Indian wetlands are a part of its ecosystem and are widely distributed from the cold and arid region located in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, and those with the wet and humid climate of peninsular India. Most of the Indian wetlands are directly or indirectly linked to river networks. The Indian government has identified a total of 71 Indian wetlands for conservation and is part of sanctuaries and national parks.

Mangrove forests are present all along the Indian coastline in sheltered estuaries, creeks, backwaters, salt marshes and mudflats that are specifically the areas of Indian wetlands. The mangrove area covers a total of 4 461 Sq km (1,722 mile²), which comprises around 7% of the world`s total mangrove cover. Prominent mangrove covers are located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Sundarbans delta, the Gulf of Kutch and the deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna rivers. Certain regions of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala also have large mangrove covers and Indian wetlands.

The Sundarbans delta, one of the world-renowned Indian wetlands is home to the largest mangrove forest in the world. It lies at the mouth of the Ganges and spreads across areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but is recognized separately as the Sundarbans (Bangladesh) and the Sundarbans National Park (India). A complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests, dissects the Sundarbans. The area is known for its varied fauna, being home to a large variety of species of birds, spotted deer, crocodiles and snakes. Its most famous inhabitant is the Bengal Tiger. It is estimated that there are now 400 Bengal tigers and about 30,000 spotted deer in these Indian wetlands.

The Rann of Kutch is a marshy Indian wetland located in northwestern Gujarat and the bordering Sind province of Pakistan. It occupies a total area of 27 900 Sq km (10,800 mile²). The region was originally a part of the Arabian Sea. Geologic forces such as earthquakes resulted in the damming up of this Indian wetland, turning it into a large saltwater lagoon. This area gradually filled with silt and turned it into a seasonal salt marsh. During the monsoons, the area turns into a shallow marsh, often flooding to knee-depth. After the monsoons, this Indian wetland turns dry and becomes parched.