Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India is a famous avifauna sanctuary that hosts thousands of birds, especially during the winter season. Over 230 species of birds are known to be resident. It is also a major tourist centre with scores of ornithologists arriving here in the hibernal season. It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971. It is also a World Heritage Site.[3]

1. KEOLADEO
NATIONAL PARK
(KHANA NATIONAL PARK)

2. FEATURES
Formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
a famous avifauna sanctuary
Man-made and man-managed wetland
Known as Bird Paradise
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Declared as a protected sanctuary in 1971
The world’s best bird areas (Peter Scott, Ornithologist)
Ramsar site

3. LOCATION
Location : RAJASTHAN, about 2 km south
east of Bharathpur-Western side of Agra at
(a distance of about 50 km)

4. HOW TO REACH
Nearest Airports : AGRA , JAIPUR & DELHI
Nearest Railhead : Bharathpur (5 km away)-Connect with all major
cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra

6. HISTORY
 Created 250 years ago
Named after a Keoladeo (Shiva) temple
It was a natural depression
Flooded after the Ajan Bund was constructed by Maharaja Suraj Mal
The park was a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Bharatpur
 Duck shoots were organised yearly in honour of the British viceroys.
 In one shoot alone in 1938, over 4,273 birds such
as mallards and teals were killed by Lord Linlithgow
The last big shoot was held in 1964 but the Maharajah retained
shooting rights until 1972

7. • 1976-Designated as a bird sanctuary
• 1981- Ramsar site under the Wetland Convention
• 1982-Established as a national park
• 1985-Declared a World Heritage Site under the world Heritage Convention
HISTORY

8. GEOGRAPHY
Spread over approx 29 square kilometer area
One third of the Park habitat is wetland systems with varying types of
microhabitats having trees, mounds, dykes and open water with or without
submerged or emergent plants.
The uplands have grasslands (savannas)(Cattle grazing)
379 species of flowering plants
Part of the Indo-Gangetic Great Plains
The park is a fresh water swamp and is flooded during the monsoon.
For most part of the year, effective wetland is only 10 km2. The rest of the
area remains dry.
 Arrangement to pump water from deep tube wells to fill small depressions
to save seeds, spores and other aquatic life also exist.

9. FLORA
 The park is the only area with significant vegetation, hence the term 'Ghana' meaning 'thicket’.
 The principal vegetation types are tropical dry deciduous forest, intermixed with dry grassland.
 Much of the area is covered by medium-sized trees and shrubs.
 The north-east of the park, are dominated by kalam or kadam (Mitragyna parvifolia), jamun (Syzygium
cumini) and babul (Acacia nilotica).
 Scrublands are dominated by ber and kair.
 Soils are predominantly alluvial.
 These diverse habitats are home to 366 bird species, 379 floral species, 50 species of fish, 13 species of
snakes, 5 species of lizards, 7 amphibian species, 7 turtle species, and a variety of other invertebrates.

10. FAUNA
BIRDS
Keoladeo National Park is known as a “bird paradise”, since more than 370 bird species have been
recorded in the park.
Staging ground for migratory waterfowl arriving in the Indian subcontinent before dispersing to
various regions.
 The wetland is a wintering area for massive congregations of waterfowl.
 It is also the only regular wintering area in India for the critically endangered Siberian crane.
 Unrivalled breeding site for herons, storks and cormorants.
An important wintering ground for large numbers of migrant ducks.

11. FAUNA
MAMMALS
• 27 identified species.[
• Nilgai, feral cattle, and chital deer are common while sambar are few.
OTHER SPECIES
• Fish fauna of the park comprises 43 species, of which 37 enter the park along with the water from Ajan Bund
• The herpetofauna of Keoladeo National Park is diverse.
• Out of the ten species of turtles that are seen in Rajasthan, seven are present in this park.
• Besides this, there are five lizard species, thirteen snake species and seven species of amphibians.
• It is often easy to see a python out of its burrow and basking in the sun on a sunny winter day.
• The poisonous snakes found in the park are krait, cobra and Russell’s viper.

12. WORLD HERITAGE SITE
The UNESCO convention for listing goes on to explain the criteria the
selection of Keoladeo Ghana National Park as a World Heritage Site under
the Natural Criteria iv of Operational Guidelines 2002 and the description
which follows is that the park is a “Habitat of rare and endangered
species.
According to the revised Operational Guidelines of 2005, the park falls
under Criteria (x) which states that to be conferred the status of World
Heritage, the site should “contain the most important and significant
natural habitats for in-site conservation of biological diversity, including
those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from
the point of view of science or conservation.”

13. TOURISMAT KNP
 Being one of the best bird watching sites of Asia, more than 100,000 visitors come to the park every year.
 Tourists visiting Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Jaipur invariably stop over at Bharatpur.
 There are well-defined treks which can easily covered on foot or on a cycle or you can hire a rickshaw. (being not very large,29km)
 A boat trip early in the morning or late evening is quite a rewarding experience.
 Nearby Attractions : Bharatpur Palace (Mughal and Rajput architecture), Lohagarh Fort, Deeg Palace.
 Best Time to Visit : Located on the brim of Thar Desert (Hence a warm climate. Even the peak winter is not too cold here.
SUMMER : March to July(48 degree), Less migratory birds.
MONSOON : July to September (marshy land, beginning of breeding season, local birds,looks like a river with small
islands,best for boat safari)
WINTER : October to March (Peak tourism season, best time to visit)
 Entry Timings : 6:30 AM to 5 PM (winter)
 Entrance Fees : 50 (Indians), 400rs(foreigners)
 Safari and Charges : Cycle rickshaw safari – 50rs, jeep safari- 50rs, Self driven cycle -50rs, Horse driven carriage
safari ride-150rs, Boating toure -50rs
 Popular spots : The Keoladev temple, Manasarovar, Python point, Kadamb Kunj, and Keolahar.
 Hotels and resorts : A small lodge inside the park ( which is maintained and run by the ITDC.), Laxmi Vilas Palace, Hotel Sunbird, The
Bagh Resort

15. WHY SHOULD YOU VISIT BHARATPUR BIRD SANCTUARY OR KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK?
The light mist (or sometimes heavy fog) during the winter time, the chirping of the birds, the magnificent sunrise, enormous
colonies of birds, or mesmerizing sunset, there’s something magical about this place.
There’s no rush, no irritating honks, no vehicle sound, no pollution, or no traffic which makes it for a peaceful visit.
It’s not just limited to birds; it hosts a whole lot of flora and fauna.
Off-road walks/cycling or to spend time alone.
I think there’s no reason in the world why you wouldn’t visit Bharatpur bird sanctuary if you are bird photographer?
Indian Darter fight, Sunrise point, Sunset point, Spotted Owlets, Sarus Cranes dance, etc.
Provides employment to locals (Official data state that 21,409 foreign tourists visited the park between April 2015 and
March 2016, 25,417 during April 2016 to March 2017, and 8,418 visited the park between April 2017 to October 2017 to
watch migratory birds.
• Gift Center
The gift center at the entrance of the park is a must visit for everyone. It has a variety of books related to birds and mammals
of India. Then they have few T-shirts that are very cute and comes with “Save Nature/Forest” theme. There are magnets,
postcards, a small book containing the list of birds in the park, etc.
TOURISMAT KNP

16. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FACILITIES
oZoology Department of the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-
Limnological studies (inland aquatic ecosystem) have been carried
oA Documentary film by S. Breeden - 'Indian birds of the monsoon'
oThe Bombay Natural History Society- established a hydro-biological
station to monitor the ecology of the wetland.
oCollaberative Project (Governments of India and Russia,
International Crane Foundation and Wild Bird Society of Japan) –To
protect Siberian crane

17. ISSUES AT KNP
1.ACUTE WATER SCARCITY
The park was in danger of being removed as a Ramsar Site as well as UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to severe drought in 2007.
Apart from rain fall the Park receives water from “Ajan Bund”,(irregular, only when there is over flow)
A proposal for water supply to Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur was forwarded by the Government of Rajasthan seeking assistance from Planning
Commission as advised and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
• The project for 400mcft diverting and lifting flood waters of Yamuna (underground pipes with lifting arrangements over a length of 16 km, Goverdhan
drain) .The project proposed was to channelize water from Govardhan drain to meet the water deficit of KNP during the months of July to September at the
time of requirement.
(World wide fund, wild life institute )

18. ISSUES AT KNP
No boating facility for tourists at
Rajasthan’s Keoladeo National
State forest and environment minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar issued an order to
release 150 mcft of water to the park from the Chambal project during a meeting
with park officials on October 17 last year in Jaipur.
Birds, flora & fauna
• Birds, including PAINTED STORK that visit the park for nesting
and breeding every year, have gone to other lakes due to
shortage water.
• Each painted stork that lays 2-4 eggs, needs fish to feed the
chicks that needs more than 500g of fish every day and we hope
to receive 150 mcft of water from the Chambal Canal project to
fill the six blocks in park
• Panchna Dam brings fish, vegetation to the lake, only if there is
enough water.

19. 2.Invasive vegetation (Prosopis, Eichhornia, Paspalum)
Invasive alien species have been removed through cooperative arrangements with the surrounding populations. The 2 m high boundary
wall that surrounds the park virtually eliminates the threats of poaching or pollution, and there is no encroachment or habitations inside
the park. Noise pollution from the adjoining Bharatpur city and National Highway are minimal.
3. Inappropriate use of the property by neighbouring villages(Gazing,..)
ISSUES AT KNP

20. CONCLUSION
Formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan
Known as Bird Paradise
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The world’s best bird areas (Peter Scott, Ornithologist)
Ramsar site

21. THANKYOU