One of the smallest national parks in the country at 29 sq.km., Keoladeo National Park packs a punch with its sheer diversity of avian species. It plays host to around 370 species of birds, roughly the number you are likely to encounter in the whole of United Kingdom. And supports 40,000 birds! Though its early claim to fame, the rare Siberian Crane has stopped visiting the park since 2002 and the park often faces water scarcity from time to time, it remains one of the jewels in India’s wildlife crown. This birder’s dream was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985!

History

By the end of the 19th century, the region, as we know it today, was beginning to take shape. The king of Bharatpur, who was fond of shikar, saw great potential in the thick woods of the area. He was quick to figure out that the landscape’s natural depression, one that experienced seasonal flooding, was tailor made to be developed into a network of body bodies. This was achieved by diverting water from a nearby irrigation canal. Soon small dams and dikes came up to control and regulate water in this wild habitat. The resulting experiment threw up one of the richest wetland habitats in the world. It soon became the royal hunting of the local king. In those pre-conservation days, shikar outings were common. From English viceroys to the crème de la crème of Indian royalty came for hunting. Stone plaques near the Keoladeo temple in the heart of the Park bear testimony to the trigger-happy ways of the pre-conservation era. 1938 Lord Linlithgow, Viceroy of India, and his party killed no less than 4,273 birds on one instance. But so rich was the biodiversity of the place that the bird count seldom reduced substantially despite the hunting. The Bharatpur royal family retained its hunting rights till 1972. Keoladeo was declared a National Park in 1982 and a World Heritage Site in 1985.

Getting Around

The most popular means of getting around the Park is the bicycle. Right at the Park entrance, bicycles can be hired against a small deposit. Enthusiastic youngsters and seasoned birders, who know their way around the Park, opt for bicycles. The sense of freedom and the pleasure of cycling on tree lined tracks is a delight. Cycle rickshaw is preferred by families and bird lovers who want to concentrate only on bird sighting. Most of the rickshaw pullers are pretty knowledgeable and often act as handy guides. Many in fact have been trained by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) to spot and identify birds. Years of ferrying visitors has further honed their eyes.

Unlike this season (2009), years with good monsoon rains open the boat option. Apart from giving a fresh perspective, one gets close up views of nesting sites.

More recently the Park has introduced battery-operated minibus tours and electric auto-rickshaw rides for visitors. Low on sound, these 90-minute rides are good for a quick and comfortable experience of the Park.

Tourist Traps in the City

Although rates are pretty much set for rickshaws inside the Park, at times visitors miss out on figuring out the time limit. So they might quote Rs. 50 but without stressing that it is per hour. You might end up taking 3 to 4 hours to see the better part of the Park and end up paying more.

Also, most rickshaw pullers will take you till the Keoladeo temple in center of the Park and return. But there so much more to see!

Local Custom

Nothing in particular

Shopping

Being wildlife territory, there’s not much to shop.

Communications

Phones :Cell phone rates are one of the cheapest in the world.
There are four GSM service providers:
* BSNL [20] GSM Triband
* Airtel [21] GSM Triband
* Vodafone [22] GSM Triband
* Idea [23]GSM Triband
CDMA service providers are
* Reliance Communications[24]
* Tata Indicom[25]
Internet: There are several internet cafes / Cyber Cafes from where you can access the Internet for sending email or uploading your digital photos.
* Reliance world offers you broadband connectivity at many locations across the city.
* Sify iway also offers broadband connectivity at different locations spread all over the city.