Location : In the north Indian
state of Rajasthan
Tourist Attractions : Resident
and migratory birds.
Other Attractions : Bharatpur
Govenment Museum, Bharatpur Palace, Lohagarh Fort,
Deeg Palace.
Best Sites : The water bodies.
Nearby Tourist Destinations :
Jaipur, Alwar, Ajmer, Shekhawati, Delhi, Agra.
Best Season to Visit : October to
March.
About Keoladeo National Park
Keoladeo National Park is situated in the town of
Bharatpur in the north Indian state of Rajasthan,
about 55 kms from the Agra - the city of Taj.
Keoladeo National Park is famous as one of Asia's
finest birding areas, with over 380 resident and
migrant species, including the Common, Demoiselle
and the rare Siberian Cranes. Previously known as
the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the Keoladeo National
Park is also an excellent place to watch mammals
like Golden Jackal, Striped Hyaena, Fishing Cat,
Jungle Cat, Nilgai, Sambar, Blackbuck and wild Boar.
In 1981, Keoladeo was given the status of national
park. The park is spread over an area 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.
Major Tourist Attractions in Keoladeo
(Bharatpur)
The Birds
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. During the cool
winter months it is also possible to see large
Indian Pythons sunning themselves.
Bharatpur Govenment Museum
One of the major attraction after the Bharatpur
sanctuary is Government Museum of Bharatpur, which
provides a glimpse of the past royal splendour of
Bharatpur.
Bharatpur Palace
Bharatpur Palace is 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.
Park Trips
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. 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 treasures of Bharatpur.
Getting There
Air : The nearest airport is situated at
Agra, which is 56-kms from Bharatpur.
Rail : Regular rail services connect
Bharatpur with all the major cities of India such as
Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra. The Bharatpur
railway station is 6-kms from the park
Road : An excellent network of roadway
services connects Bharatpur to all the major cities
of the Rajasthan and its neighbouring states like
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana. Bharatpur is well
connected by road from Agra (55-kms), Delhi
(176-kms) and Jaipur (176-kms), all of which have
airport facilities too.
Accommodation
There are numerous accommodation facilities near the
Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary).
The hotels here range from heritage to luxury and
deluxe and budget category. All the hotels are well
appointed with world class facilities and services.
The sanctuary can be conveniently visited from all
the accommodations available.
Rajasthan Travel
Guide
