Keoladeo Ghana National Park - केवलादेव घाना राष्ट्रीय उद्यान
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 Photo by : pavangupta in flickr More images... |
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, situated in the Bharatpur city of Rajasthan, is one of the major attractions of India. There is an interesting story behind the establishment of this park. Maharaja of Bharatpur got an earthen dam, known as the Ajan Dam, constructed in 1760 and the depression created by it was converted into the Bharatpur Lake. The lake was then divided into numerous portions and a system of small dams, dykes, sluice gates, etc, was created. This system became, first, the hunting preserve of the Maharaja and later, the Keoladeo Ghana Wildlife Sanctuary of India.
The sanctuary was given the status of a national park on 10th March 1982. In December 1985, UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage Site. Presently, Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary of Rajasthan, spread over an area of 29 sq km, claims the distinction of being one of the chief breeding and feeding grounds for the birds in the world. The best time to visit the sanctuary is from August to November, for watching resident breeding birds and from October to February, for watching migrant birds.
Just 176 km. from Delhi is a very special wilderness - the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. The 28.73 Sq. km. lake and wetland was artificially created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the l9th century. By building small dykes and dams and diverting water from an irrigation canal, he converted this low lying area into a fine wild fowl shooting preserve. In a few years, the new wetland surrounded by marginal forests was able to support thousands of water-birds.Commonly referred to as Bharatpur, the Park is a delight for bird watchers. Over 300 species of birds are found here and raised paths, camouflaged by babul trees and undergrowth make viewing easy.
A quiet ride by boat in the early hours of the morning is also an unforgettable experience. There are mixed heronries on the half submerged babul trees and the cacaphony is unbelievable as painted storks, open bills, spoon bills, egrets, comorants, white ibis and multitudes of others, tend their young. Jacanas with their iridescent colours and elegant tail feathers and purple moorhen can be seen delicately treading over the floating vegetation. While harriers and fishing eagles circle overhead in search of prey, the pied kingfisher hovers dramatically over the water in a flurry of wings. There are varieties of storks and cranes and the local sarus crane is elegant in a livery of grey and red.
Every year Bharatpur waits with bated breath for the arrival of the Siberian cranes. There are only two wintering places for this rare species one in Iran and the other Bharatpur and these beautiful birds with their distinctive red beaks and facial patches, fly over 6400 km from their summer retreats in Siberia, to get to them. In 1996, there was great jubiliation as a couple of Siberian cranes witha young one made an appearance in Bharatpur after a lapse of three years. The forests around the lake at Bharatpur harbour the sambar, chital, nilgai, jackal, hyena, fox, mongoose and porcupine. Occasionally, a fishing cat can be seen scooping its prey from the water's edge. Pythons are also commonly seen sunning themselves along the edge of the paths or at Python Point.
Bharatpur Government Museum
Bharatpur Palace
Lohagarh Fort
Deeg Palace
Total Area : 29 Sq km
National Park 1982
World Heritage : 1985
Main Attractions : Resident and migratory birds, Jackal, Hyena, Nilgai, etc
Best Time : August to November (resident birds)
October to February (migratory birds)
Accommodation : Forest Lodge (ITDC), Saras Tourist Bungalow (RTDC), Shanti Kutir, Forest Rest House, and private hotels near the park.
The sanctuary was given the status of a national park on 10th March 1982. In December 1985, UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage Site. Presently, Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary of Rajasthan, spread over an area of 29 sq km, claims the distinction of being one of the chief breeding and feeding grounds for the birds in the world. The best time to visit the sanctuary is from August to November, for watching resident breeding birds and from October to February, for watching migrant birds.
Just 176 km. from Delhi is a very special wilderness - the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. The 28.73 Sq. km. lake and wetland was artificially created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the l9th century. By building small dykes and dams and diverting water from an irrigation canal, he converted this low lying area into a fine wild fowl shooting preserve. In a few years, the new wetland surrounded by marginal forests was able to support thousands of water-birds.Commonly referred to as Bharatpur, the Park is a delight for bird watchers. Over 300 species of birds are found here and raised paths, camouflaged by babul trees and undergrowth make viewing easy.
A quiet ride by boat in the early hours of the morning is also an unforgettable experience. There are mixed heronries on the half submerged babul trees and the cacaphony is unbelievable as painted storks, open bills, spoon bills, egrets, comorants, white ibis and multitudes of others, tend their young. Jacanas with their iridescent colours and elegant tail feathers and purple moorhen can be seen delicately treading over the floating vegetation. While harriers and fishing eagles circle overhead in search of prey, the pied kingfisher hovers dramatically over the water in a flurry of wings. There are varieties of storks and cranes and the local sarus crane is elegant in a livery of grey and red.
Every year Bharatpur waits with bated breath for the arrival of the Siberian cranes. There are only two wintering places for this rare species one in Iran and the other Bharatpur and these beautiful birds with their distinctive red beaks and facial patches, fly over 6400 km from their summer retreats in Siberia, to get to them. In 1996, there was great jubiliation as a couple of Siberian cranes witha young one made an appearance in Bharatpur after a lapse of three years. The forests around the lake at Bharatpur harbour the sambar, chital, nilgai, jackal, hyena, fox, mongoose and porcupine. Occasionally, a fishing cat can be seen scooping its prey from the water's edge. Pythons are also commonly seen sunning themselves along the edge of the paths or at Python Point.
Flora
A major portion of the landscape of Keoladeo Ghana National Park is comprised of scrublands and grasslands. One can also find marshes in a significant area of the park. Then, there is wide plantation of acacias, which was done under an afforestation program.Bird Species
More than 300 species of birds can be seen at the Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary of India, both resident as well as migratory. The popular migratory birds include Cranes, Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks and Pipits, etc.Wildlife
The animals found commonly at Keoladeo Ghana Wildlife Sanctuary of Rajasthan are Jackal, Hyena, Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, Nilgai, Sambar, Blackbuck and Wild Boar.Nearby Attractions
The following monuments situated nearby Keoladeo Ghana are worth seeing:How to Reach
By Air
The nearest airport is situated in the city of Agra.By Rail
Bharatpur railway station is regularly serviced by trains.By Road
Bharatpur is well linked to almost all the key cities of India, by road.General Information
Location : Bharatpur in Rajasthan, IndiaTotal Area : 29 Sq km
National Park 1982
World Heritage : 1985
Main Attractions : Resident and migratory birds, Jackal, Hyena, Nilgai, etc
Best Time : August to November (resident birds)
October to February (migratory birds)
Accommodation : Forest Lodge (ITDC), Saras Tourist Bungalow (RTDC), Shanti Kutir, Forest Rest House, and private hotels near the park.
 Photo by : kungfujen in flickr |
 Photo by : pavangupta in flickr |
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 Photo by : Harriet (the fshlady) in flickr |
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 Photo by : yackles in webshots |
 Photo by : vakemdo in webshots |
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 Photo by : gbassett in webshots |
 Photo by : gbassett in webshots |
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