|
|
The Keoladeo National Park is in Rajasthan, 50 Km west of Agra.
Among travelers it is highlighted to their visit to India.
This sanctuary was named after a Keoladeo (Shiva)
temple within its boundaries. Bharat pur is renowned for its world
heritage - listed bird sanctuary, the keoladeo ghana national park.
this is one bird sanctuary which even non ornithologists should
visit.
This world heritage site is one of the major
wintering areas for large numbers of aquatic birds from Afghanistan,
Turkmenistan, China and Siberia. Almost 364 species of birds,
including the rare Siberian crane, have been recorded in the park.
The Keoladeo National Park lies 5 KM to the South of the city centre
and is easily accessed by cycle rickshaw.
The best time to visit the sanctuary is from October
to late February when many |
 |
migratory birds
can be seen, including the highly endangered Siberian crane.
According to recent reports, around 354 species of birds have been
identified at the beautiful Keoladeo sanctuary. The sanctuary was
formerly a vast semi-arid region, falling with water during the
monsoon season only to rapidly dry up afterwards. To prevent this,
the maharaja of Bharatpur diverted water from a nearby irrigation
canal and, with in a few years, birds begin to settle in vast
numbers . The maharaja was compelled not by conservationist motives,
but by the desire to have a ready supply of waterfowl, affording
fine shooting (and dining) possibilities indeed, Keoladeo continued
to supply the maharajas tables until as lare as 1965. An inscription
on a pillar near the small temple in the park bears testimony to the
maharajas penchant for hunting. It reveals that on one day alone,
over 5000 ducks were shot!
The park is open 6 am to 6 pm daily. Entry is Rs 20/100 for
Indians/foreigners, which entitles you to enter the park as many
times as you wish in one day. A still camera is free, but there’s a
whopping Rs.200 video charge. There’s also an entry fee for bicycle
(Rs.3) and cycle-rickshaw (Rs 5). A horse drawn Tonga costs Rs.60
per hour (maximum six people). Motorised vehicles are prohibited
beyond the checkpoint, so the only way of getting around is by foot,
bicycles or cycle- rickshaw.Only those cycle-rickshaws
aurhorised by the government are allowed insode the park- beware of
anyone who tells you otherwise! Although you don’t pay entry for the
drivers of there cycle-rickshaws, you’ll be up for Rs 30 per hour if
you take one and they’ll expect a tip on top of that. Some of the
drovers actually know a lot about the birds you’ll see and
experienced ornithologist guide, this will cost around Rs 35 per
hour for maz. 5 people and Rs 75 for more than 5 people. Guidescan
be hired at the park entrance.
Excellent way to see the park is
to hire a bicycle. There are bikes for hire at the pa rk entrance
for Rs 20 per day. Some hotels rent bicycles as well. This allows
you to easily avoid the bottlenecks which inevitably occur at eh
besting sites of the larger birds. It’s just about the only way
you’ll be able to watch the numerous kingfishers at close
quarters-noise or human activity frightens them away. A bicycle also
enables you to avoid clocking up a large bill with a rickshaw
driver. If you plan to visit the sanctuary at dawn, you should hire
your bicycle the day before. The southerner reaches at the park are
virtually devoids of humanus touristicus, and so are much better
then the northern part for serious bird-watching.
Boats can be hired for Rs 80 per
hour . They are a very good way of getting close to the wildlife.
A small display of photos,
stuffed birds, nests and aquatic species found in the park lakes is
at the main entrabce of the park. There’s a small snack bar about
halfway through the park, next to the kleodeo temple.
-- Map
-- Facts
|
Home
About Us
Tours
Packages
Site Map
Contact Us
Book A Tour
Wild Life Parks
Ranthambore
NP
Hotels & Resorts
Home
Details
Hotels Available At Keoladeo National
Park