The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the best and famous wildlife sanctuaries in India. It is the only wildlife sanctuary in India that is artificially made by a Maharaja. One of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is located in Bharatpur city of Rajasthan and also known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Indigenous water birds and many migratory water birds can be seen in this sanctuary along with larger animals such as Sambhar, Chital, Nilgai and Boar.
The foundation of this Bharatpur wildlife sanctuary was laid in 1760 when the Maharaja of Bharatpur made an artificial lake and the dam at this very site to store the water brought by the annual floods in this area. Over 300 bird species are found in this 29-sq-kms-wildlife park of divided into the stretches of marshes, scrubland and grassland. It got its name as Keoladeo Ghana Park on account of an ancient Hindu temple at the centre of the national park devoted to Lord Shiva. The term 'Ghana' is derived from Hindi, which means dense and refers to the thick forest, which covers the entire area. Bharatpur became a national park on 10 March 1982, and was given the status of a World Heritage Site in December 1985.
The tourists mainly visit the Bird Sanctuary, as it is the second habitat in the world that is visited by the Siberian Cranes in winter. When the rivers of Siberia are frozen due to the extreme winters, the Siberian Cranes visit the sanctuary to spend their winters in India. As soon as the winters are over in Siberia, these huge cranes return to their breeding grounds.
Wildlife in Bharatpur National Park
The major tourist attractions of the park include the numerous migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia, who spend their winters in Bharatpur bird sanctuary. The other migratory birds at the Bharatpur bird sanctuary include several species of Cranes, Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails and Pipits, etc.
Special Attractions at Bharatpur National Park
Bharatpur Government Museum: The Government Museum at Bharatpur is the major tourist attraction in the Bharatpur National Park, which preserves the articles refreshing the royal past of Bharatpur.
Bharatpur Palace: The Bharatpur Palace that stands with pride amidst the park is a structural blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture. This architectural marvel is quite picturesque to captivate the eyes of the tourists.
Lohagarh Fort: The Lohagarh Fort in the Bharatpur National Park has survived several attacks by the British regime.
Deeg Palace: The beautiful Deeg Palace is situated 32-kms away from Bharatpur. The strong and massive fortress was once the summer resort and boasts of numerous beautiful palaces and gardens.
When to Visit Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
The ideal time to visit the Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary is from August-November for the indigenous breeding birds and October- February for the migrant birds. There are forest trails to be covered easily on foot or on a cycle. You can also hire a rickshaw for bird watching tours. One can also hire boats. A boat trip early morning or in late evening is the best in Visit Bharatpur National Park. Keoladeo Ghana Park should be visited in winter, which is the best time to visit the wildlife sanctuary. Hot summers and wet monsoons should be avoided for the wildlife tour.
How to Reach Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
By Air: The nearest airport Agra is 56-kms from Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The place is also well connected with Delhi Airport, which can be reached from Agra.
By Rail: The Bharatpur railway station is 6-kms from the national park. The regular trains connect Bharatpur with all the major cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra.
By Road: An excellent road network connects Bharatpur to all the major towns of the Rajasthan like Agra, Jaipur, Delhi and its neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Within the Park: One can hire taxis, rickshaws or boats to explore the park well. The forest department also operated mini buses and boats in the national park.
Always carry binoculars for bird watching. All the tourists visiting the Keoladeo Ghana Park, Bharatpur must have an entry permit available at the the entrance to the park. The foreign tourists have to pay an entry fee of Rs 200 whereas the Indian tourists have to pay Rs 25. The extra charges have to be paid for cameras and other electronic equipments.