Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is one the most well liked tourist spot, where the people from various parts of India and West Bengal visit and enjoy the tour to forest land and the deer.

Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary, covered with an area of 200 km is located in the city town of Bolpur, Shantiniketan is just the perfect getaway for weekend tour. Just a kilometer from the Viswa Bharati University, this green and verdant Wildlife Sanctuary is home to three large water bodies (Jheel) which hosts migratory as well as resident birds in plenty. The sanctuary was established in September 1967 and has one of the most successful deer conservation records in the state of West Bengal.

Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is abode of numerous Cheethals (Spotted Deer), Blackbucks and other resident animals like jackals and foxes. Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area with watch towers and jungle paths for tourists to walk around and catch glimpses of deer and other wildlife. There is a nice and cozy private hotel just 5 minutes walk from the sanctuary for the tourists.

The main attractions of this sanctuary are the blackbuck deer and spotted deer. There is also a huge tract of wetland created by the three water bodies (Jheel) which hosts thousands of migratory birds in winter like Lesser Whistlings, Pintails, and Teals etc. Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is also habitat to a healthy population of resident birds like Black Hooded Orioles, White Bellied Treepies, Commorants, Hoppoes, Egrets and others.

Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary may lack in size but it is very impressive for its remarkable dense local vegetation comprising Sal, Akashmoni, Sishoo, Cashewnut, Amlaki, Bahera, Haritaki and other trees. The whole sanctuary can be covered by foot and tourists can catch glimpses of wildlife from the watchtowers located at strategic sites.

Birdwatching and wildlife watching is the major activity at Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary. Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to take a nature walk. There are few tribal villages near Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary in the eastern fringes of the sanctuary where one can explore village life.

Visiting Information
The main town adjacent to Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is Bolpur, which is accessible by a number of conveyances including trains, bus and cars. The nearest railway station is Bolpur and Prantik, which can be reached from Kolkata in two to three hours. The best time to visit Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is in the month of October to March. The whole Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is drenched in greenery during the rainy season when the new leaves come out from every branch. The deer seem to enjoy the rains most and spend their days soaking. The winter sees thousands of migratory birds nesting in the water bodies and marshlands of the Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary.