Popularly referred as the 'Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary', this national park lies between the most historic cities of India-Agra and Jaipur. It is situated in the northwestern state of Rajasthan. The park was once the duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas. It was one major wintering areas for numerous aquatic birds from Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Siberia and China. According to the record, it houses around 364 species of birds including the Siberian crane.
The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is among the popular wildlife sanctuaries in India. This is the only national park in India that is artificially built by a Maharaja. Located in Bharatpur city of Rajasthan, it is a habitat of indigenous and migratory water birds. The larger animals like Chital, Nilgai, Sambhar and Boar can also be seen here.
Keoladeo is renowned as one of Asia?s best birding areas, with around 380 resident and migrant species. It includes the Demoiselle, Common and the rare Siberian Cranes. Some popular migratory birds at the sanctuary include different species of Cranes, Geese, Pelicans, Ducks, Stints, Eagles, Wagtails, Shanks, Hawks, Warblers, Buntings, Flycatchers, Wheatears, Pipits and Larks.
The park also offers excellent opportunities to watch the mammals like Golden Jackal, Fishing Cat, Striped Hyaena, Nilgai, Sambar, Jungle Cat, Blackbuck and Wild Boar.
Flora
The flora which can be commonly seen in this park includes Babul trees, numerous water plants with abundance of Kadam trees and grasslands.
Other Attraction
The other popular attractions lying nearby the sanctuary include Bharatpur Government Museum (a museum), Bharatpur Palace (a blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture), Lohagarh Fort and Deeg Palace.
Getting around in the Park
There are trained rickshaw-pullers who take you to the exciting bird-watching. Early morning and late evening boat trip is an excellent way to watch the hidden surprises of Bharatpur.
Best Time to Visit
From October to November
By Air: Agra is the nearest airport.
By Rail: Bharatpur is connected with the major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.
Accommodation
A variety of accommodation options like Lodges and Resorts are available to make your stay comfortable. Bharatpur Forest Lodge and Laxmi Vilas Palace are there to serve you with all the modern facilities.