Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

The Ornithologist's paradise

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is popularly also known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Marked as one of the world heritage sites in India, its name 'keoladeo' is derived from the name of a temple within the vicinity which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The term Ghana means thick vegetation. With approximately 230 species of birds, this sanctuary is also known as the ornithologist's paradise. In 1971 it was declared as declared as the protected sanctuary. It is also known for being the largest bird reserve in India. In 1985, it was marked as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

According to history, the Keoladeo National Park was constructed around 250 years ago. Maharaja Suraj Mall, who was the ruler of Bharatpur from 1926 to 1973, constructed the Ajan Bund (Dam) at the confluence of two important rivers such as Banganga and Gambhir. The park had a natural depression which got automatically inundated with rain water and eventually attracted the wildfowls. Over a period of time, the Prince Harbhanji of the nearby Morvi State, created the duck shooting reserve here. The first official duck shooting took place here by Lord Curzon on 1st December 1902. It was only after the Wildlife protection act passed in 1972 that the shooting of birds became illegal. Famous Indian ornithologist Salim Ali has played a significant role in the development of the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

Following are the few tourist attractions of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary:

Flora: The Bharatpur National Park is known for the dry deciduous forests and dry grasslands. Marshes are also artificially managed here. The bio-type is semi-arid types. One can also spot shrubs and medium sized trees here. The commonly found trees are kadam, babul, jamun and ber. Kair and Ber dominate the shrublands. Impressive aquatic vegetation is also present in the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary such as lotus, water lilies, water ferns and duckweeds.

Fauna: More than 230 different varieties of bird species are found in the Bharatpur National Park. It is also known for the long list of migratory birds such as ducks, geese, stints, flycatchers, pipits, wheaters and eagles. The aquatic habitats contain a large number of invertebrates such as molluscs, insects and worms. Innumerable waterfowls breed in this bird sanctuary because of the importance of its location at the Gangetic Plain. Few of the common waterfowls are storks cormorants and herons. The common land birds found here are bulbul, quails, warnlers, hornbills and chats. 27 different species of mammals are also found in this bird sanctuary, like, spotted deers, sambar, feral catlles and even porcupines. The fishing cat and the jungle cat are the two main cat species that are found in the sanctuary. 43 different varieties of fishes are found and they are important for being the feed for several birds.

Excursions from Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

There are several exciting locations near to Bharatpur where the tourists can enjoy and experience adventure.

Chambal Sanctuary: Located at the tri-junction of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Chambal Sanctuary is known for preserving the endangered species of gharials, river dolphins and roof turtles. The rich flora and fauna of the sanctuary can also be enjoyed through the motorboat ride.

Deeg: Located around 32 km away from Bharatpur, Deeg is known for its historic forts and palaces. Sawan Bhadon is one of the most popularly visitied palaces in Deeg by the tourists. It is also known for the beautifully manicured Mughal garden.  Over the years, the Deeg Fort has become one of the most famous hotspots for tourists.

Ranthambore National Park: It is one of the largest national parks in Northern India and is known for preserving the rare Bengal tigers. One can also spot hyena, sambar, leopard, wild boar and Nilgai.

When to Reach
The most ideal time to visit the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is October to February because it is the season for several migratory birds.

How to Reach
By Air: The nearest airports to the Bharatpur National Park are those of Jaipur and Delhi.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is Bharatpur Junction which is located around 5 km away from the sanctuary.
By Road: Regular buses are available for the sanctuary from Deeg, Jaipur, Fatehpur Sikri, Delhi, Mathura, Alwar and Sariska