Page 374 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

372  WESTERN INDIA

4 Keoladeo Ghana National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site regarded as one of the
world’s most important bird sanctuaries, Keoladeo Ghana
derives its name from a Shiva temple (Keoladeo) within a
dense forest (ghana). This once-arid scrubland was first
developed by Bharatpur’s rulers in the mid-18th century
by diverting the waters of a nearby irrigation canal to create Shallow wetlands, one of the Bharatpur
City
world’s finest heronries
a private duck reserve. Extravagant shooting parties for
British viceroys and other royal guests were held here, and
horrifying numbers of birds were shot in a single day. Today,
the park spreads over 29 sq km (11 sq miles) of wetlands, and Jaipur
attracts a wide variety of migrant and water birds, which fly
in each winter from places as distant as Siberia. Keoladeo’s Forest Lodge
dry area has mixed deciduous and scrub vegetation and
is home to many animals, including the famed nilgai.
Jatoli
Agra

Shanti
Kutir

Mrig J
Tal
Sapanmori
Ghasola
Ramnagar
Lala Pyare Kadam
ka Kund Kunj
Keoladeo
Getting Around the Park Temple
Man
Expert boatmen navigate the wetlands and point out bird Sarovar
colonies. Bicycles and cycle-rickshaws are also available for
touring the forest paths. Python
Point
J Hans
Sarovar
Birds, Resident and Migrant
The park attracts over 375 bird species Ghana Canal
belonging to 56 families. Egrets, darters,
cormorants, grey herons and storks
hatch nearly 30,000 chicks every year. Aghapur Koladahar
The park’s most eagerly awaited visitor
is the Siberian crane, now an endangered
species. Other birds include the peregrine Bahnera
falcon, steppe eagle, garganery teal,
snake bird and white ibis. Among the
The male Sarus crane dances to
attract his mate large variety of storks are the open-
bill stork, the painted stork and the Barpur
black-necked stork, considered to Key Chiksana Canal
be the world’s tallest stork. Standing on coral-coloured legs, the
bird is 2 m (7 ft) tall, with a National highway Naswaria
wingspanof 2.5 m (8 ft). Main road Darapur
The Sarus crane, a symbol Minor road
of fidelity in Indian Park boundary
myth ology, woos its
partner for life with an Foot path/cycle trail
elaborate mating dance. Baby cormorants
Marshland
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p699 and pp712–13

372-373_EW_India.indd 372 26/04/17 11:46 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm