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The credit for popularizing this park goes to the renowned ornithologist Salim Ali. The area was popular for hunting birds since 1902, though the greatest number of approximately 4273 birds were shot on12th November 1938 by Lord Linlithgow who was then the Viceroy of India and his hunting party. Post independence the reserve was made a bird sanctuary but the royal family of Bharatpur still had shooting rights right up to as late as 1972.
The sanctuary's status as a National Park was effective only from November 1982.
The park covers an area of 30 square km and it can be covered on the well-demarcated treks either by foot, cycle or by rickshaw. In fact the rickshaw pullers have been well trained in bird watching and can help you in spotting them as well as any guide. Another great way to bird watch is by taking a boat trip during the early morning or late evening hours.
Bharatpur is known for its population of migratory birds during the autumn and winter months. These include the Spanish Sparrow, the Coot Snipes, Rosy Pelican and the Flamingo. However the most popular bird at Bharatpur remains the Siberian Crane. Most migratory birds arrive here by the month of August and leave by February. Apart from birds you can also catch a glimpse of Black Bucks, Otters, Pythons, Sambhar and Spotted Deer.
Other places of interest include the Bharatpur Palace, the Government Museum, Lohagarh Fort and Deeg Palace. The latter is at a distance of 32 km from Bharatpur, which was the erstwhile summer retreat of the royal family of Bharatpur.
The best way to get to Bharatpur is by bus. Regular to and fro services ply from Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. You can choose between state transport run buses or those run by private tour opretators. Bharatpur also has its own railway station so you can check on trains from your city that can bring you here. The nearest airport is located at Agra. A plethora of accommodation options are available for your convenience. One of the most popular choices is Hotel Saras run by Rajasthan Tourism. Other options include Shanti Kuteer, Dak Bungalow, Govind Niwas, Park Palace, Tourist Complex and Bharatpur Forest Lodge.
Though the Keoladeo National Park is open throughout the year, the best time to visit is between October and February as this is the season of the migratory birds.
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