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Location : Bharatpur, Rajasthan
Nearest Access : Bharatpur
Main Wildlife Found : Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Boar, Migratory Birds
Coverage Area : 29-sq-kms
About Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
One of the finest bird parks in the world, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo
Ghana National Park) is a reserve that offers protection to faunal species as
well. Nesting indigenous water- birds as well as migratory water birds and
waterside birds, this sanctuary is also inhabited by Sambar, Chital, Nilgai
and Boar. |
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Flora in Bharatpur
More than 300 species of birds are found in this small wildlife park of
29-sq-kms of which 11-sq-kms are marshes and the rest scrubland and grassland.
Keoladeo, the name derives from an ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord
Shiva, which stands at the centre of the park. 'Ghana' means dense, referring
to the thick forest, which used to cover the area.
A Man Made Natural World
While many of India's parks have been developed from the hunting preserves of
princely India, Keoladeo, popularly known as Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary, is
perhaps the only case where the habitat has been created by a maharaja. In
earlier times, Bharatpur town used to be flooded regularly every monsoon. In
1760, an earthen dam (Ajan Dam) was constructed, to save the town, from this
annual vagary of nature. The depression created by extraction of soil for the
dam was cleared and this became the Bharatpur Lake.
At the beginning of this century, this lake was developed, and was divided
into several portions. A system of small dams, dykes, sluice gates, etc., was
created to control water level in different sections. This became the hunting
preserve of the Bharatpur royalty, and one of the best duck - shooting
wetlands in the world. Hunting was prohibited by mid-60s. The area was
declared a national park on 10 March 1982, and accepted as a World Heritage
Site in December 1985.
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.
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 Bharatpur Palace, an
marvellous structural 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. A
strong and massive fortress, Deeg Palace was the summer resort of the rulers
of Bharatpur and houses numerous beautiful palaces and gardens.
Best Time to Visit Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary is open throughout the year, still the ideal
visiting months are from August-November for resident breeding birds and
October- February for migrant birds.
Trips within Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary
There are well-defined forest trails, which can easily be covered on foot or
on a cycle or you can also hire a rickshaw that are available on hire.
Rickshaw pullers have been trained by the park management in bird watching and
are quite knowledgeable. Boats are also available on hire. A early morning
boat trip or a late evening one is quite a rewarding experience to check out
the hidden surprises of Bharatpur.
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How to Get there
Air : The nearest airport is situated at Agra, which is 56-kms from Bharatpur.
Rail : Regular rail services connect Bharatpur with all the major cities of
India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra. The Bharatpur railway station is
6-kms from the park
Road : An excellent network of roadway services connects Bharatpur to all the
major cities of the Rajasthan and its neighbouring states like Delhi, Uttar
Pradesh, Haryana. Bharatpur is well connected by road from Agra (56-kms, 5
hours), Delhi (176-kms, 5 hours) and Jaipur (176-kms, 6 hours), all of which
have airport facilities too. |
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