Location
Keoladeo Ghana or Bharatpur Bird Santuary is situated just two km from the
town of Bharatpur and 176 km away from Delhi by train or road and 50 km away
from Agra.
The Bird's Paradise
Keoladeo National Park, better known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, has been
recognise as the World Heritage Site. With an area of 29 square kilometers,
this park comprises of extensive marshes and scrubland. It is considered the
best waterfowl sanctuary in the world.
Bharatpur was a small princely state, with no forests worth the name. The
then Maharaja of Bharatpur, in the late 19th century, created a wonderful
water-bird sanctuary by converting the arid scrub land into marshes by a
system of small dams and dykes. This bird sanctuary is incomparable in
India.
Migratory waterfowl from foreign lands start arriving in the month of
October. Soon the marshes are packed with colorful geese, ducks, cranes,
pelicans and flamingos. But the most focused is the Siberian crane-one of
the most threatened species in the world.
Major Wildlife Attractions
The major attractions of tourists visiting the park are the numerous
migratory birds, who come from as far away as Siberia and Central Asia and
spend their winters in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding
grounds. Migratory birds at Bharatpur bird sanctuary include, several
species of Cranes, Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Shanks, Stints,
Wagtails, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks and Pipits, etc.
Winter sees predatory birds-the fishing cat which specializes in scooping
ducks off the lake. The scrubland abounds in sambar, spotted deer, black
buck, blue bull, wild boar, jackal and jungle cat. Pythons bask in the sun
around their several known burrows.
Other Travel Attractions
Bharatpur Govenment Museum : One of the major attention
grabber after the Bharatpur sanctuary is Government Museum of Bharatpur,
which provides a glimpse of the past royal splendour of Bharatpur.
Bharatpur Palace : Not far from the museum is the
marvellous structural of Bharatpur Palace, which exhibit the blend of Mughal
and Rajput architecture.
Lohagarh Fort : The invincible Lohagarh Fort, which
remained unconquered despite several attacks by the British regime.
Deeg Palace : Situated just 32-kms away from Bharatpur is
the Deeg Palace was the summer resort of the rulers of the Bharatpur. A
strong and massive fortress houses numerous beautiful palaces and gardens.
Reaching Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
By Air : The nearest airport is that of Agra.
By Train : Bharatpur has its own railway stations with many major
trains halting here.
By Road : There are regular buses plying to Bharatpur from Delhi,
Agra, and other cities, and taxis can also be hired to do the trip.
