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Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary)
General Information
Best time to visit: October to February Fauna: Pelicans, Cranes, Egrets, Darters, Cormorants, Grey Herons, Stork
Location: Bharatpur
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, popularly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is one of the finest national parks in India, located in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan. This magnificent bird haven is in actual came into being paradoxically as a duck shooting preserve for Maharaja Suraj Mull of Bharatpur. He transformed the shallow depression formed by the confluence of River Gambhir and River Banganga into a reservoir by damming the rainwater in monsoons. Flooding of water created shallow wetland ecosystem causing it to be a perfect habitat for an astounding variety of birds. The park that was a hunting preserve for the Maharaja and the British continued to be so till 1964, after which the hunting was banned.
The best time to visit Keoladeo Ghana National Park is October to February. During this time you can see many migratory birds. Expect to see Saras Crane (the largest bird in the park), heron, egret, geese, owl, cormorant, kingfisher and even python. Pythons are most commonly seen in the winter, when they have to come out from underground to sunbathe. The best time for bird spotting is the early morning and evening. The most famous winter visitors were once the rare Siberian cranes.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary shelters over 400 species of birds consisting of a variety of indigenous as well as migratory birds, making it one of the most inviting destinations in the world for ornithologists, amateurs and nature lovers. Various species of indigenous water birds, waterside birds, migratory water birds, land migratory birds, and a variety of wild animals can be spotted in the park.
The prime attractions at the park are the Siberian Cranes, who travel all the way from Siberia (about 6,500 Km away) to spend their winters in the sanctuary - the only second habitat for them in the world. Other interesting birds at the sanctuary include Pelicans, Cranes, Egrets, Darters, Cormorants, Grey Herons, Stork, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Pipits, Warblers, Wheatears, Wagtails, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks, Shanks, and Stints to name a few.
In addition to a wide variety of wildlife, this beautiful avian paradise offers a number of recreations to its visitors. A beautiful artificial lake, in the middle of the park, offers enjoyable conditions for boat cruises and bird spotting. An early morning or a late evening boat ride in the lake can be an enchanting and rewarding experience for the bird lovers. You can also hire a rickshaw to spot birds in the park. Well-trained rickshaw drivers can be quite helpful in your bird spotting adventure. Other tourist attractions in and around the park include the Lohagarh Fort, the Bharatpur Government Museum and the Bharatpur Palace. Always carry binoculars for bird watching. All the tourists visiting the Keoladeo Ghana Park, Bharatpur must have an entry permit available at the entrance to the park.» How to Reach Keoladeo National Park?
By Air: The nearest airport Agra is 56-kms from Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The place is also well connected with Delhi Airport, which can be reached from Agra.
By Train: The Bharatpur railway station is 6-kms from the national park. The regular trains connect Bharatpur with all the major cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra.
By Road: An excellent road network connects Bharatpur to all the major towns of the Rajasthan like Agra, Jaipur, Delhi and its neighboring states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
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