as a second home for the Asiatic lion.