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Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary - Bharatpur
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The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the best and famous wildlife sanctuaries
in India. It is the only wildlife sanctuary in India that is artificially made by
a Maharaja. Indigenous water birds and many migratory water birds can be seen in
this sanctuary.
The foundation of this Bharatpur wildlife sanctuary was laid in 1760 when the Maharaja
of Bharatpur made an artificial lake and the dam at this very site to store the
water brought by the annual floods in this area. Over 300 bird species are found
in this 29-sq-kms-wildlife park of divided into the stretches of marshes, scrubland
and grassland. It got its name as Keoladeo Ghana Park on account of an ancient Hindu
temple at the centre of the national park devoted to Lord Shiva. The term 'Ghana'
is derived from Hindi, which means dense and refers to the thick forest, which covers
the entire area. Bharatpur became a national park on 10 March 1982, and was given
the status of a World Heritage Site in December 1985.
It has an impressive assortment of land and arboreal birds, but the grand spectacle
is provided by the aquatic species. For example, there are four species of cormorants,
eight species of egrets, three ibises, 17 species of duck and geese, and two species
of crane. The Siberian Crane last visited this Park in 2001. The other migratory
birds at the Bharatpur bird sanctuary include several species of Cranes, Pelicans,
Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks,
Shanks, Stints, Wagtails and Pipits, etc.
The ideal time to visit the Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary is from August-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 for bird watching tours. One can also hire boats. A boat trip early morning
or in late evening is the best in Visit Bharatpur National Park. Keoladeo Ghana
Park should be visited in winter, which is the best time to visit the wildlife sanctuary.
Hot summers and wet monsoons should be avoided for the wildlife tour.
How to get there:
By Air: The nearest airport Agra is 56-kms from Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
The place is also well connected with Delhi Airport, which can be reached from Agra.
By Rail: The Bharatpur railway station is 6-kms from the national park. The
regular trains connect Bharatpur with all the major cities of India such as Delhi,
Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra.
By Road: An excellent road network connects Bharatpur to all the major towns
of the Rajasthan like Agra, Jaipur, Delhi and its neighbouring states like Uttar
Pradesh and Haryana
Accomodation:
A large number of hotels including an RTDC hotel operate in Bharatpur.
Phone: RTDC Tourist Reception Centre: 05644-22777
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