The
Bird Paradise :
Bharatpur is best known for Keoladeo Ghana National Park popularly called
as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Bharatpur lies between north India's historic
cities of Agra and Jaipur. Located in northwestern part of Rajasthan,
Bharatpur is at a distance of 190 kms from the national capital of Delhi.
History :
There are some interesting historical facts associated with Bharatpur. In
1760, an earthen dam was constructed to save the town from the annual flood
fury. The depression created due to extraction of soil for the dam became
the Bharatpur lake in due course of time. The lake flows through the bird
sanctuary and is the home to many different species of migratory birds
during winters.
Famous for- Keoladeo Ghana National Park :
The Keoladeo Ghana National Park or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary has a rich
bio-geographic diversity. The park is home to more than 380 species of birds
which is about a quarter of the total bird species found in the entire
Indian subcontinent. Some of them are endangered bird species seldom seen in
any other part of the world. Hundreds of migratory birds come to Bharatpur
during the winters. That includes : species of cranes, pelicans, geese,
ducks, eagles, flycatchers, buntings, larks and pipits. The numerous water
bodies of the sanctuary provide an ideal habitat for the migratory birds.
The migratory birds come from high altitude areas, plains, eastern and
western regions.
Various choices are available to tourists inside the sanctuary. They may
set out on foot or hire a bicycle. Rickshaw pullers have also been trained
by the park management in bird watching and are quite knowledgeable. Boats
rides inside the park are also very popular.
Connectivity :
» By Air -Agra airport at a distance of 56 kms is
the nearest landing facility from Bharatpur.
» By Rail - Bharatpur has good rail connectivity
with major destinations of India. Trains are regularly available from Delhi,
Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra.
» By Road - Bharatpur is located at a distance of 56
kms from Agra, 190 kms from Delhi and 185 kms from Jaipur.
Additional Highlights of the City :
» Bharatpur Government Museum - The Government
Museum of Bharatpur stores many items that belong to the royal families of
Bharatpur. After the sanctuary, the museum is the major crowd puller in
Bharatpur.
» Bharatpur Palace - Bharatpur Palace is an imposing
building the architecture of which is a magnificent blend of Mughal and
Rajput styles.
