General Information :
Location : Bharatpur, Rajasthan
Nearest
Access : Bharatpur
Main Wildlife Found : Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Boar, Migratory
Birds
Coverage Area : 29-sq-kms
Best time to visit : August to Feb.
Nearest Airport : Agra (56 km)
Nearest Railway Station : Bharatpur
By
Road : Well connected from Agra , Delhi & Jaipur.
Bharatpur Bird
Sanctuary :
One of the finest bird parks in the world, Bharatpur Bird
Sanctuary (Keoladeo Ghana Natiuonal 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. 
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.
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.
Wildlife Species:
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.
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.
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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