AREA
The 28.73 sq. km. lake and wetland.

ESTABLISHED
The 28.73 sq. km. lake and wetland was artificially created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the 19th century. In 1956 as a bird sanctuary, 1981 as a national park.

DESCRIPTION
An erstwhile princely, Bharatpur is also often called the "Eastern Gateway of Rajasthan. Keolodeo Ghana National Park is an important international bio-sphere known for its large and varied avifauna, both local and migratory. By building small dykes and dams and diverting water from an irrigation canal, he converted this low lying area into a fine wild fowl shooting preserve. In a few years, the new wetland surrounded by marginal forests was able to support thousands of water-birds. Commonly referred to as Bharatpur, the Park is a delight for bird watchers.

Over 300 species of birds are found in this small park of 28.73sq. kms of which 11 sq. kms. are marshes and the rest, scrubland and grassland. Here and raised paths, camouflaged by babul trees and undergrowth make viewing easy. A quiet ride by boat in the early hours of the morning is also an unforgettable experience. Every year Bharatpur waits with bated breath for the arrival of the Siberian cranes. You can see the Indian sarus.

There are only two wintering places for this rare species one in Iran and the other Bharatpur and these beautiful birds with their distinctive red beaks and facial patches, fly over 6400 km from their summer retreats in Siberia, to get to them. These crane arrive in December and stay till early March. It is also an excellent place to watch mammals like Golden Jackal, Striped Hyena, Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, Nilgai, Sambar, Blackbuck and wild Boar. The park derives its name from the temple of Keoladeo (Shiva) and 'ghana' which locally means dense, implying the nature of the vegetation. During the cool winter months it is also possible to see large Indian Pythons sunning themselves.

CITY SIGHTS
Government Museum: Bharatpur which gives a glimpse of past splendour. Not far from the museum is the Bharatpur Palace which is an excellent blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture.

Lohagarh Fort: It is remained invincible despite several attacks by the British.

Deeg Palace: This strong and massive fort was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and has many palaces and gardens. It is just 32 km from Bharatpur.

SEASON
The park is open throughout the year.

BREEDING SEASON
August-October for resident birds
October-February for migrants

ACCESS
By road 60 km from Agra, 24 km from Fatehpur Sikri, 186 km from Jaipur & 176 km from Delhi. The Bharatpur railway station is 6 km from the park.

PARK POPULATION
The park supports a population of 375 species of birds, numerous mammals and reptiles. With the onset of winter, migratory birds from all over world come here. They arrive by August and leave in early March. Visitors include Coot Snipes, Spanish Sparrow, Red Crested Porhard, Rosy Pelican and Flamingo & Indian sarus. The special attraction, however, remains the arrival of the rare Siberian Crane. The park is also rich in Pythons, Spotted Deer, Sambhars, Blue Bull, Black Buck, Jackals, Otters, Fishing Cats, Monitor Lizards.

PARK VISIT
The Keoladeo small park are well-defined treks which can easily covered. The best way to visit the park is, you just hire a rickshaw . They are available on hire. Rickshaw pullers have been trained by the park management in bird watching and are quite knowledgeable. Boats are also available on hire. A boat trip early in the morning or late evening is quite a rewarding experience. Do not forget to carry a binocular for watching the birds.