Keoladeo Ghana National Park, also called Bharatpur National Park, wildlife sanctuary in eastern Rajasthan state, north-western India, just south of the city of Bharatpur.
The Keoladeo National Park is recognised as one of the world’s most important bird breeding and feeding grounds. It originated in as a royal hunting reserve during the 1850s and was a game reserve for Maharajas and the British. In fact, Lord Linlithgow, Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943, shot over thousands of ducks with his hunting party in a single day!
In 1982, Keoladeo was declared a national park and then later listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
The park is home to over 370 species of birds and animals such as the basking python, painted storks, deer, nilgai and more. Noted Indian ornithologist and naturalist Salim Ali used his influence to garner government support to create Keoladeo National Park. It was also known as the breeding ground for the rare and elusive to spot Siberian crane. Keoladeo National Park offers well-defined treks which can be covered on either foot, or cycle or rickshaws. In fact, the park management has trained the rickshaw pullers in bird watching and they make for extremely knowledgeable guides.
Keoladeo is one of the names of Lord Shiva, and Ghana means ‘dense’, referring to its vegetation. Unlike our other protected spaces, however, Keoladeo Ghana was not a naturally existing habitat; it was created from scratch. It was created not as a conservation effort, but as a hunting ground for Bharatpur’s royal family and the British in the late 19th Century.
The Keoladeo jheel (lake) always existed, on which the Maharaja of Bharatpur created dykes and bunds. Controlled water was released into this area, and native trees and plants were planted to attract a variety of birds for the purpose of shooting them. Today, the area is one of India’s most unique and best wetland habitats for birds.
Though declared a bird sanctuary a few years after Indian Independence, the royal family retained hunting rights until the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972 made it illegal.
The sanctuary was declared a National Park in 1982. Spread across 29 sq.km, with over 360 documented bird species, Keoladeo Ghana National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and has remained so ever since.
The flora of the park is dominated by Jamun and Babul. The open woodland is mostly Babul with a small amount of Kandi and Ber. Scrublands are dominated by Ber and Kair. The principal vegetation types are tropical dry deciduous forests intermixed with dry grasslands.
Treat for wildlife lovers. Neelgai, Chital Deer, Feral Cattle are commonly found animals while Sambhar can also be seen at times. Mongoose of both varieties (common Indian Grey and Small Indian), Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Asian Palm and Small Indian Civet, Golden Jackals, many species of Rats, Bats, Mice are also present.
It is one of the best Bird Watching Destinations in the world as it offers home to both native and migratory birds. It is also the only wintering area for the endangered Siberian Crane.
Visiting hours are from 6:00 A.M. to 6 P.M. There are three options Jeep Rides, Rickshaw Safari. Rickshaw Safari is considered to be the best as they offer the best view. You have to pay extra if you want to carry your video camera with you.
Air
Agra (60 km; 75 min away) is the nearest airport. However, Jaipur (190 km; 3 hrs away) and Delhi (200 km; 4 hrs away) offer better flight connectivity than Agra.
Rail
Bharatpur Junction is well-connected by trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, and cities in Rajasthan.
Road
Bharatpur is at a comfortable driving distance from popular tourist destinations like Agra (60-75 min), Jaipur (3 hrs) and Delhi/NCR (4 hrs). It is often a stop for tourists on the Golden Triangle circuit.
November to February is the coolest time of the year, with the lowest temperatures ranging from 7-15°C. Mornings in the park can feel much colder though. This season is the best for bird-watching enthusiasts, as this is when you can sight the winter migrants.
April to July are the hottest months, with day temperatures of over 40°C. The wetlands sometimes have very little water in summer, and only resident birds can be seen during this time. It is, however, a good time to view Sarus Cranes engaged in courtship behaviour.
August and September are the monsoon months, when most resident birds begin mating and nesting. It isn’t the best time to spot birds, but visitors hoping to sight mating rituals and nest-building behaviours should exercise caution in not hindering these activities.
March and October are pleasant transitional months, with temperatures of around 18-20°C. The advantage is there are fewer crowds during these months, except, of course, during the Dussehra and Diwali holidays.
