BHARATPUR – the feathered cascade
Prime Attraction: Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary with its Migratory Birds (esp. the Siberian Crane)
Bharatpur at a glance
Famous in the tourist map of India for being the proud hostage of the endangered Siberian Cranes, Bharatpur, in Rajasthan is a veritable haven for the bird lovers worldwide. The Bharatpur Bird sanctuary, locally known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park after Lord Shiva, with an area of about 28.7 sq km, is one of the smallest of wildlife parks in the nation. Yet, the climate, topography and flat terrain consisting of mixed wetland, woods, grass and shrub thickets all watered by the Bharatpur Lake, form a suitable refuge to more than 400 odd species of migratory and domestic birds – about as many as the entire UK - and a host of other wild animals. It was in fact designed by the Maharaja of Bharatpur for the sole purpose of hunting birds. But thankfully due to the efforts of the Government and the late ornithologist Salim Ali, the guns fell silent and by 1985 it achieved the status of a World Heritage site. Now, for those who aren’t much of avian connoisseurs, Bharatpur has a rich bounty of forts, towers and a museum that are reminiscent of its glorious past and lost heritage.
Wildlife Adventure in Bharatpur
Exotic migratory birds from Afghanistan, Central Asia, Tibet, Siberian cranes from the Arctic, greyleg geese from Siberia and barheaded geese from China, come here during the monsoon and breed till October/November. So if you are already planning a trip make sure you go there between November to January when the whole atmosphere is rent with their relentless chirpings and a multicolored plumage camouflages the entire forest. Sadly enough, due to hunting and consecutive years of drought in Bharatpur, the Siberian Cranes that travel up to 6,500 km, all the way from the Ob River basin region in the Aral Mountains in Siberia, have not been sighted since 2002. But who knows they might be just back this year and you might be the lucky one to spot those red-billed white cranes pecking one another noisily.
This avian kingdom also hosts mammalian species like nilgai, spotted deer, sambhar, chital, black bucks, jungle cat and the wild boar. The large rock python, which is spotted basking under the sun in winters at Python Point beyond Keoladeo temple, as well as its nemesis – the mongoose, are found in appreciable numbers. However, spotting a duel between the two is purely a matter of luck.
A stroll around the well-defined forest trails with more than 44,000 trees, has most chances of spotting colonies of cormorants, spoon bills, storks, egrets, herons, pelicans, ebis and grey herons all over the park. The raised paths camouflaged by Babul trees make their viewing easier.Even rickshaws, with trained pullers cum guides can be hired. Perhaps, no other National Park promises so much accessibility and fun of exploring on your own. A boat ride along the shallow freshwater lakes, that comprise a third of the Park’s total area, can be most rewarding of all touring experiences.
Reaching Bharatpur
A pleasant 3 hour drive from Delhi (175 kms) will take you to Bharatpur (Rajasthan) which is on the Agra - Jaipur road and a Keoladeo is both a Ramsar and World Heritage site. The nearest Airport is at Agra, a 55-km long journey by road from Bharatpur. It is also well connected by railway lines to Delhi and also to Sawai Madhopur.
Don’t forget to check these out....
Lohagarh Fort – This 18th century massive iron structure fort was conceived and designed by Maharaja Suraj Mal, the founder of Bharatpur. The fort has three palaces within its precincts - Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas.
Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj - A few of the eight imposing towers still stand erect within the glorious ramparts of the fort. Especially two of them - Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj are of special interest. These were built by Maharaja Suraj Mal to commemorate his victories over the Mughals and British respectively.
Bharatpur Palace with the Museum - This royal edifice is a fusion of the Mughal and Rajput architectural styles housing a rich repository of a large number of ancient exhibits that date back to the early 15th century.
Deeg Palace : Situated just 32-kms away from Bharatpur is the Deeg Palace. A strong and massive fortress, Deeg Palace was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and houses numerous beautiful palaces and gardens.
Nearby Tourist Destinations: Trips to Agra (for the Taj Mahal) and Fatehpur Sikri (for its architetural bounty) becomes natural extension of the trip to Bharatpur.
Accommodation options
A stay at the heritage hotels and former palaces of the erswhile Maharajas of Bharatpur - Laxmi Vilas Palace, Udai Palace and Kadamb Kunj can be an enriching experience. Else, you can opt for the jungle lodges and resorts to keep closer to the wilderness.
Prime Attraction: Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary with its Migratory Birds (esp. the Siberian Crane)
Bharatpur at a glance
Famous in the tourist map of India for being the proud hostage of the endangered Siberian Cranes, Bharatpur, in Rajasthan is a veritable haven for the bird lovers worldwide. The Bharatpur Bird sanctuary, locally known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park after Lord Shiva, with an area of about 28.7 sq km, is one of the smallest of wildlife parks in the nation. Yet, the climate, topography and flat terrain consisting of mixed wetland, woods, grass and shrub thickets all watered by the Bharatpur Lake, form a suitable refuge to more than 400 odd species of migratory and domestic birds – about as many as the entire UK - and a host of other wild animals. It was in fact designed by the Maharaja of Bharatpur for the sole purpose of hunting birds. But thankfully due to the efforts of the Government and the late ornithologist Salim Ali, the guns fell silent and by 1985 it achieved the status of a World Heritage site. Now, for those who aren’t much of avian connoisseurs, Bharatpur has a rich bounty of forts, towers and a museum that are reminiscent of its glorious past and lost heritage.
Wildlife Adventure in Bharatpur
Exotic migratory birds from Afghanistan, Central Asia, Tibet, Siberian cranes from the Arctic, greyleg geese from Siberia and barheaded geese from China, come here during the monsoon and breed till October/November. So if you are already planning a trip make sure you go there between November to January when the whole atmosphere is rent with their relentless chirpings and a multicolored plumage camouflages the entire forest. Sadly enough, due to hunting and consecutive years of drought in Bharatpur, the Siberian Cranes that travel up to 6,500 km, all the way from the Ob River basin region in the Aral Mountains in Siberia, have not been sighted since 2002. But who knows they might be just back this year and you might be the lucky one to spot those red-billed white cranes pecking one another noisily.
This avian kingdom also hosts mammalian species like nilgai, spotted deer, sambhar, chital, black bucks, jungle cat and the wild boar. The large rock python, which is spotted basking under the sun in winters at Python Point beyond Keoladeo temple, as well as its nemesis – the mongoose, are found in appreciable numbers. However, spotting a duel between the two is purely a matter of luck.
A stroll around the well-defined forest trails with more than 44,000 trees, has most chances of spotting colonies of cormorants, spoon bills, storks, egrets, herons, pelicans, ebis and grey herons all over the park. The raised paths camouflaged by Babul trees make their viewing easier.Even rickshaws, with trained pullers cum guides can be hired. Perhaps, no other National Park promises so much accessibility and fun of exploring on your own. A boat ride along the shallow freshwater lakes, that comprise a third of the Park’s total area, can be most rewarding of all touring experiences.
Reaching Bharatpur
A pleasant 3 hour drive from Delhi (175 kms) will take you to Bharatpur (Rajasthan) which is on the Agra - Jaipur road and a Keoladeo is both a Ramsar and World Heritage site. The nearest Airport is at Agra, a 55-km long journey by road from Bharatpur. It is also well connected by railway lines to Delhi and also to Sawai Madhopur.
Don’t forget to check these out....
Lohagarh Fort – This 18th century massive iron structure fort was conceived and designed by Maharaja Suraj Mal, the founder of Bharatpur. The fort has three palaces within its precincts - Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas.
Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj - A few of the eight imposing towers still stand erect within the glorious ramparts of the fort. Especially two of them - Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj are of special interest. These were built by Maharaja Suraj Mal to commemorate his victories over the Mughals and British respectively.
Bharatpur Palace with the Museum - This royal edifice is a fusion of the Mughal and Rajput architectural styles housing a rich repository of a large number of ancient exhibits that date back to the early 15th century.
Deeg Palace : Situated just 32-kms away from Bharatpur is the Deeg Palace. A strong and massive fortress, Deeg Palace was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and houses numerous beautiful palaces and gardens.
Nearby Tourist Destinations: Trips to Agra (for the Taj Mahal) and Fatehpur Sikri (for its architetural bounty) becomes natural extension of the trip to Bharatpur.
Accommodation options
A stay at the heritage hotels and former palaces of the erswhile Maharajas of Bharatpur - Laxmi Vilas Palace, Udai Palace and Kadamb Kunj can be an enriching experience. Else, you can opt for the jungle lodges and resorts to keep closer to the wilderness.
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