Area Covered
29
sq. kms
Climate
Situated on the fringes of the Thar desert Bharatpur boasts of a very warm
climate. Summers are hot when the temperature varies between 45°C- 37°C,
winters are not very cold and the temperature remains between 27°C-10°C.
Monsoon brings the maximum rain in the area.
Best Time to Visit
The Bird Sanctuary is open throughout the year, although winter is the best
time to visit. October to February are best for watching the migratory birds
and August to November are best for watching the resident birds.
Fees Charged at the Park
Entry Fees Rs. 25 for Indians, Rs. 200 for foreigners. Additional charges
levied for cameras and vehicles.
Visitation Timings
6.00
a.m to 6.00 p.m.
About the Bird Sanctuary
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary or Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of premier
wildlife sanctuaries of India and ranked as World's one of the best
waterbird preserve. It is situated on the border between the states of Uttar
Pradesh and Rajasthan. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is a marshy area, sprawling
over 29 sq. kms consists of mixed forests, grassland, scrubland and shallow
lakes. In the 19th century, Maharaja of Bharatpur developed the area by
diverting the water from an irrigation canal.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Keoladeo became a hunting preserve of
the Bharatpur royal family and one of the best duck - shooting wetlands in
the world. In the year 1956 Bharatpur was given the status of a bird
sanctuary. Salim Ali, the bird man of India took the initiative to stop the
hunting of birds in 1964, but the former Bharatpur rulers continued to enjoy
their shooting rights till 1972. Bharatpur was declared a national park in
1982 and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
» Bird Watching at Bharatpur : Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary is a delight for bird watching in India. The sanctuary is
famous for some of the most exquisite avifauna. Bird watching mainly depends
upon appropriate season, timing and patience. For bird watching one must
carry a binoculars to have a close of the avian species.
Wildlife Attractions
Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary is not only known for birds, but a wide range of mammal and
reptile species also live here.
» Fauna : The animal species found in the park are
Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Chital, Nilgai, Sambar, Wild Bears, Indian black
deer, Black Bucks, Spotted Deer, Mongoose, Blue Bull, Jackals, Otters,
Monitor Lizards and Pythons.
» Avian Species : Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is home
to over 375 avian species including migratory birds as well as native birds.
Migratory birds are the major attractions of this sanctuary who come from
Siberia, Central Asia and other parts of the world. Some of the popular
migratory birds found at the sanctuary include Flamingo, Several Species of
Cranes, Several species of Cormorants, Egrets, Shocking-pink tinted painted
stork, Coot Snipes, Red Crested Porhard, Pelicans, Rosy Pelican, Spanish
Sparrow, Eagles, Hawks, Geese, Ducks, Shanks, Stints, Ibises,Wagtails,
Buntings, Larks, Pipits, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers etc.
Other Attractions
» Government Museum : The Government Museum houses
items of royal family of Bharatpur.
» Bharatpur Palace : Situated close to the museum,
the Bharatpur Palace is an excellent blend of Mughal and Rajput
architectural styles.
» Lohagarh Fort : The Lohagarh Fort or the Iron Fort
suffered several attacks by the British but it remained unconquered.
» Cycle and Rickshaw Ride : Cycling or walking is
the best way of seeing the interesting range of avian life in the sanctuary.
Cycles can be hired at the entrance of the park and by taking a map of the
park's walking trails you can easily move around the park. Rickshaw are also
available on hire.
»
Boating : Boats are available in the park on hire. A early morning or a
late evening boat trip is the ideal way to see the birds around the lake.
Where to Stay
Accommodation is not a problem in Bharatpur, as the town is dotted with a
number of guest houses, lodges, dormitories and hotels. In addition to the
accommodation in the town, there are two forest lodges and two restaurants
inside the park. The Bharatpur Forest Lodge, Shanti Kuteer, Dak Bungalow and
Circuit House are good place for a pleasant stay within the park.
Access
» Air : Nearest airport is located at Agra, which is
56 kms away from Bharatpur. The airport has flights from Delhi, Varanasi,
Khajuraho and other places of India.
» Rail : Bharatpur railway station is located at a
distance of 6 kms from the park. Regular trains connect Bharatpur with
important cities and towns of India.
» Road : Good network of roads links Bharatpur with
cities and towns of Rajasthan and other nearby states. Frequent buses run to
Bharatpur from Agra, Delhi and Jaipur.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Day 01: Delhi
Arrival on New Delhi International airport. Transfer to Hotel Vikram.Overnight at hotel.
Day 02: Delhi-Bharatpur
Drive to Bharatpur (4+ hours). Overnight stay in Hotel
Day 03: Bharatpur
Full day Birdwatching at Bharatpur . Overnight stay in Hotel.
Day 04: Bharatpur and area
Arrange as early a breakfast as possible and visit Bund Baretha for half a day to look for waterbirds, including Indian Skimmer. Overnight stay in Hotel.
Day 05: Bharatpur and area
Spend the morning in the bird sanctuary and in the afternoon take an excursion to the water palace at Deeg. Overnight stay in Hotel.
Day 06: Bharatpur - Agra
Set off after breakfast to Agra, stopping at Fatehpur Sikri World Heritage Site enroute. Visiting Red Fort and Taj Mahal mid afternoon and staying until around sunset. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 07: Agra - Delhi
Morning Drive to Delhi. Half Day sightseeing in Delhi. In night you will be taken to airport to your next destination.
