Keoladeo Ghana National Park – complete detail – updated

Keoladeo Ghana National Park – complete detail – updated. Dominant flora and fauna of Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Geography of Keoladeo Ghana National Park. How to reach Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Keoladeo was designated a World Heritage Site under the world Heritage Convention in 1985 by UNESCO. It is a reserve forest under the Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953 and therefore, is the property of the State of Rajasthan of the Indian Union. The park was a hunting ground for the maharaja of Bharatpur, who turned his personal hunting domain into a bird sanctuary in 1956. Maharaja of Bharatpur setting up the…………

Keoladeo was (bird sanctuary in 1956, unofficially) declared a bird sanctuary in 1971. The Keoladeo bird sanctuary was declared as a National park in 1981. Total area of the National park is about 28.7 km². Keoladeo Ghana National Park was announced as a Ramsar site under the Wetland Convention in October 1981. 

The main attractions for tourists visiting the Keoladeo Ghana Park are the migratory birds, which come from as far away as Siberia and Central Asia to spend their winters in Bharatpur, before returning back to their breeding grounds.

National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park

Keoladeo Ghana National Park is also known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary or Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary. Keoladeo Ghana National Park is located in the Bharatpur district of the state of Rajasthan.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park famous for housing of birds, and was created around 250 years ago. The name Keoladeo has been derived from a nearby ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Shiva (Maharaja Suraj Mal).

Keoladeo Ghana National Park also famous migrant species of birds, including the Common, Demoiselle and the rare Siberian Cranes.

Click here to view state wise list of Indian national parks – updated

Keoladeo was (bird sanctuary in 1956, unofficially) declared a bird sanctuary in 1971. The Keoladeo bird sanctuary was declared as a National park in 1981. Total area of the National park is about 28.7 km².

Keoladeo Ghana National Park was announced as a Ramsar site under the Wetland Convention in October 1981.

Keoladeo was designated a World Heritage Site under the world Heritage Convention in 1985 by UNESCO. It is a reserve forest under the Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953 and therefore, is the property of the State of Rajasthan of the Indian Union.

The park was a hunting ground for the maharaja of Bharatpur, who turned his personal hunting domain into a bird sanctuary in 1956. Maharaja of Bharatpur setting up the sanctuary, building a dam and an artificial lake to store the rains that would fall in torrents during the monsoons.

Duck shoots were organized yearly in honor of the British viceroys. In one shoot alone in 1938, about 4,250 birds were killed by Lord Linlithgow. The last big shoot was held in 1964 but the Maharajah retained shooting rights until 1972.

Grazing of village cattle was banned in this area in 1982, which led to clashes between government and local farmers.

Attractions in Keoladeo Ghana National Park

The main attractions for tourists visiting the Keoladeo Ghana Park are the migratory birds, which come from as far away as Siberia and Central Asia to spend their winters in Bharatpur, before returning back to their breeding grounds. Some of the migratory birds that visit Keoladeo Ghana National Park include several species of Cranes, Hawks, Pelicans, Geese, Shanks, Ducks, Eagles, Warblers, Stints, Wagtails, Buntings, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Larks, Pipits etc. Besides the migratory and resident birds, other tourist attractions in Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary include the Bharatpur government Museum, Lohagarh Fort and Deeg Palace.

State wise list of Wildlife Sanctuaries of India – updated 

Bird watching

Morning is the best time for bird watching. The best way to see the diverse species of birds and animals is to make trips at different times of the day. Wake up with the birds in the early morning, see water birds in daylight and, of course, catch night birds such as owls at dusk and after sunset.

Geography

This is one of the world’s best-studied wetland ecosystems. It is a wetland made and managed to protect the Bharatpur region from frequent floods. Locally known as Ghana, this park consists of wetlands, dry grass woods, woodlands and woodland swamps.

One third of the Keoladeo Ghana National Park habitat is wetland systems with varying types of microhabitats having trees, mounds, dykes and open water with or without submerged or emergent plants.

The principal vegetation types are tropical dry deciduous forests intermixed with dry grasslands. Where the forest has degraded, the greater part of the area is covered with shrubs and medium sized trees. The park is a fresh water swamp and is flooded during the monsoon.

Dominant flora

Kadam (Mitragyna parvifolia), Jamun (Syzygium cumini), Babul (Acacia nilotica), Kandi (Prosopis cineraria), Ber (Zizyphus), Kair (Capparis decidua), Piloo (Salvadora oleoides) etc.

Dominant fauna

Birds – Painted Stork, cormorant, egret, Sociable Lapwing, Indian Courser, Imperial, Spotted Eagles, Darters, Demoiselle Cranes, Black-headed Ibis, Darter, Shoveller, teal, Dalmatian Pelicans, Black Bittern, Greater Painted Snipe, Large-tailed, Dusky Eagle Owls, spoonbills, kingfishers, warblers, partridges, several species of egrets, herons, geese, pelicans, cormorants, ducks, Lager falcon, greater-spotted falcon, Pallas’ eagle etc.

Mammals – Jackals, Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild cats, Hyenas, Wild boar, Indian porcupine, Mangoose, Fishing cats etc.

Reptiles – Indian rock pythons, common cobras, Russell’s vipers, common kraits, common wolf-snakes, blind snakes, checkered keel backs, sand boas, common monitor lizards, Calotes, skinks, turtles etc.

Migrants – Siberian Crane, Steppe Eagle, Pale and Marsh Harriers, Osprey, Common Teal, Indian Little Ringed Plover etc.

Many species of Rats, Mice, Gerbils, and Bats are also found.

Seasons

Winter – October to March

Summer – April to June

Monsoon – July to September

Average rainfall: 300 to 500 mm

Temperature:        Maximum – 47^o C

                                  Minimum – 5^o C

The mean annual precipitation is 600 to 665 millimeters.

Location – 27*07′-27*12’N, and 77*29′-77*33’E

Best season

November to March is the best time, for the migratory birds are there as well as the residents. But the park is a treat all year round.

Entrance Fees

Entry Fee for Indians: 50 Rs
Entry Fee for Foreigners: 400 Rs

How to Reach Ranthambore National Park

By Air

The Jaipur Sanganer and Delhi Airport is the nearest airport from Keoladeo Ghana National Park. These airports are well connected by road and rail network to Ranthambore National Park.

By Train

The nearest railway station is Bharatpur Junction, which is About 05 km from Keoladeo Ghana National Park. The Fatehpur Janta Express leaves New Delhi at 2 p.m. and arrives at Bharatpur station at 6.15 p.m. It departs from Bharatpur at 8 a.m. reaching Delhi by 12.30 p.m.

By Road

Roadways is also a feasible option to reach Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Bharatpur is connected with other parts of the nation by very good roads. You can easily travel to Keoladeo Ghana National Park by road.

Distance from Major places

Delhi – 180 km

Fatehpur Sikri – 22 km

Sariska – 130 km

Mathura – 36 km

Agra – 55km

Mathura – 35 km

Jaipur – 176 km

Alwar – 117 km

Deeg – 32 km

Other National Parks in Rajasthan. Name of National Parks, Year of Notification and Total Area is as follows……….