Keoladio National Park

Rajasthan is well-known for its flora and wildlife in terms of biodiversity. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the current name of Keoladeo National Park, was once known as Bharatpur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. This sanctuary is home to indigenous water-feathered species and migratory birds, and waterside winged creatures. While a vast section of India’s reserves were built due to royal India’s hunting predicament, Keoladeo, also called Bharatpur Nature Reserve, is perhaps the only scenario where a maharaja developed the ecosystem.

Keoladeo National Park’s Geography

Keoladeo National Park is a well-known bird sanctuary in India and a popular tourist attraction for wildlife enthusiasts. Throughout the year, this bird sanctuary draws thousands of migratory birds.

During winter, the number of migrating birds that come to this area nearly doubles. 

The sanctuary covers an area of 28.73 km² and is a haven for various species, such as birds and reptiles such as pythons. During the winter, many migrating birds arrive in the sanctuary from around the world, including the poles.

In 1982, the sanctuary was identified as a National Park, and in 1985, it was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Tour of Keoladeo National Park

Keoladeo National Park (KNP) is located in eastern Rajasthan, in the Bharatpur district, adjacent to the Uttar Pradesh districts of Agra and Mathura. Its name comes from the presence of an ancient Shiva temple, Kevladev, within the national park’s boundaries.

This historic Maharajas duck hunting reserve is an important wintering location for a wide range of aquatic bird species from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Siberia. The park has been home to 364 different bird species, including the endangered Siberian crane.

Several steps were undertaken after independence to protect the land and its species. The region was designated a Ramsar site in 1976. It was designated a national park in 1982 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary attracts many residents and migratory species, especially in winter. Moreover, its proximity to Agra, Delhi, and Jaipur attracts many tourists.

Keoladeo National Park’s History

Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur designed and built Keoladeo National Park 250 years ago. Keoladeo comes from the Lord Shiva temple located in the garden’s centre.

Due to the natural slope, flooding occurred throughout the rainy season. To prevent this, Maharaja Surajmal built the “Ajan Bund” from 1726 to 1763. The dam was built on the rivers Gambhir and Banganga Sangam banks.

In the 1850s, the emperors of Bharatpur started hunting in this area. In 1982, the government declared the protected forest a national park, prohibiting the cultivation, preserving domesticated cattle, and taking fodder from the protected area. This led to numerous violent incidents between local communities and the government.

Keoladeo National Park’s Fauna

Apart from being a well-known bird sanctuary, this national park has abundant species, despite the absence of large predatory species. This wildlife sanctuary is covered with forests, including wooded swamps, wetlands, and dry grasslands.

There are 370 distinctive species of birds, 379 varieties of flowers, 50 different types of fish, 13 varieties of snakes, five types of lizards, and seven different kinds of amphibian species. In addition, this national park features 7 of India’s ten turtle species.

Birds in Keoladeo Wildlife Reserve

If you like to see a lot of different kinds of birds, you should visit Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary. This zoo provides an ideal nesting environment for herons, cormorants and eagles and is a popular winter migration site for vast numbers of ducks.

You may expect to see a variety of waterfowl in this park, including gadwalls, shovelers, common teals, cotton teals, tufted ducks, knob-billed ducks, small cormorants, great cormorants, Indian shags, and ruffs. Other common birds are sandpipers, darters, and common teals.

Keoladeo National Park’s wildlife

Keoladeo National Park is home to 27 animal species. Nilgai, wild boar, Chital deer and porcupine are frequently seen in this park, but sambhar is seen in limited numbers. 

This park has two mongoose species: Small Indian and Indian Grey. Jungle cats and fishing cats can be found among the many varieties. In addition, this bird sanctuary has Asian palm civets and little Indian civets.

A Sanctuary for Birds and Butterflies

This is the best place to observe birds and butterflies up close. They are relatively secure and comfortable around people and cameras. In addition, the national park is home to a variety of vibrant butterflies. Indian foxes and other scavengers have been observed crossing the path. 

The Sanctuary’s Islands

Many ducks, waterfowl, and eagles can be observed on man-made little islands. They can be seen relaxing in the sun following the cold winter evenings. The sanctuary has several beautiful islands where ducks flock.

It is, in general, a must-see location for bird, wildlife, nature, and photography enthusiasts.

How to Get There

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary national park, Rajasthan, is easily accessible by road and air. The park is around 220 kilometres from Delhi and 180 kilometres from Jaipur.

Timings for Keoladeo National Park

Park entry is at 6:30 am in the winter, and the park remains open until 5:00 pm. In the summer, the sanctuary opens at 6:00 am. After that, it is open till 6:00 pm.

Conclusion

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, sometimes called Keoladeo Ghana Wildlife Reserve, covers an area of 28.73 km². It has a variety of dry grasslands, forests, swamps, and wetlands with diverse flora. Depending on personal inclinations, one can explore by bicycle, rickshaw, or foot. Bharatpur is open all year. However, the ideal time to see resident birds is August to November.