Khichan, a quaint village situated in the newly created Phalodi district of Rajasthan, India, is known for its remarkable coexistence with many demoiselle cranes that visit the village every winter. This site (54.187 ha) is located 150 km north of Jodhpur in the northern part of the Thar Desert in India. The site comprises of two waterbodies the Vijayasgara Talab (19 ha) and Ratri Nadi with an area of 18 ha, while the remaining 17 ha is characterized by presence of other habitat types including scrub land and riparian areas which provides mosaic ecosystem to the biodiversity of proposed site. These rivers and ponds are used by the cranes as resting sites in the evening and a source of drinking water for wildlife. Khichan has gained recognition as a tourist spot by the Rajasthan Tourist Development Corporation, primarily due to the presence of large wintering flocks of Demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides virgo). The village is characterized by its sandy desert landscape, highlighting typical xerophytic vegetation of the Thar, with Mesquite (Prosopis cineraria) being one of the common tree species. The site supports a variety of lifeforms that are ecologically adapted to desert ecosystem. Khichan has been declared as Kuranja Conservation Reserve, by the Rajasthan Forest Department in April 2023 under Wildlife Protection Act. The area is actively managed by the forest division and has become a destination for birders, students, tourists, and scientists, who regularly visit the village to witness the unique wildlife and ecosystem. The site is important of safeguarding biodiversity in this region. The site supports 159 species of birds out of which 43 species are water birds. It is home to threatened birds which includes two (02) critically endangered, two (02) endangered, three (03) vulnerable and three (03) near threatened species of water birds. This site is important habitat for Demoiselle Cranes (population size: 22667; 2017 - 2022). During winter, thousands of Demoiselle Cranes migrate to Khichan, creating a remarkable example of harmonious coexistence between the wildlife and the local community.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species or families, life-history stages, species interactions and/or populations that are representative of wetland benefits and/or values and thereby contributes to global biological diversity.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent nonavian animal species.