Keoladeo Ghana National Park or Keoladeo National Park earlier known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is located in Bharatpur, Rajasthan India. It is well known avifauna sanctuary that provides shelter to thousands of bird species especially winter migratory birds. This tremendous bird sanctuary and national park too has long been given status of one of the world’s most important bird breeding and feeding hub.
The park hosts more than 360 species of birds within its 29 square kilometers of area. It is also a major tourist spot for ornithologists who visit here in hibernal season every year. This park was declared a protected sanctuary in the year of 1971. Actually Keoladeo was a royal hunting reserve during the 1850s. Till the late as 1965 it acts as a fresh game spot for maharajas. In 1982 it was given the status of National Park and it was listed as World Heritage Site in the year of 1985. The park gets its name from an ancient Shiva temple that is situated in the middle of the park.
Keoladeo National Park is an artificial and man-managed wetland that has been crowned as the national parks of India. The reserve is locally called as Ghana and it is pattern of dry grasslands and wetlands. These manifold habitats are abode to 360 species of birds, 50 species of fish, 379 floral species, 13 species of snakes, amphibians, lizards and many more to list.
Why Should You Visit Keoladeo National Park?
There is an ample of magical thing about this place. The real beauty of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary can only be traced if you keep facts aside. Whether it is the chattering of the birds, heavy fog during the winter season, splendid sunrise and expansive colonies of birds are enough to mesmerize and leaves you wanting more. You will get a chance to adhere nature very closely. There is no chaos, rush, no sound of vehicles or zero traffic which will make your visit peaceful and can go as proximity to nature as you can. It is heaven for true bird lovers or watchers.
Why A True Nature Enthusiasts Should Visit Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary?
The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary has a lot to offer for a true nature lover. It is not just restricted to bird watchers; it boasts great variety of flora and fauna. It is wonderful spot to spend a good time with your beloved ones in a serene calm ambiance. Living amidst the nature and listening to the nature’s sound is something paramount of pleasure. It is obviously the apex form of tourism when you are away from the hustle and bustle of the city. In nutshell, it provides you much-needed relaxation that rejuvenates your mind and soul.
The nature enthusiasts can take off-road walks/ cycling to the designated route in the park. This off-road exploration leads towards some best sightings of the park like arus Cranes dancing or Spotted Little Owlets sun basking, etc.
- Best time to visit : October to February
- Opening and closing hours : 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Type of Wildlife Safari : Camel and Jeep
How to Get There:
Reaching Keoladeao National Park is not a troublesome from any part of the country. It has an excellent connectivity with major North Indian cities like Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Bharatpur is easily accessible by all modes of transportation – Air, road and rail.
By Air: Agra is the nearest domestic airport to reach this famous bird sanctuary. It is about 54 kilometers from Bharatpur and New Delhi airport is approximately 184 kilometers away. Regular flights are available from important cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Varanasi and Lucknow.
By Road: The road connecting to Bharatpur is well maintained and in good condition. The roadways buses from Agra, Matur, Delhi and Jaipur are available to reach Ghana National Park. The road distances from different adjacent cities are follows:
- Mathur to Bharatpur-39 Km
- Agra to Bharatpur-54 Km
- Jaipur to Bharatpur-176km
- Delhi to Bharatpur-184 Km
By Rail: Bharatpur railway station is located at a distance of 05 kilometers from national park. Bharatpur receives many trains that ply from New Delhi, Mumbai.
Visitors Information
- Keoladeo National Park Entry Fees: INR 75 for Indian visitors and INR 200 for foreign tourists. Entries of private vehicles are not permitted inside the park.
- You can carry own digital camera, no extra charge is levied
- The charge for video camera is INR 450
Accommodation
Tourists can stay inside the park as the accommodation facility is available at Ashoka Forest Lodge and Shanti Kutir.
