Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary or Keoladeo National Park
Overview - Bharatpur/Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary
India’s most famous bird-watching site has been Keoladeo National Park or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
This small wetland of 29 sq. km provides feeding and nesting grounds to over 400 bird species and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ramsar Site as well as an IBA(Important Bird Area).
This former hunting ground and now protected habitat consists of Scrub forest, Savanna grassland and large Wetlands with naturally constructed earthen mounds to provide perching spots for the thousands of birds which feed on the varieties of fish, invertebrates and aquatic plant species in the rain and Yamuna river-fed waters of the wetlands.
The misty winters and the breaking sunlight are a birdwatcher and photographer’s dream and lacs of birders and photography enthusiasts visit the birdwatching shrine that is Bharatpur each year.
An array of waterbirds, waders, ground birds and raptors – Bharatpur has something for every nature lover.
Best Time to Visit Keoladeo National Park
An ideal time is peak winter from December to the end of February for that is when the winter migrants visit the Sanctuary.
- The Sanctuary is open throughout the year – with resident birds nesting when the monsoon hits from July – September.
- The waters of the wetland almost completely dry out in May-June.
Highlight Species - Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
- Rosy Pelican
- Great-white Pelican
- Spot-billed Pelican
- Greater-painted Snipe
- Black Bittern
- Painted Stork
- Woolly-necked Stork
- Eurasian Spoonbill
- Glossy Ibis
- Bar-headed Goose
- Comb Duck
- Sarus Crane
- Indian Courser
- Siberian Rubythroat
- Demoiselle Crane
- Dusky Eagle Owl
- Marsh Harrier
- Pallid Harrier
- Greater Spotted Eagle
- Imperial Eagle
- Common Crane
- Dalmation Pelican
- Tufted Duck
- Ferruginous Duck
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Ruff
- Pheasant-tailed Jacana
- Bronze-winged Jacana
- Brown Crake
- White-tailed Lapwing
- Marshall’s Iora
- Large-tailed Nightjar
- Collared Scops Owl
Types of Safaris - Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Cycle Rickshaw : Cycle Rickshaws can be rented at the Sanctuary gate for the entire day or an hourly basis.
Walking Safaris : Walking is also permitted inside the Sanctuary.
How to reach Bharatpur/Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary
By Air : Nearest airport to reach this bird sanctuary is Agra about 54 kms from Bharatpur and New Delhi about 184 kilometers away. Daily flights are available to Agra from major cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Varanasi, and Lucknow.
By Train : Bharatpur Junction located 5 kms away from the national park is the nearest rail head. Reaching Bharatpur by train is easy as there are many trains that ply from New Delhi, Mumbai. Being on the main line, regular train service is available from Mathura, Sawai Madhopur and Kota on this route.
- Delhi to Bharatpur – 184 Km
- Mathur to Bharatpur – 39 Km
- Agra to Bharatpur – 54 Km
- Jaipur to Bharatpur – 176 Km
