Keoladeo Ghana National Park

At a distance of 27 km from Fatehpur Sikri Railway Station and 58 km from Agra, the Keoladeo National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is situated in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. It is among the top places to visit from Delhi and Agra cities.
Keoladeo National Park is located around a man-made wetland and was created in18th century by Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur. Formerly the private duck shooting reserve of the Maharajas of Bharatpur and the British Officials, this site was established as a bird sanctuary on 13th March 1976 under the name of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Later on 10th March 1982, the site was designated as a national park and was named Keoladeo Ghana National Park. In 1985, the Park was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the finest bird parks in the world, Keoladeo, the name derives from an ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, which stands at the center of the park. Ghana means dense, referring to the thick forest. This is home to more than 230 resident and migratory bird species in a protected area of 29 sq. km. The park is most famous for its species of birds, including Cranes, Spoonbills, Herons, Pelicans and the rare Siberian Cranes. Every year thousands of migratory waterfowl visit the park for breeding etc. It is also an excellent place to watch mammals like Golden Jackal, Striped Hyena, Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, Nilgai, Sambar, Blackbuck and wild Boar. During the cool winter months it is also possible to see large Indian Pythons.

Nearby places of interest are the Government Museum and Bharatpur Palace which is an excellent blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture. There is the Lohagarh Fort which remained invincible despite several attacks by the British. Just 32 km from Bharatpur, is the Deeg Palace. This strong and massive fort was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and has many palaces and gardens. Own vehicles are not permitted inside the park. At the entrance, cycle rickshaw, Tonga and boat are available for tourists to get around the park. Electric van of the park is also available for visiting the park.

History of Bharatpur Sanctuary

Bharatpur Sanctuary is one of the oldest wild reserves in India and was created 250 years ago when it was named after the Keoladeo (Shiva) temple within its boundaries. Earlier, the park was a traditional hunting spot for the Maharajas of Bharatpur in the year 1850. It was a tradition to shoot many ducks in the lake of the reserve in the honor of the British viceroys. In 1938, over 4273 birds including mallards and teals were killed by Lord Linlithgrow, the then Governor General of India. After independence, the royal beings were allowed to shoot here but in the year 1982, every such activity was completely banned and resultedin the clashes between the local farmers & Gujjar communities and the Government. It was considered as the world heritage site in December 1985. The park is also referred as Ghana National Park since 'Ghana' means dense referring to the thick forest that covers the whole Bharatpur area.

Best Time to Visit Bharatpur Sanctuary

For resident breeding birds - during Aug - Nov
For migrant birds-from Oct - Feb

Monuments in Bharatpur

Monuments in Bharatpur The history of Bharatpur dates back to 5th century BC, when the Matsya kingdom flourished here. The Matsyas were allies of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata war. Legends say that the origin of the name Bharatpur is traced to Bharat, younger brother of Lord Ram. Laxman, the other brother, was given the most prestigious position as that of the family deity of the ruling family of Bharatpur. His name also appears in the state seals and coat-of-arms.

In the early 18th century, Maharaja Suraj Mal captured the fort of Bharatpur by vanquishing Khemkaran, the rival chieftain and laid the foundation for Bharatpur. The valiant Maharaja was very keen to expand the cities and is credited with building the numerous forts and palaces that dot the kingdom, including the Pleasure Palace Complex at Deeg.

Bharatpur Tourism is also home to one of the world's best-known bird watching destinations, Keoladeo Ghana National Park (KNP). 250 years ago, the then ruler built embankments that allowed flooding of this land, turning it into a marsh. Named after the dense jungle that surrounded an old Shiva Temple, this 29 square kilometre man-made wetland is renowned for migratory birds – ducks, geese, waders, raptors, flycatchers and more. In winter, avid birders and ornithologists flock to the park to observe and study the feathered beauties. With more than 370 recorded species, KNP used to also host the Siberian crane. It is a World Heritage Site.