Bharatpur- Heaven for birders; The Globetrotters

Bharatpur bird sanctuary, also known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park is situated in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. It derives its name from the Keoladeo temple located inside the sanctuary and is famous for its flora, fauna and migratory birds. The park was used as a hunting ground by the Maharajas of Bharatpur in the 1800’s.  In 1976 the park was designated as a bird sanctuary and in 1985 it was declared a World Heritage Site. The park is spread over 29 km2, one-third of which is wetlands and the rest is grasslands. It is home to approximately 370 species of birds and many ambhibians, reptiles, fish and floral species. The best time to visit the park is between November and February when migratory birds come from as far as central Asia and Siberia.

The airports closest to Bharatpur are New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. From New Delhi, it takes about 4 hours by road to reach the sanctuary (152 kms). Many trains and buses are also easily available. There are many resorts close to the park that can be booked online. Cycle rickshaws or bicycles can be rented at the entrance and a guide turns out to be helpful in spotting birds.