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| A crane landing on the pond.... |
A World heritage site (UNESCO), The Keoladeo National Park is a bird watchers dream. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded here. Popularly known as "Bharatpur bird sanctuary", it is situated in the state of Rajasthan. Around 4 to 5 hours drive from Delhi.
The sanctuary is named after a Keoladeo (Shiva) temple within its boundaries. Initially, it was a natural depression; and was flooded after the Ajan Bund was constructed by Maharaja Suraj Mal, the then ruler of the pricely state of Bharatpur, between 1726 to 1763. The bund was created at the confluence of two rivers, the Gambhir and Banganga. The part was a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Bharatpur, a tradition dating back to 1850, and duck shoots were organised yearly in honor of the British viceroys.
There is a government run Forest rest house in the buffer area of the park. This is where I stayed and is just near the entry point. Food was arranged by the caretakers at a very reasonable cost and we also had a bonfire in the night. Jackals & Neelgai's visited us as we sat near the bonfire in the chilly night.
You can either go on foot or hire cycle rickshaws for transportation within the park. Cycle rickshaws are highly recommended as the rickshaw puller also acts as a guide. They are provided regular training by the forest authorities which makes them up-to-date with the bird life around them. A minimum of two trips are recommended. I did three and each time I could see new species of birds.
A bird reference book & binoculars are a must when you visit the park.
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| Spotted Owls... Since they have their favourite nesting points these are easy to spot |
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| Indian Blue Roller...Sighting this bird is considered a good omen & it is also the state bird of Karnataka. |
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| Crested Serpent Eagle |
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| Spoonbill |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Pied Avocat |
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| Vulture |
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| Black Winged Kite |
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| The park also supports a large population of Spotted Deers, Sambar, Nilgai, Golden Jackal etc.. |
