Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur

Bharatpur in Rajasthan is home to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, also popularly called the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The name Keoladeo comes from a temple inside the sanctuary dedicated to Lord Shiva. Ghana means dense, i.e. dense forest. Keoladeo is a delight for bird watchers and ornithologists, with 380 resident and migrant species of birds, including the common Demoiselle and the rare Siberian Cranes that migrate to tthis place each winter. Even animals like Golden Jackal, Jungle Cat, Striped Hyena, Sambar, Fishing Cat, Nilgai, Blackbuck and wild Boar make their home here.

The migratory birds coming to Keoladeo also include Cranes, Hawks, Pelicans, Geese, Shanks, Ducks, Eagles, Warblers, Stints, Wagtails, Buntings, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Larks and Pipits. Keoladeo is marshy, therefore is an excellent breeding ground for all these birds. Apart from birds, even pythons can be seen here basking in the sun.

Keoladeo was originally the private hunting reserve of the Bharatpur Royal Family. Other attractions here include the Lohagarh Frot, Deeg Palace and the Government Museum. Beautiful confluence of Mughal and Rajput architecture can be seen in these buildings.

The Keoladeo sanctuary is quite small and can be explored on foot, by cycle, on a rickshaw or even through a jeep safari. Early morning and evening are rewarding times to see the birds and animals.

Accommodation here ranges from the government run forest lodge to the luxurious heritage hotel Laxmi Vilas Palace.