Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary – Spend a Vacation Watching the Winged Beauties

Swampy lands, tall trees, grasslands and bushes here and there, and a road made of pitch that winds through all of these – that's Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary for you. One of the perfect destinations for bird watchers, Bharatput Bird Sanctuary is located in the state of Rajasthan in India. This reserve forest has been renamed as the Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park in recent times. It's also quite popular among tourists as the Bharatpur National Park. However, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is primarily popular for the native as well as the migratory birds that flock this park.

The Safe Haven for Birds and Animals

The beauty of this bird sanctuary in India lies in its serene ambiance and the silence of the jungles. And also in the fact that it has become an extremely safe haven for a wide range of birds and animals.

Planning to visit the national park at Bharatpur? Wondering which time of the day would be the best for you?

You can always vouch for dawn - just after the sunrise. Or even late evening can be a great option. These are the times of the day when the birds and beasts are mostly visible.

The sight is mesmerizing in the early morning. You'll find heavy fog descending on the water-bodies of this enchanting wildlife reserve in Rajasthan in India. This bird sanctuary in Rajasthan is one of the most popular man-made and managed wildlife and bird sanctuaries in India. It is thronged by tourists from different parts of the world on a regular basis for bird watching.

History of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

This bird sanctuary in Rajasthan is also referred to locally as the Bharatpur wildlife park. It was popular even during the historic times among the Maharajas of Bharatpur. They used to visit it on a regular basis for game hunting. However, as game hunting has been prohibited now, this has been made a National Park. This has ensured that the Keoladeo Ghana National Park has become a safe place for wild animals and birds with the passage of time. The park is famous among nature lovers and bird viewers for the wide variety of migratory birds that visits this place in winter from further north.

Bharatpur – a Paradise for Bird Lovers

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is home to diverse species of birds, animals, and reptiles.

The park has a large variety of birds including different types of waterfowls, such as common teal, comb duck, little and great cormorant, white spoonbill, gadwall, painted stork, and others.

Several land-birds, which include grey hornbill, bee-eaters, different species of eagles, warblers, partridges, bulbuls, and babblers can also be seen by the tourists.

Among the migratory birds, it is a favorite haunt of the Siberian Cranes, which flock the park every winter. Bird lovers from across the globe flock to this park every year to get a view of some of these enchanting and colorful winged beauties.

Animals at the Keoladeo Ghana National Park

In addition to the birds, the marshy lands and the forests of the area are inhabited by a large variety of animals. These include blue bull or nilgai, spotted deer, and feral cattle.

You can also find animals, such as different types of mongoose, civets, otters, blackbuck, hog deer, sambar, nilgai, chital, hare, porcupine, and so on.

The water bodies are full of fishes. Besides, there are also different species of snakes in the park. These include cobra, krait, vipers, and others.

Safari at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

If you're visiting a forest and want to have a look at the wild birds and animals, can you return without a safari that takes you close to the birds and the beasts?

Of course not.

Therefore, you have to take a safari at this bird sanctuary in India as well. However, you are sure to be thrilled while taking this safari, as it's unique compared to other safaris you've already enjoyed. That's because, in addition to jeep safari, you can also enjoy safaris in rickshaws as well as on elephant back.

The elephant back safaris help you go closer to the animals and enjoy the view of the wild animals in their own habitat. However, if you want to go deeper inside the forest, jeep safaris would be the right choice. You can also hire a bicycle and ride through the well-paved road inside the Keoladeo Ghana National Park.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Timings

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, does not remain open all day and night. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary timings vary for different seasons of the year. While the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary timings are longer for summer, they are a bit shorter in winter.

The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary timings range from 6 AM to 6 PM. However, during winter, the park is open from 6-30 AM to 5 PM. 

Price of Entry Ticket at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Entry to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park is not free. However, the price of tickets for the Indians is different from those of the foreigners. You can get an entry ticket for just INR 50 if you're an Indian. For foreigners, it's INR 400.

How to Reach Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Bharatpur is extremely well connected to other parts of India. It is located close to both Agra and Jaipur and can be reached easily from both of these places by road.

The distance from Agra to this bird sanctuary in India is only 58 Kilometers, which can be covered in an hour. Moreover, it is not far from the Indian capital and is regarded as one of the best weekend destinations from Delhi. The distance of Keoladeo Ghana National Park from Delhi is about 210 Kilometers and it takes a little above 4 hours to reach the sanctuary. Distance from Jaipur to Keoladeo Ghana National Park is 189 Kilometers and it can be covered in a little over 3 hours.

Tourists traveling by train can get down at the nearest Bharatpur Junction, which is merely 5 kilometers away from the bird sanctuary at Bharatpur, and travel by car from there. 

The nearest airport to this bird sanctuary in Rajasthan is Agra. It takes around an hour by car from the Agra Airport to reach this bird sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

Where to Stay in Bharatpur

There are several hotels in Bharatpur. These Bharatpur hotels include different high-cost ones that provide excellent lodging options. Moreover, you will also find various Bharatpur hotels that provide amazing ambiance at a low cost. Here's a quick look at some of the Bharatpur hotels:

Luxury Hotels in Bharatpur

Looking for an extremely cozy stay while visiting the bird sanctuary in Bharatpur?

You can book one of the luxury hotels Bharatpur. These Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary hotels are quite expensive. Some of the luxury Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary hotels include:

• The Bagh
• Laxmi Vilas Palace
• Sangam Hotel
• Amritara Chandra Mahal Haveli
• Mahal Khas Palace
• Lakshya Palace
• Regenta Resort Bharatpur
• The Birder's Inn
• Udai Vilas Palace
• RMB Hotel

Most of these luxury Bharatpur Hotels offer excellent luxury and a number of amenities, such as outdoor swimming pools, free wifi, and so on.

Budget Hotels in Bharatpur

There are quite a few hotels in and around this bird sanctuary in Rajasthan. While some of them are high-end, you can also book budget hotels in Bharatpur. Here are a few budget hotels in Bharatpur:

• Hotel Park Regency
• Hotel Ravi Regency
• Hotel Tourist Complex
• Sanctuary Tourist Lodge
• Sun N Star

Guest Houses and Homestays in Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

In addition to the luxury hotels in Bharatpur and budget hotels in Bharatpur, you can also find various homestays and guest houses for lodging in and around the bird sanctuary. Some of these are:

• Chandra Guest House
• The Rohit Vilas Homestay
• Garg Complex and Guest House

You can stay in these hotels, guest houses, and homestays to enjoy your time at this bird sanctuary in Rajasthan.

What to Eat at Bharatpur

Many of the hotels near the Keoladeo Ghana National Park have in-house restaurants. You can dine in these Bharatpur hotels or can try out the small restaurants located in Bharatpur that serve different types of cuisines. Most of the Rajasthani dishes are vegetarian.

Looking to enjoy the local Rajasthani cuisine? 

You must try out dishes, such as Dal Baati, Kadhi, or Gatte ki Sabzi. These local Rajasthani cuisines are delicious to say the least.

Best Time to Visit Bharatpur

The best time to visit this bird sanctuary in Rajasthan is from December to February, when the park is full of birds. However, you can plan the trip for March too when the sightings of birds and animals are quite common. It is also considered among the best times to visit Bharatpur.

A visit to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Rajasthan can help you spend one of the best vacations ever amid the calmness of the forests and close to wild nature.