Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Popularly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of the most famous bird sanctuary in India. It is interesting to note that two-thirds of the park lies under water and the remaining one-third is covered in dry deciduous forests and extensive grasslands.

Location of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary :
The best way to reach Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is by bus, which is readily available from any of these three major tourist destination. There are regular bus services to Bharatpur, both of the state transport and private operators. Travel agencies also operate conducted tours. If the group is large, ask for conducted tours from the Rajasthan tourism office. The nearest airport is that of Agra. Bharatpur has its own railway stations with many major trains halting here.

The Royal Past! :
The national park has a magnificent past as at time it was the hunting reserve under the Prince Bhamji of Morvi state, Gujarat. Slowly it became famous amongst the ruler of Bharatpur. On one occasion held in honor of Viceroy Lord Curzon in 1902, thousands of birds were killed and their exploits engraved on stone plaques standing near the Keoladeo Temple, standing tall in the heart of the Sanctuary.

The Avian Population in Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary :
There are about 377 bird species that could be spotted in the national park. Lucky travelers might be able to spot 50 to 100 species in a day. If you are coming in winter, ready for a sudden encounter with the elusive Siberian Crane wintering here. The fact remains that Bharatpur is one of the only two known wintering haunts of Siberian Crane. Birds come to this national park in waves. Apart from great birds, the national park has large herds of the nilgai, chital, wild boar and fear cows in addition to a few herds of sambar.

Best Seasons :
The bird sanctuary remains open throughout the year, but the best seasons are considered between August to end of March. There are many options available to explore the beauty of the bird sanctuary like cycle or a cycle rickshaw that are available on hire. Cycle rickshaw pullers have been trained by the forest department in bird watching and are knowledgeable. Boats are also available for a trip of the lake area that can make your tour to Keoladeo Ghana National park memorable.