Bharatpur Birds Sanctuary

Location :Bharatpur, Rajasthan
Coverage area : 232 sq. Kms
Main attraction : Spoon bills
Best time to visit :December and February
Nearby excursions : Government Museum
Nearby cities :Bharatpur

Counted among some of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world, the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, now known as Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park, is home to many birds. Located in the desert state of India, Rajasthan, this sanctuary, as the name suggests, is famous for sightings of many rare birds. Popular especially in the winter season, this sanctuary houses more than 200 species of birds.

The present name, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, is an amalgamation of two different words. Keoladeo comes from the temple of Lord Shiva inside the sanctuary, which remains to be one of the major focal points of the sanctuary and Ghana comes from the Hindi word which translates to dense in the English language. Ghana

points towards the thick woods that cover the sanctuary.

The history of the bird sanctuary dates more than two-hundred years back. Established in 1982, the area of we know as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, used to be the hunting grounds of the Maharajas of the state. The hunting tradition in the area went back to the 1850s. Hunts, such as duck shoots, were organized here and at one point, when Lord Linlithgow came to visit in 1838, then Viceroy of India, more than four thousand birds were killed in one shoot. To avoid such massive destruction to the natural ecosystem of the area, the sanctuary was established. Keoladeo Ghana National Park was declared as a World Heritage Site, and the last shoot here was organized in 1972.

Location of Bharatpur Birds Sanctuary

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is located in the state of Rajasthan. This sanctuary is known for its massive population of birds of different species. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is established in the area which used to be a natural depression. This area was prone to floods, to tackle this, Maharaja Suraj Mal created a bund at the confluence of two rivers, the Gambhir and Banganga in the area. Keoladeo Ghana National Park is located in the same area.

This park is a man-made and man-managed park with wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, and woodland swamps.

Geographical landscape of the bird sanctuary

The bird sanctuary houses wetlands, grasslands, swamps, and woodlands. Located in the eastern part of Rajasthan, the sanctuary falls at 27?10'N, 77?31'E in the state; and is located at the confluence of the Gambhir and Banganga rivers. The sanctuary is located only 2 kilometers away from Bharatpur and is about 55 kilometers from Agra.

Nearby wildlife sanctuaries

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is close to SoorSarovar Bird Sanctuary, which is located on the Mathura road. The SoorSarovar Bird Sanctuary is located near Keetham Lake and is also popular for its vast population of migratory birds.

Climatic conditions

Keoladeo Ghana National Park experiences hot summers and cold winters. The temperatures during summers can range from 38 ? C to 45?C, which makes it hard for visitors to enjoy the park. Winters here are better, and allow you to observe the birds. The winter season begins in the month of October and ends in March. The temperatures during the winter months during the day range from 23 ? C to 26?C.

Best time to visitBharatpur Birds Sanctuary

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is known for its birds and migratory birds. You can observe the birds here without any obstruction during the winter season. A visit at any time during the winter seasons will help you find what you are looking for here. However, if you wish to visit the park solely for the purpose of photography, then you should plan a visit between December and February.

Animals that inhabit the sanctuary

Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a paradise for birds and birdwatchers. This sanctuary houses more than 270 species of birds. You can also find some other animals that are home to this area in the sanctuary as well.

Birds

Known over the world for its abundant presence of birds as well as migratory birds, here is a list of kinds of birds you will find in the sanctuary: cranes, Buntings, Siberian crane, wood sandpiper, Larks, Pipits, cotton teal, Wheatears, Warblers, Shanks, Ducks, Geese, Pelicans, Indian shag, Eagles, painted stork, ruff, white spoonbill, Wagtails, Stints, saruscrane,Hawks and many more.

The park is also known for the landing of the migratory waterfowl before it migrates to other areas.

Mammals

Although the Keoladeo Ghana National Park is usually known for its birds, there are many mammals that are found here. Here is a list of various types of mammals in the park: Wild boar and Indian porcupine, Indian gray mongoose, different species of deer, Hanuman langurs, rhesus macaque, fishing cat, palm civet, Golden Jackals, Striped hyenas, hog deer, nilgai, smooth-coated otter, leopard cat, bats, and many more.

Reptiles

Here is a list of some kinds of reptiles found in the park: monitor lizard, bullfrog, seven species of turtles, krait, cobra, and python.

The natural vegetation or flora

The fact that the Keoladeo Ghana National Park is located in an area which is rich in fauna has allowed the ecosystem here to thrive. Comprising of wetlands, grasslands, swamps, and dense forests, the area is diverse on the front of vegetation. Most of the areas in the park comprise of dry deciduous forest, which is mixed with dry grassland in the areas where the forests have degraded. Apart from this, the park contains artificially managed marshes, with small shrubs and medium-sized trees.

Forests can be mostly found in the north-eastern parts of the park. The forests in the park are dominated by kadam trees, babul trees, andJamun trees. Scrublands and woodlands are dominated by ber and kair, and babul trees respectively. The soil here is alluvial.

Distance of Bharatpur Birds Sanctuary from major cities:

Jaipur, 184.9 km
Delhi, 222.3 km
Agra, 55.5 km
Kolkata, 1,326.3 km
Bangalore, 1,952.5 km
Hyderabad, 1,361.3 km
Mumbai, 1,338.4 km
Chennai, 1,984.0 km

How to reach the National park ?

Open All

Close All

Airways

The nearest airport to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park is located in Agra, which is 56 km away from the city.

Railways

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is some minutes away from the Bharatpur Railway Station. Regular trains can be found from and to Agra, Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur.

Roadways

Keoladeo Ghana National Park is well-connected to different parts of the country with the help of roadways. One can make use of their cars or hail a cab from cities nearby to travel to the park. Major highways link Keoladeo Ghana National Park to other cities as well, which makes it possible for you to drive to the park from any part of the country.

Accommodation facilities

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a major tourist attraction. Many tourists flock Bharatpur to observe and view the birds every year, which is why the area offers you many first-class places to stay. From food to staying accommodations, you can find a good place to stay near the park. Here is where you can stay at:

Bharatpur Forest Lodge
Regenta Resort Bharatpur
Hotel Udai Vilas Palace
Swaraj Resorts
BrijrajBhawan Palace Hotel
MahalKhas Palace
Hotel Goverdhan Tourist Complex

Things to do

The park offers you three different types of safari rides. You could choose to tour the park with an Elephant Back Safari, with Jeep Rides or with Rickshaw Safari. To get the best view of the birds in the park, elephant-back safari rides and rickshaw safaris are the best, as they allow you to get close to the birds and their habitat.

The safari rides here begin at 6 in the morning and end at 6 in the evening.