Rajasthan Destinations

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Keoladeo National Park formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is a famous avifauna sanctuary in Rajasthan. Housing thousands of rare and highly endangered birds such as the Siberian Crane, this is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world. Over 230 species of birds are known to have made the National Park their home. It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971, and is also a declared World Heritage Site.

Attractions

The sanctuary is home to 366 bird species, 379 floral species, 50 species of fish, 13 species of snakes, 5 species of lizards, 7 amphibian species, 7 turtle species, and a variety of other invertebrates. With tropical dry deciduous trees beautifully blended with dry meadow, a significant part of the region is covered with medium sized trees and bushes.

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The major attraction of the travelers here are its various migratory birds coming from as far away as Siberia and Central Asia. Bird watchers can spot different migratory birds like Cranes, Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks and Pipits, and so forth.

The Bharatpur Forest Lodge, arranged inside the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is another popular attraction here. Equipped with all the facilities, Bharatpur Forest Lodge offers a perfect stay to the tourists travelling all the way to Bharatpur Sanctuary.

One can also indulge in a jungle safari here. There are three options to take the safari - Elephant Back Safari, Jeep Rides or Rickshaw Safari. Elephant Back Safari and the Rikshaw Safari are most recommended, as it offers the best views of birds. However, if you want to penetrate deep into the jungles, jeep safari is the best option.

Best time to visit

Bharatpur is located on the fringes of the Thar Desert. This marshy land has really warm climate. Summers are invariably hot and winters are not very cold. The temperature ranges from a maximum of 48?C in summers (May and June) to around 5?C in winters (December to February).The ideal visiting months are from August-November and October- February, as the chances of eyeing migrant birds are higher during this time.

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How to reach

By Air ? The nearest airport is situated at Agra, which is 56kms from Bharatpur. Delhi airport is 184kms from Bharatpur.
By Train ? Regular rail services connect Bharatpur with all the major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra. The Bharatpur railway station is about 5 kms from the park/bird sanctuary.
By Road ? An excellent network of roads connects Bharatpur to all the major cities of the Rajasthan and the neighboring states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.