Keoladeo Ghana National Park,
at a Glance :
• Area : 22 sq.km. (approx.)
• Altitude : 250 metres (approx.)
• Best Time to Visit : October- February
• Languages : Rajasthani, Hindi, English.
About Keoladeo Ghana National Park :
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, more popularly known as the Bharatpur Bird
Sanctuary has one of the most prolific bird life in the country. This national
park takes its name from the god Keoladeo, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, enshrined
in a small temple within the park. The word 'Ghana' means 'dense' and refers
to the thick forest, which used to cover the area in the past.Today, the Park
supports a population of 375 species of birds along with many mammals and
reptiles. The most notable winter visitors to the Park are the rare Siberian
Cranes, whose numbers have dwindled to only two over the years. The animal
variety includes: Golden Jackal, Striped Hyena, Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, Nilgai,
Sambhar, Blackbuck and Wild Boar among others. The wide variety of birds includes
Common Demoiselle, Siberian Crane, Coot Snipes, Spanish Sparrow, Red Crested
Porhard, Rosy Pelican and Flamingo, among others.
Flora in Keoladeo Ghana National Park :
More than 300 species of birds are found in this small wildlife park of 29-sq-kms
of which 11-sq-kms are marshes and the rest scrubland and grassland. Keoladeo,
the name derives from an ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, which
stands at the centre of the park. 'Ghana' means dense, referring to the thick
forest, which used to cover the area.
Major Wildlife Attractions :
The major attractions of tourists visiting the park are the numerous migratory
birds, who come from as far away as Siberia and Central Asia and spend their
winters in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding grounds. Migratory
birds at Bharatpur bird sanctuary include, several species of Cranes, Pelicans,
Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails, Warblers, Wheatears,
Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks and Pipits, etc.
Places to Stay :
• Chandra Mahal Haveli
• Bharatpur Forest Lodge
• Laxmi Vilas Palace Bharatpur
How to Get There :
By Air : Nearest airport at Agra, (56 km) from Bharatpur.
By Rail : The Bharatpur railway station is 6 km from the park.
By Road : An excellent network of roadway services links Bharatpur
to all the major cities of the Rajasthan and its neighbouring states like Delhi,
Uttar Pradesh, Haryana.