Just a short drive from the busy city of Faridabad, Badkhal Lake sits quietly among the rugged Aravalli hills. Once known mainly for its fading beauty and years of mining scars, the lake has made a stunning comeback. Today, it has turned into one of North India’s most surprising wildlife Around Badkhal Lake are havens – a place where birds, deer, and hidden creatures are reclaiming their home.
The lake is part of the Northern Aravalli Leopard Wildlife Around Badkhal Lake Corridor, a 200-kilometre green belt that stretches from Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan all the way to Delhi’s Ridge forests. This corridor is vital for animal movement and survival, and Badkhal now plays a key role in connecting the dots.
Wildlife Around Badkhal Lake – Birds, Deer & Hidden Species
In August 2025, nature lovers received heartwarming news when a group of chital — the graceful spotted deer — were seen near wildlife around Badkhal Lake for the first time in decades. There were about seven or eight of them, their russet-brown coats glistening in the sun as they grazed near the water. For many, it felt like a miracle. These deer had almost disappeared from the Aravallis after years of deforestation, mining, and rapid construction. A 2017 Wildlife Around Badkhal Lake Institute of India report had even warned that large mammals were on the brink of vanishing from this region. But nature, it seems, was quietly healing. The return of the chital is a sign that the forest corridors are becoming active again and that the efforts to restore native vegetation are finally paying off.
The Aravalli landscape around Badkhal is home to a surprising variety of animals. The powerful nilgai, also called the blue bull, often roams the open patches near the lake. The males have a bluish-grey coat, while the females are soft brown. The four-horned antelope, a rare Indian species, lives in the rocky terrain nearby. Small animals like the Indian Grey Mongoose and Indian Hare dart through the bushes, while porcupines find shelter among the hill slopes. Wildlife Around Badkhal Lake surveys have even found over ninety porcupines in the region, showing how strong their numbers have become.
When night falls, the mood changes completely. The eerie calls of jackals echo through the hills. Jungle cats prowl silently, and striped hyenas wander in search of food. Camera traps have also captured leopards using this stretch to travel between forests – proof that this corridor truly functions as a lifeline for wildlife Around Badkhal Lake. Other rare sightings have included the Indian Fox, Ruddy Mongoose, and Indian Civet.
The air wildlife around Badkhal Lake is alive with bird calls. At dawn, the forest wakes to the cries of peacocks, the chirping of bulbuls, and the chatter of parakeets. Painted storks and kingfishers are a regular sight, their colors standing out vividly against the green background. In the cooler months, the lake transforms into a paradise for migratory birds that fly thousands of kilometers from Central Asia. Northern Pintails, Common Teals, Mallards, Gadwalls, and Brahminy Ducks glide over the still water. Larger birds such as Sarus Cranes, Asian Openbill Storks, and Purple Herons feed along the edges. Old residents of the area still recall the days when even the Siberian Crane stopped here on its long journey south – a memory that speaks of how rich these wetlands once were.
But not all of Badkhal’s residents are easy to spot. Beneath the rocks and near the water, reptiles quietly go about their lives. The Indian Rock Python and Russell’s Viper are part of this world, the latter known for its dangerous bite and its ability to disappear into the landscape. Bengal Monitor Lizards can be seen basking on sun-warmed stones, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. They are non-venomous and generally shy, preferring to slip away at the first sign of people. Turtles and frogs thrive along the edges of the lake, helping to keep the water healthy and the insect population under control.
Sometimes, if you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a wildcat. The Jungle Cat, long-legged and stealthy, moves through the scrubland with ease. In recent years, camera traps in nearby parts of the Aravalli range have even recorded the Rusty-spotted Cat — one of the smallest and rarest cats in the world. Its presence in south Haryana is a sign that the forest still has secrets to share.
The revival of Wildlife Around Badkhal Lake is a reminder of what patience and protection can achieve. Years of mining and careless development had nearly destroyed this ecosystem, but focused conservation work is helping it recover. Native trees like dhau and babul have been replanted. Camera traps and drones now track animal movements. The Aravalli Green Wall Project aims to restore degraded land and reconnect forest patches so that animals can move freely between them. Across the Mangar Bani–Badkhal–Asola stretch, motion-sensor cameras help monitor leopards, hyenas, and deer, offering scientists a clearer picture of how wildlife Around Badkhal Lake uses this corridor.
Today, Wildlife Around Badkhal Lake stands as a quiet symbol of hope – proof that nature can bounce back if we let it. The return of the chital, the calls of cranes in winter, and the flutter of wings over the water all tell the same story. Even after years of damage, life finds a way. All it needs is a little space, a little time, and the respect it always deserved.
