Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur - Rajasthan
 
     
 

Facts & Figures

Area : 29 Sq. Km
Altitude : 174m above mean sea level
Temperature Range : 45°C to 10°C
Best time to Visit : August to November
(For Resident Birds) and October- February
(For Migratory Birds)

About Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the best and famous wildlife sanctuaries in India. It is the only wildlife sanctuary in India that is artificially made by a Maharaja. One of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is located in Bharatpur city of Rajasthan and also known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Indigenous water birds and many migratory water birds can be seen in this sanctuary along with larger animals such as Sambhar, Chital, Nilgai and Boar.

The foundation of this Bharatpur wildlife sanctuary was laid in 1760 when the Maharaja of Bharatpur made an artificial lake and the dam at this very site to store the water brought by the annual floods in this area. Over 300 bird species are found in this 29-sq-kms-wildlife park of divided into the stretches of marshes, scrubland and grassland. It got its name as Keoladeo Ghana Park on account of an ancient Hindu temple at the centre of the national park devoted to Lord Shiva. The term 'Ghana' is derived from Hindi, which means dense and refers to the thick forest, which covers the entire area. Bharatpur became a national park on 10 March 1982, and was given the status of a World Heritage Site in December 1985.

The tourists mainly visit the Bird Sanctuary, as it is the second habitat in the world that is visited by the Siberian Cranes in winter. When the rivers of Siberia are frozen due to the extreme winters, the Siberian Cranes visit the sanctuary to spend their winters in India. As soon as the winters are over in Siberia, these huge cranes return to their breeding grounds.

Birds In Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is home of more than 400 species of exotic and rare birds, migratory water birds, indigenous water birds and land migratory birds. The main attraction of bird sanctuary is Siberian Cranes. This bird is known to travel distances of up to 6,500 km migrating from the Ob River basin region (Aral mountains, Siberia). Apart from Feredunkenar (Iran), Bharatpur Sanctuary is the only place where the Siberian crane migrates. The cranes arrive in December and stay until early March.

Eagles, Ducks, Flycatchers, kingfishers, owls, Buntings, White Ibis, herons, Painted storks, geese, Hawks, Pelicans, Pipits, Larks, Shanks, spoonbills, Wheatears, darters, Wagtails, Warblers, Cranes, Cormorants, Marsh Harriers, Pale, Stints and Pipits are most common birds found in the bird sanctuary.

Special Attractions at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Bharatpur Government Museum :The Government Museum at Bharatpur is the major tourist attraction in the Bharatpur National Park, which preserves the articles refreshing the royal past of Bharatpur.

BharatpurPalace : The Bharatpur Palace that stands with pride amidst the park is a structural blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture. This architectural marvel is quite picturesque to captivate the eyes of the tourists.

LohagarhFort : The Lohagarh Fort in the BharatpurNational Park has survived several attacks by the British regime.

DeegPalace : The beautiful Deeg Palace is situated 32-kms away from Bharatpur. The strong and massive fortress was once the summer resort and boasts of numerous beautiful palaces and gardens.

HOW TO REACH ?

Access From Airport

The nearest airport Agra is 56-kms from Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The place is also well connected with Delhi Airport, which can be reached from Agra.

Access From Railways

The Bharatpur railway station is 6 kms from the national park. The regular trains connect Bharatpur with all the major cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra.

Access From Roadways

An excellent network of roads connects Bharatpur to all the major cities of the Rajasthan and the neighboring states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana. Bharatpur is well connected by road from Agra (56-kms, 5 hours), Delhi (184-kms, 6 hours) and Jaipur (176-kms, 6 hours).