The park set up in1981 in Bharatpur district, 2 km away from Bharatpur town, covers an area of 29 km. The nearest rail head is Bharatpur at a distance of 8 km. The nearest airport is Agra 55km from the park.

The park has tropical dry deciduous forest type. Some 282 species of trees, shrubs, climbers, grasses and herbs are found here. Out of these ninety one species of plants are acquatic.

The park often referred to as paradise for birds is famous of the variety of indigenous and migratory birds, both aquatic and non aquatic. The fauna of the park are Siberian crane cormorant, stork, spoonbill, quail, coot, heron, teal, tern, sambar, cheetah, black buck, wild boar, civet etc. The Siberian crane which breed in Siberia usually visit this park during November- December after covering a distance of 4,000km and go back in March. This species is critically endangered. The number of those cranes visiting the park has dwindled sharply from 100 in 1976 to just 5 in 1993.

The best months for visiting the park are from September to April. The park has rest houses. All areas for watching wild life are within walking distance.