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Just 176 kms from Delhi is a very special wilderness
- the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the
finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. The lake
and wetland was artificially created by the Maharaja
of Bharatpur in the 19th century. 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 375 species of birds are
found 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 un unforgettable experience.
There fare mixed heronries on the half submerged
babul trees and the cacaphony is unbelievable as
painted storks, open bills, spoon bills, egrets,
comorants, white ibis and multitudes of others,
tend their young. Jacanas with their iridescent
colours and elegant tail feathers and purple
moorhen can be seen delicately treading over the
floating vegetation.
Every year
Bharatpur waits with bated breath for the
arrival of the Siberian cranes. There are only
two wintering places for this rare species one
in Iran and the other Bharatpur and these
beautiful birks with their distinctive red beaks
and facial patches, fly over 6400 kms from their
summer retreats in Siberian cranes with a young
one made an appearance in Bharatpur after a
lapse of three years.
Colourful
kingfishers, graceful pelicans rare Siberian
cranes and trans- continental fliers- the
migratory water - fowl are amongst the 375
species of birds found in the Keoladeo National
Park. The most spectacular nesting is that of
the egrets, storks, herons and cormorants which
make over 10,000 nests every year. This makes
outstanding bird havens of the world. The park
covers an area of 28.73km.
The story of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is
incomplete without an account of the migratory
waterfowl. The most prominent water fowl coming
to this park are bareheaded and greylag geese.
Ducks also create a lot of fluttering in the
lakes. The ducks usually found here are pintail,
widgeon, common shelduck, shoveler, garganey,
teal, mallard pochard etc.
Attracted by the
influx of the water fowl the predatory
birds-tawny eagles, spotted eagles short-toed
eagles imperial eagles and fishing eagle also
arrive. They all forms the apex of the
biological pyramid of the sanctuary and complete
the avian food chain of the ecosystem. There are
large herds of the nilgai, chital, wild boar and
fear cows in addition to a few herds of sambar.
Keoladeo National
Park is open to visitors throughout the year ,
but it is more rewarding to visit it between
August to end of March.The best way to see the
park is on foot. Other options available are to
see it on cycle or a cycle rickshaw. Both are
available on hire. Cycle rickshaw pullers have
been trained by the forest department in bird
watching and are knowledgeable. Boats are also
availble for a trip of the lake area. A boat
trip early in the morning or in the evening is
quite a rewarding experience.
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