One of the best reserve parks for the avifauna in the world, the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is the most tempting tourist destination for the bird lovers. A safari in the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is an alluring and refreshing experience in the tranquility of Nature with the melodious bird chirping everywhere. Now known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, the park is among the few of the protected park, especially, for the hundreds of unique bird species. Apart from the exotic avifauna species such as native water birds, migratory winter birds, waterside birds, etc., the dense forest of the sanctuary is also a home to the various species of Deer - Chital, Sambar, Spotted Deer as well as Wild Boar and Nilgai.
The park is the natural home to more than 300 bird species, around 50 species of fish, 25 reptile species, including snakes, lizards and turtles, 7 amphibian species and numerous other invertebrates along with more than 370 flora species. The total area of the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is around 29 sq km among which approx 11 sq km is the swampland the rest of the area consists of the big grasslands and scrublands. The Sanctuary was once the bird hunting ground for the Royals of the Bharatpur princely state. In fact, this bird sanctuary was created around 250 years ago when a large area with the natural depression was flooded after the Ajan Bund was built by the then King of the Bharatpur state, Maharaja Suraj Mal during 1726 to 1763. The swampland, which became the habitat of the hundreds of bird species, was named after the local temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which is locally known as Keoladeo Temple. The Bund was constructed at the convergence of the Gambhir River and the Banganga River.
The park was the hunting ground of the rulers of Bharatpur until the year 1972. As, even after the independence of India and abolishment of the Imperial rule, the rulers of Bharatpur were given the hunting rights in the park. This private duck shooting preserve of Bharatpur Royals declared as a protected Bird Sanctuary in the year 1976 and the sanctuary was designated as the National park in 1982 and named as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. The national park was given the UNESCO World Heritage site status in the year 1985. Most of the National Parks in India were developed from the natural forests which were the hunting preserves of the rulers of the princely states of India, but the Bharat Bird Sanctuary was man-made habitat for birds, created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur.
The hundreds of exotic migratory birds are the prime attractions for the bird-loving tourists visit the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The migratory birds, mostly visit here from the distant areas of Siberia and Central Asia to spend the winter season. These migratory birds arrive in the winters and after spending the winter near the Bharatpur Lake, they return to their homeland to visit again in the winter. The prime species of the migratory bird that visit Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary are different species of Cranes, Geese, Pelicans, Ducks, Hawks, Eagles, Shanks, Stints, Warblers, Wagtails, Wheatears, Pipits, Larks, Flycatchers, Buntings, etc.
Sightseeing in Bharatpur
Bharatpur Palace and Museum :
A perfect reflection of the royal past of the Bharatpur princely state, the Bharatpur Palace is as impressive as the other elegant palaces in Rajasthan. The graceful and magnificent architecture of the Palace makes it one of the best tourist attractions in Bharatpur. The grandeur of the Bharatpur palace reflects the old heritage of this Rajput royal state and the culture and traditions of the medieval Bharatpur. The palace was constructed with the fusion of Rajput as well as Mughal architectural style. The astounding beauty and grace of the palace come from its unique design which includes floor with rich patterns, walls with the eloquent decor and the lavish living rooms. Also, there is a museum in the palace, known as the ‘Kamra Khas’ that showcase a huge number of antiques such as stone sculpture, arts and crafts, ancient scriptures, etc.
Agra Fort :
Build by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, the Agra Fort was the prime residence of the Royals of the Mughal dynasty till 1638. This historical fort is located in the city of Agra nearby the famous monument of Taj Mahal in India. Till the capital of the Mughal Empire was shifted to Delhi in the year 1638, the Agra Fort was the power center of the Mughal Empire. A UNESCO world heritage site, the fort of Agra is also known as the Red Fort of Agra which was constructed as an invincible military base by the then Mughal Emperor Akbar. Later, many structures were built in the Fort by the son of Akbar, the Emperor Jehangir and also modified extensively by the Emperor Shah Jahan, son of Jehangir. The Fort is situated around 2.5 km northwest of the Taj Mahal and known as the walled city due to its mammoth size. The Fort of Agra with all of its elegance, lavishness and splendor of the Mughal era is considered one of the finest imperial palace in India.
Lohagarh Fort :
Being one of the strongest Forts in Rajasthan, the Lohagarh Fort (Iron Fort) is an amazing tourist attraction in Bharatpur. The impregnable defense system of the Fort makes it really a powerful Fort during the 18th century. The Fort was built by the ruler of Bharatpur, Maharaja Suraj Mal in the early years of the 18th century. The Lohagarh Fort has known to be defended and survived various attacks by the Mughal Empire and the British forces as well. The ascetic and magnificent structure of the Fort and the legends of its strength draw a large number of visitors to this Fort. The Fort also has a museum inside its premises known as the Government Museum.
Government Museum :
Located inside the premises of the famous Lohagarh Fort, the Government Museum is an excellent place to know the history of the Bharatpur imperial era. The museum contains numerous artifacts having the important cultural, historical and traditional values. The numerous warfare artifacts let you know the various defense weapons and the art of war used during the imperial era in the past. The museum also contains numerous stone sculptures, metallic objects, inscriptions, coins, terracotta items, weapons as well as local arts and the miniature paintings. The art gallery of the museum is having the amazing collections such as miniature paintings on the leaves of the Peepal Tree and old litho papers. The museum is open for the visitors round the year.
Banke Bihari Temple :
Dedicated to the Lord Krishna, the Banke Bihari Temple was constructed when the Bharatpur was under the Mughal rule. A visit to this beautiful Hindu temple will be a delightful experience. The temple is also located inside the Lohagrah Fort providing a pleasant view to the ancient Fort. The tranquility inside the temple and serenity that prevails here is very alluring and pacifying to the mind.
Best Time to Visit Bharatpur :
The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary remains open round the year and tourists can visit any time of the year. However, the winter season is the best time to visit this Bird Sanctuary due to the pleasant weather condition and the migratory birds. During October and March, the bird lover tourists from all over the world visit this sanctuary to enjoy the magnificent view of Nature at its best and the hundreds of beautiful domestic as well as the migratory birds. The time duration from August to November is considered best for the birding of domestic birds while the time from October to March is best for the sighting of the migratory birds which visit from different corners of the world during the winter season. Being situated on the periphery of the Thar Desert, the weather condition of the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is almost similar to the other tourist destinations in Rajasthan.
The summer season, which starts from April and stays till June, is very hot and humid due to the soaring high temperature that even crosses the 48 degree Celsius in the peak summer. The monsoon season in Bharatpur, from July to September, witness comparatively lower temperature than the summer, but still, the temperature is high enough to explore the sanctuary in the daytime. However, the beauty of Nature enhances with lush greenery and wetlands in the monsoon season, but the swampy lands make it difficult to explore deeper in the park. The winter season, from October to March, is the best season for the birding and exploring the sanctuary as the weather is most pleasant and the safari in the park will be very tempting.
How to Reach Bharatpur :
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is among the most popular bird sanctuaries in the world. This UNESCO world heritage site is a must-visit tourist destination for the bird lovers. Being one of the popular tourist destinations in Rajasthan, the place is well connected to the other nearby towns and cities of India through roadways, railways and airways. Here is the detailed info about how to reach Bharatpur via air, rail and road-
By Air :
The nearest airport to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is the Agra airport which is around 54 km away from the sanctuary. There are regular flights to Agra from Delhi, the capital of India. Tourist can reach Agra and then reach Bharat taking through the road or rail. Another nearest airport is the Delhi International Airport, which is around 219 km from Bharatpur. Delhi is well connected to Bharatpur through the roadways and railways.
By Train :
The nearest railway station is the Bharatpur Railway Junction which is located at the distance of 5 km from the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. There are numerous regular trains are available to reach Bharatpur from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Kota and other major stations in North India. There are direct and connecting trains from all the other cities and towns in India so reaching Bharatpur through railways from any corner of India is easy.
By Road :
Bharatpur Sanctuary is well connected with Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Delhi, Agra, Mathura, etc. through the well-maintained roads. Tourists can reach Bharatpur either by hiring cab/taxi or by the state-run or private-run buses.