The Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan is a famous avifauna sanctuary that sees (or saw) thousands of rare and highly endangered birds such as the Siberian Crane come here during the winter season. Over 230 species of birds are known to have made the National Park their home. It is also a major tourist centre with scores of ornithologists arriving here in the hibernal season. It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971. It is also a declared World Heritage Site.

The sanctuary was created 250 years ago and 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 princely state of Bharatpur, during the period 1726 to 1763. The bund was created at the confluence of two rivers, the Gambhir and Banganga. The park 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. In one shoot alone in 1938, over 4,273 birds such as mallards and teals were killed by Lord Linlithgow, the then Governor-General of India. After India's independence, the rulers of the princely states were allowed shooting rights until 1972.

In 1982, grazing was banned in the park, leading to violent clashes between the local farmer and the government. The Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary is now home to more than 370 species of birds.

Distance: 5km south of Bharatpur
Area: 29 sq km
Population: 16,46,501 (humans)
Temperature: Ranges from 49 ºC to 2 ºC
Rainfall: 650mm

Visiting Hours : 6 AM – 6 PM

Note : Motor vehicles are prohibited beyond a point in the Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary (about 1.5 km beyond the main entrance). There's a sealed road going though the Park inter-connected by a series of raised embankments. Walking or cycling along these embankments is the best way of exploring the birdlife. However, the government authorized cycle rickshaws (with a yellow plate in front) are also great, because the rickshaw puller might be able to tell you more about birds than any ornithologist. The southern reaches of the Park are best for serious bird watching.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 00:01