Beautiful small birds with their colourful appearance are so delightful to watch. But with the big buildings coming up everywhere and cutting down trees, it has become a task to spot birds these days. But what if I tell you if you are in Rajasthan then you can enjoy a spot which is specially designated for birds. It is the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary which is known for the rich variety of bird species housed here. Not just birds you can also enjoy a wide variety of flora and fauna here.
So if you are a nature enthusiast or a birdwatcher then this location should be a must visit in your itinerary. Furthermore you can check out the Bharatpur Bird sanctuary photos once and you will be convinced about why you should be visiting here at least once. So keep on reading this article as I will mention each and everything that you probably need to know about the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. It will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip there.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Location: The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is located in Bharatpur, Rajasthan
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary timings: 6 am to 5 pm on all days
Entry fee of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary: Rs. 50 for Indian citizens per person and for foreigners it is Rs. 400 per person
How to reach Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
By air
The nearest airport to reach the airport is the Agra airport. Which is 53 km away from the sanctuary and you can reach there in about 59 minutes. Other nearest airports are Jaipur and New Delhi airport. From Jaipur the distance of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is about 190 km. You can reach there in about 3 and a half hours by car. Also from Delhi airport the distance to this bird sanctuary is 196 km and you can reach there from the airport in about 3 hours and 50 minutes.
By train
The Bharatpur Railway Junction is the nearest railway station at a distance of 6 km from the sanctuary. Major cities like Jaipur, Delhi, Agra and Mumbai are connected to this railway station. From Jaipur there are around 17 trains running regularly and you can reach the sanctuary in about 3 hours.
By road
Bharatpur is well connected with most of the major nearby locations like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Jaipur, Mathura, Alwar etc. The Bharatpur bus stand is the nearest bus stand located at a distance of 2 km from the city centre of Bharatpur. It is the easiest to reach here from Jaipur as both AC and non AC buses are available on this route. The distance of Bharatpur from Agra is 56 km and you can reach there in 5 hours, from Jaipur it is 176 km and you can reach here in 6 hours and from Delhi it is 176 km via road.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary best time to visit
Even though the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is open throughout the year and you can technically visit here during any time of the year. But to enjoy the best of the resident birds the ideal time to visit here would be from August to November. Furthermore to enjoy the best of migratory birds you should visit here during the months of October to February. During this time birds from Central Asia, Siberia and China migrate here and you can enjoy their chirping and nesting here.
You can however avoid visiting here during peak summer as the summers can be a little too hot and sweltering here that would be too uncomfortable to explore the place well. The winter season is pleasant so that would ideally be the best time to visit here. It can be a paradise for birdwatchers and for people who love to be around bird species.
Overview of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Also known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the richest bird sanctuaries in the world that houses about 366 different species of birds. The name Keoladeo came from an ancient Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva which is located at the main point of the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Furthermore the word Ghana means thick and lush covering of the woods that covers the whole region. Other than birds some of the water feathered creatures, water flying creatures and waterside winged creatures are also found here. Animals like Nilgai, Sambar, Chital and Boar are also found here.
Furthermore the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary spreads across an area of 29 sq km. Previously the Bharatpur town used to get flooded very frequently during the monsoon season. To combat that in 1760 the Ajan Dam which is an earthen Dam was constructed to save the town. There was extraction of soil which later turned into the Bharatpur Lake.
History of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
During one point of time this area was mostly marshy grassland and the Maharaja of Bharatpur and the royal families used to use this park occasionally for their hunting expeditions. Basically the existence of this park goes back to 250 years ago. But in 1976 on 13th of March this was declared as a Bird Sanctuary. Furthermore in 1982, 10th March this sanctuary was given the status of a National Park. And further in 1985 this sanctuary was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Convention.
Flora and Fauna in Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Even though the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is mostly known for its bird species present here, the floral variety surely cannot be ignored at all.
Flora
There is a reason why this National Park is termed as Ghana which means thick woodland covering. The vegetation here is tropical dry deciduous type mixed with dry meadows. Also there are overgrown swamps which cover a generous area of the sanctuary and are filled with medium sized trees and bushes. Amongst trees you can find some varieties here like Babul, Jamun, Kadam etc. Furthermore the oceanic vegetation is also rich here and gives sustenance to waterfowls. About 379 floral species can be found here in this sanctuary.
Fauna
The ecosystem is maintained here well because of the presence of many macro invertebrates like insects and worms that are food for many birds and fishes. Also there are land insects found here that help in the positive breeding of birds.
Birds
As it is one of the richest bird sanctuaries, the avifaunal variety here is quite appreciated. Due to the location of this park along the Gangetic Plain it makes space for a perfect breeding site for Storks, Herons, Cormorants, Gadwall, Ducks, Shoveler, Cotton Teal, Common Teal, Tufted Duck, Bar Headed Goose, Knob Billed Duck, Indian Shag, Painted Stork, Asian Open Bellied Stork, White Spoonbill, Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Greater Flamingos, Spot Billed Pelican, Demoiselle Cranes, Sarus Crane and more. Very recently the breeding of greater Spotted Eagle has created a new record for this species in India.
There is a reason why this bird sanctuary is known as the Bird Paradise. The park is significant on the basis of two aspects. One is undoubtedly the strategic location and the other reason is the kind of vegetation and ecosystem that boosts the faunal variety more.
Mammals
The mammalian fauna is equally rich in the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and the list includes 27 identified species. Some of the popular ones are Hanuman Langur, Rhesus Macaque, Nilgai, Blackbuck, Chital Deer, Sambar, Wild Boar, Indian Hog Deer, Indian Porcupine, Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat, Asian Palm Civet, Bengal Fox, Striped Hyena and more.
Fishes
Furthermore, a variety of 43 species of fishes are found here. The presence of so many varieties of fishes is extremely important for the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary as they are the source of food for the birds here.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Safari
One of the most interesting activities in the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is the Safaris available here. Many options are offered here that include Jeep Safari, Elephant Back Safari and even Rickshaw Safari. Personal vehicles are not allowed everywhere in the sanctuary but till a certain point. To enjoy the best of the birds the Jeep Safaris and Elephant Safaris are most recommended and appropriate. However if you are interested in exploring deeper into the forest then you should opt for the Jeep Safaris. Outside the main entrance of the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary you can book the jeeps for safari here.
Timings of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Safari: The timings of safari in the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is from 6 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening.
Ticket Price of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Safari: For Indians the cost of Safari is Rs. 25 per person and for foreigners it is Rs. 200. However if you wish to take your own personal vehicle it will only be allowed till Shanti Kutir which is about 2 km into the park. Beyond that your vehicles would not be allowed. Furthermore for personal vehicles there is an additional fee of Rs. 50 and for video cameras there is an additional charge of Rs. 200.
Where to stay in and near Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Accommodation is available within the premises of the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary itself. There is Ashoka Forest Lodge and Shanti Kutir inside the sanctuary where the visitors can stay. Other than that many good quality hotels and resorts are available around the sanctuary in Bharatpur where the visitors can enjoy a comfortable stay as well.
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Nearby places to visit from the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
· Bharatpur Government Museum
· Deeg Palace
· Lohagarh Fort
· Mahal Khas
· Kishori Mahal
· Jawahar Bhuj
· Fateh Burj
· Banke Bihari Temple
· Ganga Mandir
· Laxman Mandir
· Dholpur Palace
· Band Baretha
· Seetharam Temple
Wrapping Up!
Now that you have so much information about the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in no way you can miss out on visiting this amazing location. From enjoying the variety of species to enjoying the wildlife and enjoying being amidst nature it can be one of the most interesting activities for you. So if you are ever visiting Rajasthan or Bharatpur then the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary or the Keoladeo National Park should definitely be included in your itinerary. I am sure you will be spellbound with the beauty of nature and natural products here. So let me know if you are intrigued enough to visit this rich sanctuary in Bharatpur. Also don’t forget to let me know if this particular article on the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
