Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, located near the historic town of Srirangapatna, in the Mandya District of the state of Karnataka in India, is an important tourist destination from Mysore city orthe adjoining Vrindavan gardens, both of which are barely 20 km away. It is a very small sanctuary, being only 0.67 km². in area, and comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri River. The isolated islets and the abundance of aquatic insects during the monsoon make Ranganathittu a favorite abode for birds.
Ranganathittu attained the status of a bird sanctuary in 1940, courtesy of the visions of India’s noted ornithologist. Dr. Salim Ali observed that the isles formed an important nesting ground for birds, and persuaded the Wodeyar kings of Mysore to declare the area a wildlife sanctuary in 1940.