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Keoladeo Ghana National Park
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The Keoladeo National Park,
formerly known as the Bhartpur Bird Sanctuary in
Rajasthan, India is a famous avifauna sanctuary that sees
(or saw) thousands of rare and highly endangered birds
such as the Siberian Crane come here during the winter
season. Over 230 species of birds are known to have made
the National Park their home. It is also a major tourist
centre with scores of ornithologists arriving here in the
hibernal season. It was declared a protected sanctuary in
1971. It is also a declared World Heritage Site.
The park is a gem in India’s ecological crown despite
being one of the smallest parks in the country. It was
ceclared a World Heritage Site in 1985.
Keoladeo is actually a name of Lord Shiva and is the form
in which it is worshipped in a temple nearby. Ghana refers
to the tree cover the area once had.
Sanctuary is also known by the name of Bharatpur, an
adjoining town. Bharatpur is also the name of the king who
created the park in the late 19th century.
The sanctuary was created 250 years ago and has the
Keoladeo (Shiva) temple within its boundaries. Initially,
it was a natural depression; and was flooded after the
Ajan Bund was constructed by Maharaja Suraj Mal, the then
ruler of the princely state of Bharatpur, between 1726 to
1763. The bund was created at the confluence of two
rivers, the Gambhir and Banganga. The park was a happy
hunting ground for the maharajas of Bharatpur, a tradition
dating back to 1850, and duck shoots were organised yearly
in honor of the British viceroys. In one shoot alone in
1938, over 4,273 birds such as mallards and teals were
killed by Lord Linlithgow, the then Governor-General of
India. After India's independence, the rulers of the
princely states were allowed shooting rights until 1972.
In 1982, grazing was banned in the park, leading to
violent clashes between the local farmer and Gujjar
communities and the government.
Fauna:
The major tourist attractions of the park include the
numerous migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia,
who spend winter- time here. The other migratory
birdsinclude several species of Cranes, Pelicans, Geese,
Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers,
Buntings, Larks, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails and Pipits, etc.
Animal sightings include nilgai, sambar, spotted dear,
jackals, wild boars, otters, hares, civets, fishing and
jungle cats, porcupines, blackbucks.
One of the most famous residents of the park are the big
rock pythons that inhabit the various ‘Python points” and
often bask on the rocks in winter.
Other Attractions around Bharatpur National Park
Bharatpur Government Museum:
The Government Museum in the Bharatpur National Park
preserves the articles refreshing the royal past of
Bharatpur.
Bharatpur Palace:
The Bharatpur Palace that stands with pride amidst the
park is a structural blend of Mughal and Rajput
architecture.
Lohagarh Fort:
The Lohagarh Fort in the Bharatpur National Park has
survived several attacks by the British regime.
Deeg Palace:
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.
Best time to visit:
The park is open through out the year.
The ideal time is from August to November for the
indigenous breeding birds and October- February for the
migrant birds. There are forest trails to be covered
easily on foot or on a cycle. You can also hire a rickshaw
(whose drivers have been trained by the Bombay natural
History Society (BNHS) for bird watching tours. One can
also hire boats. A boat trip early morning or in late
evening is recommended.
Visiting timings:
0600 hrs to 1800 hrs. Motor vehicles are not allowed
inside the park.
Go there for:
Birds. Carry binoculars.
How to Reach:
The park is well connected with Delhi (179 kms SE), Agra
(56 km W), and Mathura (43 kms SW).
by road:
An excellent road network connects Bharatpur to all the
major towns like Agra, Jaipur, Delhi.
From Delhi, take NH 2 to Mathura via Faridabad, palwal,
Hodal and Kosi kalan. State road from Mathura to Bharatpur.
Within the Park: One can hire taxis, rickshaws or boats to
explore the park well. The forest department also operates
mini buses and boats.
by rail:
The Bharatpur railway station is 6-kms from the national
park. Regular trains connect with all the major cities
like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra.
Frontier Mail and Kota janshatabdi are both good options
from Delhi.
There is also a rail link with Sawai Madhopur.
by air:
The nearest airport Agra is 56-kms away. The place is also
well connected with Delhi Airport – 250 kms.
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© 2008, Banjara Camps & Retreats Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. All rights reserved.
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