Keoladeo Diaries

2] VISIT TO THE BIGGEST BIRD SANCTUARY OF INDIA - KEOLADEO GHANA NATIONAL PARK.

Keoladeo National Park is an important wintering ground of migratory birds and is renowned for its large congregation of non-migratory resident breeding birds. The best time to visit this park is between November to March. Nearest railway station to Keoladeo National Park is Bharatpur. Bharatpur Junction is approx. 6 kms from Keoladeo National Park. One can easily get an auto from station to reach this park. We had booked Swaraj Resort in advance which is only 1.5 kms away from Keoladeo National Park.

Before planning the trip, here are some IMP points to be kept in mind.

You have to walk so shoes are a must.
In winters, the temperature reaches approx. 10℃ so it is advisable to carry woollen clothes.
Id cards are compulsory for entry to the park.

EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK :-

This park hosts thousands of birds, especially during the winter season. Over 350 species of birds are known to be its resident. It is also a major tourist centre for ornithologists arriving here in the winter season.

It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971 and established as a national park on 10 March 1982. Because of its exceptional avian biodiversity, in 1985 Keoladeo National Park was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Park is an artificial and managed wetland. The park is 29 sq km in area. It has the mosaic of dry grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps and wetlands. The park fell under Criteria (x) which states that the site should "contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-site conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation". The main advantage is One third of the Keoladeo National Park is wetland which provides suitable environment for most of the birds.

DAY - 3(22nd Nov)

We reached Bharatpur Junction at 11 AM. Our first stop as usual was Swetamber Jain Derasar. There are only 2 Swetamber Jain Derasar in Bharatpur. One is in the city area and another is Shri Rajendra Suri Jain Kirti Temple in Sewar. We went to Parshwanath Jain Derasar in the city.

We reached Keoladeo National Park at 2 PM. We had booked the ticket in advance. But you have to take one guide from the entrance of Park. No private vehicles are allowed in Park. There are 4 options for travelling in the park.

By walking
By bicycle
By e-rickshaw
By Tonga cart

We were only 3 people so we preferred e-rickshaw. There were many migratory birds present in park. It takes minimum 2 to 3 hrs. to explore the park. If you can spare one whole day then you can see many other birds present in dense parts of park. The park closes at the time of sunset. We saw many birds like small spotted owlets, spot billed duck, red heron, purple heron, black drongo, white breasted kingfisher, snake bird, white breasted water hen, egrets, cormorants, magpie Robbin, purple swamp hen, painted storks, red wattled lapwing etc. We also saw jackal, spotted deer and Sambhar deer.

Snake bird and Purple heron

White breasted Water hen
and Magpie Robbin

Purple Swam hen and
Pond or magic heron

Red-Wattled Lapwing and
White Breasted Kingfisher

Painted Storks

Jackal

DAY - 4(23rd Nov)

We had our train from Bharatpur to Agra. So, we checked out from our resort early in the morning and went to Bharatpur Junction. It takes approx. 1.5 hrs to reach Agra from Bharatpur.

Please click on the following link to read further blogs of this journey.

PART 1 : RANTHAMBHORE DIARIES https://youngtravellerranthambhore.blogspot.com/
PART 3 : AGRA DIARIES https://youngtravelleragra.blogspot.com/

PART 4 : VRINDAVAN-MATHURA DIARIES https://youngtravellervrindavan-mathura.blogspot.com/
PART 5 : FATEHPUR SIKRI DIARIES https://youngtravellerfatehpursikri.blogspot.com/

Please click on following links to view more blogs written by me.