Birds
have been a constant source of delight to watch. And India has a number of
famous bird sanctuaries that are flocked to by hordes of tourists,
naturalists and ornithologists. One of the finest and most visited is the
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary at Bharatpur in Rahasthan. The sanctuary served as
a hunting preserve of the Bharatpur royalty. It was also renowned as one of
the best duck shooting wetlands in the world. Whenever the mahrajas invited
some British officials, a short hunting trip to the sanctuary was a
favourite pastime. However, hunting was prohibited by the middle of 1960s.
On 10 March, 1982, it was declared as a national park- the Keoladeo Ghana
National Park.
The 29 sq km expanse of the park comprises of marshes, scrubland and
grasslands. More than 300 avian species inhabit the park. The park harbours
both resident and migratory birds including the popular Siberian Crane.
Naturalists and ornithologist keep arriving at the park to explore the
colourful birdlife that the sanctuary shelters. Besides the bird species,
you can also spot animal species.
Go There For
A regular haunt of bird-fanciers and ornithologist alike, the Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary is mostly famous for the migratory birds that arrive here
during the winters from as far as Siberia and Central Asia. The
visitor-birds include species like Coot Snipes, Spanish Sparrow, Red Crested
Porhard, Rosy Pelican and Flamingo. However, the Siberian Crane is the
cynosure of all eyes here. Other bird species include geese, ducks, larks,
shanks, stints, wagtails, pipits etc.
Besides being a close observer to the bird population, you can also observe
some animal species like chital, nilgai, sambar, fishing cat, spotted deer,
monitor lizard, boar etc. The park has well defined trails that one can
cover either on a cycle or on foot. Rickshaw rides are also on offer.
Rickshaw pullers have specially been trained by the park management. They
have special knowledge about the birds and common sightings. A boat trip
inside is also a nice option to enjoy sightseeing. You can avail of these
exciting boat trips in the early mornings and evenings.
Other Attractions
While
on a trip to the Bharatpur Sanctuary, you can also pay a visit to the
Bharatpur Government Museum. The museum has a fascinating collection of
antiquities and provides a window into the regal past of the region. The
Bharatpur Palaces is positioned close to the museum and is worth a visit.
Tourists can also see the Lohagarh Fort. The fort is a must-visit for all
as it has the distinction of not being conquered even after several attacks
by the British empire.
For visitors to Bharatpur, the Deeg Palace, 32 km from here, proves to be a
big draw. The erstwhile summer refuge of the rulers of Bharatpur, the palace
further comprises of a number of wonderful palaces and landscaped gardens.
Reaching The Park
The Kheria Airport of Agra (56 km) is the closest airport from Bharatpur.
Covering a distance of 6 km gets to the Bharatpur Railway Station. The
railway stations has regular trains from places like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur
and Agra. An excellent road network links Bharatpur to the key destinations
of Rajasthan and its neighbouring states Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
Delhi lies at a distance of 176 km from Bharatpur and is a 5 hours drive by
road.
