Located in the Braj district of Rajasthan, Bharatpur is home to one of the world’s best-known bird watching destinations, Keoladeo Ghana National Park (KNP). In the pursuit of spending our weekend with flocks of vibrant birds, we took a flight from Mumbai to Jaipur to visit this sanctuary for birds, Approximately 3 hours from Jaipur, the drive to Bharatpur was delightful with very convenient 4 laned roads.
We lodged at ‘The Bagh’ a beautiful and grand resort which spread over 40 acres. We paid 14000/ day including taxes, all meals and evening tea. On Sunday morning, we woke up at 5:30 a.m. and after freshening up and having a light breakfast we headed towards the sanctuary which was a convenient 5 minute drive from our resort and reached at 6:30 a.m.
Keoladeo is spread out over 30 kilometres and is a haven for famous migratory birds which come from far north. A green wildlife oasis situated within a populated human-dominated landscape, some 375 bird species and a diverse array of other life forms have been recorded in this mosaic of grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps and wetlands of just 2,873 ha.
Bright in blue the bird’s beauty is beyond imagination!
Being a Sunday, even at 6:30 in the morning it was very crowded and so we chose to hire a cycle rickshaw and a bird guide named Babloo who had a very good pair of binoculars to spot the birds more effectively. He was a 50 year old gentlemen who had refreshingly extensive knowledge about the birds flying around in this sanctuary.
On the first day we saw over 20 types of birds including pelicans, cranes and kingfishers, we also spotted several species of deers including the Neel Gai and Indian Sambar. At the end of the road was a small and cozy shack like canteen that had food and washroom facilities. There, we had tea and snacks which gave us an instant boost of energy.
We took a call to come back the next day considering the huge crowd. We finished our day at around 11 and then returned to the property.
The next day, we decided to head out at 8 am considering keoladeo is also famous for rock pythons and these creatures prefer sunlight.
Rock pythons slithering in the sunlight
I told my guide to look for pythons along with a pod of pelicans. After a 2 Km rickshaw ride, we saw trees which served as nesting grounds for the birds. The sound of birds nestling together was pleasant and soothing. Hundreds of birds were chirping at the same time.
With wings so wide, their feathers are their pride
We also saw packs of Indian flying Foxes, which are considered to be one of the world’s largest in size measuring upto 1.5 Mts and weighing upto 2 Kgs.
If you’re lucky enough to get a good guide, he will take you inside the park on foot where you can witness the magic of the Indian Saras’s dance yourself. Unfortunately, after 1 hour of searching for pairs of Saras we were left disappointed, however we spotted a jackal which was a fair compensation. We were also lucky to spot 2 pythons and a large pod of pelicans hunting for fish.
Sleeping all day, searching for prey by night.
The Bagh, itself was a large property from which I could spot many birds including the Grey Hornbill. The property had almost 60 peacocks and was full of trees and many other birds. They also arranged an hour long evening tour showing he birds around.
We asked them to arrange a barbeque for us in our personal garden and they were happy to oblige. We had booked a junior suite for our stay. Property is about 60 years’ old and reminds you of rooms in the 1960’s but is with all the modern day amenities needed for a comfortable stay.
Overall, it was a pleasant visit and I captured a few beautiful clicks and lovely memories.
The evenings in Rajasthan were generally pleasant and a little colder, spending late hours with loved ones, listening to songs over a light beer with light fire was quite rejuvenating.
Here are some interesting facts about Bharatpur:
- The city is known for the boldness and bravery of its kings and common people and so some call it as iron city.
- The Keoladeo National Park transforms into a paradise when more than 400 species of water bird flock and chatter all together.
- The place was named after Bharat, the brother of Lord Rama and the emperors of Bharatpur claim to have been Yadavas, the descendants of Lord Krishna.
- A few popular festivals of this city one mustn’t miss include:
- Gaurav Mahamna or the Brij Mahotsav that is held during the month of February and March.
- Jaswant Exhibition during Dussehra is another attraction for the locals.
- Gangaur festival that is celebrated during July and August
Birds of a feather, flock together!
