Keoladeo Ghana National Park
Situated in eastern Rajasthan, about 176 kms. away from Delhi, and 50 kms. west of Agra, is the Keoladeo Ghana or Bharatpur National Park, one of the most spectacular bird sanctuaries in India. Once the royal hunting grounds of the princes of Bharatpur, today this national park is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world housing over 400 species of water birds. It also receives exotic migratory birds from Afghanistan, Central Asia, Tibet as well as Siberian cranes from the Arctic, greyleg geese from Siberia and the bareheaded geese from China. These birds land here in the months of July and August to breed and spend their winters in a warmer climate. One can also spot a large number of cormorants, spoonbills, storks, egrets, herons, pelicans, ebis and grey herons all over the park. Walk along the raised paths camouflaged with babul trees to get awesome views of these interesting species.
When to Visit :
The park is open throughout the year, although most visitors choose to come between October and Fabruarv, when wintering wildfowl assemble in thousands on the lakes. The breeding season is between August and October.
How to get there:
The nearest railhead is Bharatpur (2kms.) and the nearest airport is at Agra(52 kms.).
Places of Interest
Lohagarh Fort
A massive structure in iron, this fort was conceived of and designed by Maharaja Suraj Mal and consists of three palaces within its premises. These include the Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas. Built in the 18th Century this fort boasts of some impregnable defences, which have sustained themselves against a number of British attacks.
Museum
The Government Museum here hosts a rich collection of exquisitely carved sculptures and ancient inscriptions. These items were live witnesses and still represent the rich heritage, arts and crafts of this region.
Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj
These are two of the surviving few towers that still embellish the ramparts of the fort. Maharaja Suraj Mal had gotten these two erected to commemorate his victory against the Mughals and the British respectively.
The Palace
A royal amalgam of Mughal and Rajput architectural styles, the Bharatpur Palace has some magnificient apartments and some intricately designed floor tiles that heighten the beauty of this glorious edifice. The central part of the Palace houses a museum, which had some very ancient exhibits at display.
Ganga Mandir
A beautiful piece of architecture, the construction of this temple was started by Maharaja Balwant Singh in 1845. All person in the service of the state were asked to donate a month's salary or any raise in pay towards the construction of this holy place.
Laxman Mandir
Embellished with beautiful stone work and elaborate carvings from the doorway to ceilings, arches, pillars and walls, this temple is dedicated to Laxmana, the brother of Lord Rama
Nearby Getaways
Deeg (32 km)
This majestic fort standing over a slight elevation was built by Raja Suraj Mal. It is surrounded by impressive moats, ramparts and gateways while the interiors are mostly in ruins. The watch tower here rises above the structure to keep on eye on the city and the palace. It also shows off a gun captured from the Agra fort. Another vantage point is guarded by a canon captured from Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1761 A.D. Abdali had seized this fort for about six months.
Fatehpur Sikri (22 km)
The Mughal capital between 1571 and 1585, Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar to express his gratitude to Salim Chisti, a renowned Muslim saint. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Fatehpur Sikri is situated on the Vindhyayan Mountains and overlooks a beautiful lake. The town has been planned down to the minutest detail and has a few notable structures and architectural marvels. Of these the most distinctive feature of Fatehpur Sikri is the Panch Mahal, a five storeyed pavilion of winds used by the royal women.
