Location of Keoladeo Ghana National Park, History of Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Architecture of Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Visiting hours in Keoladeo Ghana National Park.
Location of Keoladeo Ghana National Park:
This heaven for the birds and a big attraction for the bird lovers is located at a distance of 40 Km from Mathura & 50 Km from Agra Cities of Uttar Pradesh State and 5 km from Bharatpur Junction Railway Station in District Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
History of Keoladeo Ghana National Park:
Earlier it was known as ‘Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctury’. It has been renamed after the Keoladeo Temple – a Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva situated inside the boundary of the Park. It is a man made Wetland created between 1726-1763 when ‘Ajan Bund’ was constructed by Maharaja Suraj Mal, the then ruler of Bharatpur. It became a popular hunting ground for the Maharajas of Bharatpur and was known as the best Duck shooting resort during the British Empire. It was declared a Reserve Bird Sanctury in the year 1956 and was upgraded to a National Park in 1982. The Park was declared a ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site’ in 1985.
Architecture of Keoladeo Ghana National Park:
It is spread over an area of 29 Sq. Km. and about 11 Sq. Km. area of the Park is covered with water. The main vegetation of the park is the tropical dry deciduous forest with dry grasslands, Shrubs and medium sized trees. The forest is dominated by Kadam (Mitragyna Parvifolia), Jamun (Syzygium cuminii), Babool (Acacia Nilotica), Ber (Ziziphus Mauritiana) and Karir (Capparis Decidua) trees with some trees of Jhand (Prospopis Spicigera) and Vann (Salvadora Oleiodes).
It houses more than 375 Species of birds out of which more than 132 Species of birds breed inside the park. It also houses more than 370 Species of flowers of which 90 are wetland Species, 45 Species of fish of which 5 Species breed here, 12 Species of snakes, 25 Species of Mammals and many Species of Lizards, turtles and amphibians. It attracts birds from all over India as well as from Siberia, Europe, China and Tibet.
Just before Monsoons, many Species of birds like Cormorants, Darter, Purple and Grey Heron, White Ibis, Spoonbills, Night Heron, white-necked and black-necked Storks build nests on the Babool and Kadam trees. Every tree comes to have 50 to 60 nests. The Saras Cranes, the tallest flight birds nest in the open area. During Monsoons, birds from all over the Country arrive here. The birds spotted here include Kingfishers, Babblers, Quails, Partridges, Sparrows, Parakeets, Sunbirds, Red-Vented and White-cheeked Bulbuls, Ducks of many varieties like Pintail, Common teal, mallard, widgeon, shoveler, common shelduck, ruddy shelduck, red-crested pochard, gadwall etc. and Predatory birds like Imperial eagle, Marsh harrier, Laggar falcon, Steppe and tawny eagle, Spotted eagle, Short-toed eagle, Lesser spotted eagle and Shikra.
During Winters, migratory birds like Water-Fowls of barheaded and greyleg geeses varieties and Siberian Cranes arrive in huge numbers.
The animals spotted here include Black Buck, Sambhar, Spotted Deer, Chital, Nilgais, Blue Bull, Feral Cattle, Wild Boar, Porcupine, Mongoose, Indian Hare, Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Common Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Smooth Indian Otter, Jackals, Hyenas, Bengal Fox etc. Besides these many Species of Bats, Rats and Mice are also found here. Pythons can be spotted here lazing in the sun.
Visiting Hours in Keoladeo Ghana National Park:
The Vehicles are only allowed upto Shanti Kutir (an ITDC run accommodation) inside the Park. From here one can hire Cycle rickshaws, Cycles or Electra Van of the forest department. The Park remains open on all days from sunrise to sunset.
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