Bharatpur Sanctuary

One of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is located in the northwestern state of Rajasthan India. Also known as 'Keoladeo Ghana National Park',Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is famous as an 'Ornithologist's Paradise'. The sanctuary is the only manmade wildlife sanctuary in India, developed by an erstwhile Maharaja of Bharatpur. The sanctuary covers an area of approximately 29 sq km, 10 sq km of which comprises of fresh water marshes, shallow lakes and bogs. The favorable environmental conditions combined with enough nutritious food for the birds at Bharatpur Bird sanctuary attracts thousands of indigenous as well as migratory birds every year including the world-renowned Siberian Cranes. About one third of the total birds here are migrants many of whom come in winter before returning to their breeding grounds as far away as Siberia and Central Asia. The Sanctuary was given the status of the National Park on 10th March 1982, and was declared a World Heritage Site in December 1985.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is home to over 400 species of unique, exotic and rare birds that include indigenous as well as migratory water birds including the world-famous Siberian Cranes. The sanctuary also shelters some of the rare and endangered species of birds, making it one of the most inviting destinations in the world for ornithologists and nature lovers.

But, the greatest attraction for the bird lovers visiting Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary are undoubtedly, the world-renowned Siberian Cranes, who spend their winters in Bharatpur, the only second habitat for them in the world. Other important and most commonly spotted birds at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary are Pelicans, Cranes, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Pipits, Warblers, Wheatears, Wagtails, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks, Shanks, Painted storks, Pipits, White Ibis, Cormorants, Pale, Marsh Harriers and Stints to name a few with. Thousands of Moorhens and Jacanas can also be spotted in the floating vegetation on the water surface of the park.

Flora at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Flora at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary representing 64 families, 181 genera and 227 subspecies. Besides, you can spot a wide variety of wild animals including three types of wildcat- the Jungle cat, Leopard cat and Fishing cat-, Sambar, Chital, Chinkara, Blackbuck, Nilgai and wild boar among many others. The Sanctuary is also home to a variety of reptiles including the Rock Pythons, Frogs, Toads, Water Snakes, Snails, Leeches, Turtles, Tortoises, Water Hyacinth, Planktons and more. The Rock Pythons can be spotted at the python point beyond the Keoladeo Temple. In addition, the fresh water marshes, lagoons and bogs in the Bharatpur National Park supports a variety of fish population.

You can also enjoy an exciting boat safari in Bharatpur National Park to explore the natural beauty of the park and spot a variety of colorful and exotic birds. An early morning or a late evening boat ride in the artificial lake of the sanctuary can be an enchanting and rewarding experience for bird watchers. You can also hire a rickshaw to spot birds in the park. Rickshaw drivers have been well trained by the park management and can be quite helpful in your bird spotting adventure.

In addition to bird and Wild Animals at Bharatpur, there are many other tourist attractions in and around Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. You can visit the Bharatpur Government Museum, one of the major tourist attractions located inside the park. It preserves various articles of the royal past, providing an opportunity to peep into the past royal splendor of Bharatpur. The Bharatpur Palace and the Lohagarh Fort are another attractions for the tourists visiting Bharatpur National Park.

Best Time to Visit

One can visit Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary all round the year, still the best time to visit the sanctuary is from August-November for resident breeding birds and October- February for migratory birds including the world-renowned Siberian Cranes.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport from Bharatpur National Park is Agra (55 km).

By Rail: The Bharatpur railway station is only at 6 Km from the park and is well connected by rail services to major cities of India including Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai and Agra.

By Road: Bharatpur is well connected by roads to all the major cities of the Rajasthan and its neighboring states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.