Location: Bharatpur,
Rajastha
Best Time to Visit: August to November (Residing Birds) and October
to February (Migratory Birds)
Highlights: Egrets, Grey Herons, Black-headed Ibis, Cormorants,
Pipits, Larks, Bar-headed Geese, Pie-creasted Cuckoo, Garganery, Nilgai,
Sambar, Spooted Deer, Jackals, Wild Boars, Otters.
Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary, also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a bird lover's
paradise. Rated as one of the finest bird park in India, it is the only
wildlife sanctuary in the country that was artificially made by Maharaja of
Bharatpur in 1760. The park is a gem in India's ecological crown. It was
declared as world heritage site in 1985. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary was
created around 250 years ago on the name of Keoladeo (Shiva) temple located
at the centre of the sanctuary. Hence it was known by the name of Keoladeo
Bird Sanctuary.
Highlights of the Park
Fauna: The visitors can spot wide spectrum of
wildlife in the dense forest covering an area of 26 sq-kms. The park is a
natural habitat to varied fauna species such as Nilgai, Sambar, Spooted
Deer, Jackals, Wild Boars, Otters, Hares, Civets, Jungle Cats, Porcupines,
Blackbucks and many,
Avifauna: Bharatpur wildlife sanctuary is haven to
more than 350 avifauna species including migratory birds and breeding birds
within the forest. Enjoy spotting several bird species including open-bill
storks, Egrets, Grey Herons, Black-headed Ibis, Cormorants, Pipits, Larks,
Waterfowl, Ground-thrushes, Rubythroats, Sleeping Nightjars, Eagles,
Harriers, Owls and many more. The bird enthusiasts can also spot fascinating
species of migratory bird such as Bar-headed Geese, Pie-creasted Cuckoo,
Garganery, Baikal Teals, Grebe, Northern Shovellers, Greying Geese and many
more.
Flora The Bird Sanctuary boasts of an amazing
variety of flora, a habitat to several wildlife. It has the tropical dry
deciduous forest and is dominated by Acacia Nilotica and dry grassland. One
can find 181 genera including Babul, Kadam, Date Palm, Khejri and varied
species of grasses and reeds.
Activities
Bird Watching: Bird's paradise is a dwelling place
to exotic species of avifauna. You can opt for various routes, but the best
option is to choose area near the swamps, for the maximum number of
sightings. Travel towards the Sapan Mori and then to the Keoladeo Temple to
have a close encounter with pythons. The Mansarover and Hansarover marshes
and the lakes and swamps of Bharatpur is a favorite residing place for
heronries. The winter season is the best time to spot over 100 species of
birds in a short period of time. During this time one can experience the
thrilling sight of water surface full of birds. In the dry season, Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary is haven for the desert bird species like Pipits and Larks.
Other then breeding birds,delight yourself by spotting several migratory
species that comes from Central Asia, Siberia and East Africa.
Boat Riding: Boat riding is one of the interesting
way to get close to the bird life. Visitors can hire a boat at Tourist
Reception Centre. Book your boat during the boating season and sail through
the marshy lands of Keoloadeo Ghana Park to have a glimpse of varied
avifauna species.
Nearby Attractions of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Some of the places of interest near to Keoladeo Ghana National Park are
Government Museum, Bharatpur Palace, Lohagarh Fort and Deeg Palace.
