About Bharatpur National Park

In the north eastern part Rajasthan near the famous golden triangle city of Jaipur is located the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1985, it is a gem in India's ecological crown despite being one of the smallest parks in the country. Named after the adjoining town of Bharatpur, the wildlife sanctuary is a multicolored avian colony, which plays host to some of the most beautiful birds, both resident and migratory. Turned as a National Park and a wildlife sanctuary few years back, Keoladeo or Bharatpur is a scrub woodland that makes a slight depression forming a hallow for water collection. It is this collection that attracts migratory avians in the park. Even a short visit to the park is enough to catch a glimpse of hundreds of beautiful birds.

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Fauna: 350 species of birds including open bill stork, egrets, grey herons, black-headed ibis, cormorants, pipits, larks, waterfowls, ground-thrushes, rubythroats,sleeping nighjars, eagles, harriers, owls, nilgai, sambar, spotted ders, jackals, wild boars, otters, hares, civets, fishing, and jungles cats, porcupines, blackbucks

Avifauna: Bar headed geese, pied-crested cuckoo, garganey, Baikal teals, little grebe, northern shovellers, gray leg grease.

Major Halts

A treat to the nature lovers Bharatpur National park is actually a real wild life home. Catch up with many more activities to see and do here. The best way to see diverse species of birds and animals is to make trips at different times of the day. Wake up with the birds in the early morning, see water birds in the daylight and of course, catch night birds such as owls at dusk and after sunset.

» Halt 1: Bird Watching
There are many routes inside the park, but opt for the one near swamps for the maximum number of sightings. One route is to head to Sapan Mori and then to turn right towards the Keoladeo Temple. Visiting the park in winters will surprise you with 100's of species of birds. This is also the best time to see various birds of prey who keep on changing their spots. If you are with a guide and your spotting abilities are good, the best thing you can do is find species from Central Asia and Siberia. The most thrilling sight is that of water surface full of birds, and the way they take off in swirling flocks when there is a slight disturbance. The sanctuary is home to rarest birds in the world, the sociable plover, which breeds on open steppes in central Asia. In drought years Keoladeo Ghana becomes a haven for desert species of birds in India.

» Halt 2: Boat Ride
Book your boat at tourist reception center, you can book boat rides if there is water in the lakes and it's boating season. Boats are available for hire from the point near the ITDC Bharatpur Ashok Hotel.

» Halt 3: Walk the park
Another million dollar way to explore mighty avian residents of the park is walking. Take along your guide who would escort you to private and clandestine homes of birds and animals. Stretch your eyes as far as they can and you will be welcomed by open billed stork, black white stork grey herons and many more specialists. A walk in the wooded land would get you fair introduction of jungle cacophony, bird mating and several of their proclivity.

Travel Tips :

» Please follow the rules and guidelines of the park
» Try maintaining peace full surroundings in the park
» Do not carry any weapon in the park
» Wear dull shaded clothes in the park