Keoladeo National Park
Rajasthan
Photos
A man-made duck-shooting reserve for maharajas, now one of the great bird sanctuaries of the world. In one day in 1938 the Viceroy's party shot over four thousand birds here.
What you're looking at
About 29 square kilometres of shallow wetland, woodland and grassland at Bharatpur in Rajasthan. It is not natural — the marsh was engineered in the 1850s by the Maharaja of Bharatpur, fed by a canal, to attract waterfowl for hunting parties. Shooting stopped in 1972 and it became a national park in 1982.
Why it matters
More than 370 bird species have been recorded here, and it is a critical wintering ground for migrants coming down from Central Asia, Siberia and beyond. It is also unusually accessible: the park is flat, quiet, and explored on foot, by cycle or by cycle-rickshaw, so you get closer to birds here than almost anywhere else in India.
Look for these
01
Painted storks nesting in colonies
Hundreds of them build in the low acacias standing in the water, often several nests to a tree. In season the noise is extraordinary.
02
The rickshaw drivers are the guides
Many of the licensed cycle-rickshaw men here are trained naturalists who know exactly which tree the owlet is in. Take one.
03
Green bee-eaters and kingfishers
The colour is what surprises visitors — bee-eaters in metallic green, white-throated kingfishers in electric blue, at close range.
04
Sarus cranes
The tallest flying bird in the world, standing nearly as high as a person, and they pair for life.
05
The Siberian crane's absence
Keoladeo was once the wintering ground for the western population of Siberian cranes. The last confirmed birds came in 2002. It is a sobering thing to know while you are standing there.
Before you go
- Winter, roughly November to February, is peak migration. Monsoon brings breeding residents instead.
- No motor vehicles beyond the gate — walk, cycle, or take a cycle-rickshaw.
- Early morning is the good time; bring binoculars.
- It is about 55 km from Agra, so it slots neatly between Agra and Jaipur.
- Paths are flat and easy — this is one of the most accessible parks in India.
Visitor guide to Keoladeo National Park.
Visiting
Entry fee and daily timings weren't available from an official source — please confirm on site.
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