Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

         No less than 328 kinds of birds have been sighted at the Keoladeo sanctuary, 117 of which migrate from as far as Siberia and China. The sanctuary was formerly a vast semiarid region, the natural shallow depressions near the city of Bharatpur which temporarily filled with rain water provided an acquatic habitat and attracted water birds till they dried up. The credit of vonverting this area into a world famous wildfowl reserve goes to Prince Bhamji of Morvi state in Gujarat. He was appointed as a Regent of Bharatpur state towards the end of the nineteenth century. A number of hunds, dykes and embankments were built and provided with sluice gates to regulate the water in the water bodies so created. These were filled up by releasing water from Ajan Bund, a ten kilometer long flood control weir, built some 250 years ago.

         Duck shoots were organised in the area very year by the rulers of Bhartpur in honour of the viceroy Lord Curzon and his party on 1st December, 1902.The exploits of all visiting dignitaries since 1902 have been engraved on stone plaques standing near the Keoladeo temple. Largest number of birds (4273) were killed on 12th November, 1938, by Loard Linlithgow, Viceroy & Governor General of India and his party. After independence of the country this reserve was notified as a bird sanctuary was notified as a bird sanctuary but the former rulers of Bharatpur continued to enjoy their shooting rights over the area till 1972.The area was notified as a National Park in 1981. However, the notification could be made effective only in Novemeber,1982.

         This complex eco-system of shallow fresh water swamps, dry savanna gras lands and woodlands, supports, a vast variety and abundance of wildlife. Over 370 species of birds belonging to 65 families, have been identified in the park. Around 130 species of birds nest with in the park itself. Every year,the arrival of the monsoon marks the beginning of nesting activity in these marshes. In the years of normal rainfall, between ten to twenty thousand nests are built, by storks, egrets, herons,ibises, darters, cormorants and spoonbills, in a short span of about one and half month, on the Acacia trees planted in the marshes. The composition andcomplesion of nesting colonies changes with each passing day. Observing the behaviour of birds during this period is a fascinating experience.Experts consider it as one of the best heronary of the world.

         Winter migrants start arriving in the park from September onwards. Pantial, Shoveller, gadwall, wigeon, poachards and geese arrive in large numbers. The non-aquatic ecosystem of the park is also rich in wildlife. It also provides a habitat suitable for land birds. Mammals like deers, antelopes, wild boar, cats jackals and hyena, etc. and reptiles like the pythons and monitor lizards are common.

         The food requirements of the bird population can be enormous and its hard to belive that these shallow lakes would be capable of meeting it-yet they do. A giude book including a map is available at the ticket check point. It contains a short history of the park and an endless list of bird species, but is otherwise of little help to anyone without an understanding of ornithology.

         The park is open to the visitors throughout the year, but its is more rewarding to visit it between August to February. The best way to see the park is, of coursem on foot. The other options avaliable are a bicycle or a cycle rickshaw. They are available on hire. Rickshaw pullers have been trained by the park management in bird watching and are quite knowledgeable. Boats are also available on hire. A boat trip early in the morning or late evening is quite a rewarding experience.