Keoladeo Ghana National Park, at a Glance :
Area : 22 sq.km. (approx.)
Altitude : 250 metres (approx.)
Best Time to Visit : October- February
Languages : Rajasthani, Hindi, English.
About Keoladeo Ghana National Park :Keoladeo Ghana National Park, more popularly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary has one of the most prolific bird life in the country. This national park takes its name from the god Keoladeo, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, enshrined in a small temple within the park. The word 'Ghana' means 'dense' and refers to the thick forest, which used to cover the area in the past.Today, the Park supports a population of 375 species of birds along with many mammals and reptiles. The most notable winter visitors to the Park are the rare Siberian Cranes, whose numbers have dwindled to only two over the years. The animal variety includes: Golden Jackal, Striped Hyena, Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, Nilgai, Sambhar, Blackbuck and Wild Boar among others. The wide variety of birds includes Common Demoiselle, Siberian Crane, Coot Snipes, Spanish Sparrow, Red Crested Porhard, Rosy Pelican and Flamingo, among others.
Flora in Keoladeo Ghana National Park :More than 300 species of birds are found in this small wildlife park of 29-sq-kms of which 11-sq-kms are marshes and the rest scrubland and grassland. Keoladeo, the name derives from an ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, which stands at the centre of the park. 'Ghana' means dense, referring to the thick forest, which used to cover the area.
Major Wildlife Attractions :The major attractions of tourists visiting the park are the numerous migratory birds, who come from as far away as Siberia and Central Asia and spend their winters in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding grounds. Migratory birds at Bharatpur bird sanctuary include, several species of Cranes, Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks and Pipits, etc.
Places to Stay at Keoladeo Ghana National Park :- Chandra Mahal Haveli
- Bharatpur Forest Lodge
- Laxmi Vilas Palace Bharatpur
How to Reach at Keoladeo National Park :
By Air : Nearest airport at Agra, (56 km) from Bharatpur.
By Rail : The Bharatpur railway station is 6 km from the park.
By Road : An excellent network of roadway services links Bharatpur to all the major cities of the Rajasthan and its neighbouring states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana.
