NATIONAL PARKS OF INDIA

Located in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Keoladeo National Park is one of the popular avifauna sanctuaries of the world. It is also known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and is spread over an area of about 28.73 km²

Brief history
The park derives its name from an ancient Hindu temple of Lord Shiva located inside the park. The park was established in 1850 as a duck shooting reserve of the Maharaja of Bharatpur. Later it was declared a bird sanctuary in 1976 and a national park in the year 1982. In December 1985, the park area was declared a World Heritage Site.

Flora
The important floras of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary are babul, Jamun, Kadam, Piloo, Kandi, etc.

Fauna
Striped Hyena, Nilgai, Fishing Cat, Golden Jackal, Sambar, Wild Boar, etc. are some prominent fauna of the park.

Avian-fauna
Birds are the prime attraction of the sanctuary. The popular avian-fauna of the park include Cranes, Eagles, Wheatears, Larks, Geese, Warblers and so on.

Travel
Bharatpur Junction is the nearby railhead and is located approximately 5 km away from the park. Bharatpur is well connected with different parts of India through regular bus services. One can also hire private cabs from Agra or Delhi to reach the sanctuary. The Jaipur and Delhi airport are the closest airports to the park.

Tourist tips
Forest Lodge, managed and maintained by the government, provide ideal lodging facilities. The visitors can also lodge at Shanti Kutir that is operated by ITDC. Dak bungalow and Circuit house also provide good accommodation facilities to the visitors. The tourists can also opt to lodge in the havelis and palaces that have been converted into hotels. They are located in and around the park. Visitors should remember that every individual is entitled to one entrance per day. Government-approved cycle-rickshaws are the only vehicles that are allowed inside the bird sanctuary.

Tourist Information
Address: Keoladeo National Park, Ghana, Bharatpur, Rajasthan-302001, India.
Phone: 05644 222 777.
Best time to visit: October to February.
Visiting hours: 6am to 6pm from April to September and 6.30am to 5pm from October to March.