Family kids were
enjoying winter vacation as per their interest, playing cricket, football,
reading fairy tales.” To make their winter vacation from funny to spicy and
knowledgeable, I decided a trip to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
Where thousands of migratory birds come to the Keoladeo National Park
in Bharatpur each year from Siberia, Central Asia, Mongolia, and Egypt to be in
the relative warmth of northern India“.
enjoying winter vacation as per their interest, playing cricket, football,
reading fairy tales.” To make their winter vacation from funny to spicy and
knowledgeable, I decided a trip to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
Where thousands of migratory birds come to the Keoladeo National Park
in Bharatpur each year from Siberia, Central Asia, Mongolia, and Egypt to be in
the relative warmth of northern India“.
Bharatpur is at 110
Km distance away from Aligarh, a three hours’ journey.
Km distance away from Aligarh, a three hours’ journey.
Kids were ready with
their fully charged mobiles for clicks and binoculars. I too picked up my
camera bag. Journy started 6.00A.M. It was a freezing cold January. Never
imagined such thick fog. Low visibility caused the vehicle to run slow.
their fully charged mobiles for clicks and binoculars. I too picked up my
camera bag. Journy started 6.00A.M. It was a freezing cold January. Never
imagined such thick fog. Low visibility caused the vehicle to run slow.
We reached Mathura at
about 8.30. Here we stopped at a hotel cum dhaba for breakfast. The hotel boy
was frying hot jalebi. We refreshed us with Kachaudi, Bedai, hot and sweet
jalebis, and garam adrak wali tea.
It was about 9.00A.M.
Sky was not clear, still some fog. Thanks to Almighty Allah. We reached safely
on gate of santury at about 1o.A.M. Purchased Entrance ticked @75/-per adult,
student’s entry was free. From main gate no vehicle is allowed.
Sky was not clear, still some fog. Thanks to Almighty Allah. We reached safely
on gate of santury at about 1o.A.M. Purchased Entrance ticked @75/-per adult,
student’s entry was free. From main gate no vehicle is allowed.
The options are to go
by walking or hire a pedal rickshaw, bicycle or horse-cart available at the
main gate. Rickshaw (Two Seater) charge Rs.100/=per hour, and bicycles charge
Rs. 40/=.
The length of the straight road upto which rickshaws/horse-carts are
allowed is around 3.5 kms one side. If not in a hurry, it takes around four odd
hours to and fro.
by walking or hire a pedal rickshaw, bicycle or horse-cart available at the
main gate. Rickshaw (Two Seater) charge Rs.100/=per hour, and bicycles charge
Rs. 40/=.
The length of the straight road upto which rickshaws/horse-carts are
allowed is around 3.5 kms one side. If not in a hurry, it takes around four odd
hours to and fro.
We hired a rickshaw
guide and started on the journey into the wildlife, a journey which I am never
going to forget. Thankfully the rickshaw guide was very well versed with a vast
variety of birds and mammals present in the sanctuary.
guide and started on the journey into the wildlife, a journey which I am never
going to forget. Thankfully the rickshaw guide was very well versed with a vast
variety of birds and mammals present in the sanctuary.
“You may not see a tiger at Ranthambore, but you will always see Painted
Storks in Bharatpur.” The proud rikshaw
puller cum guide told us.
Storks in Bharatpur.” The proud rikshaw
puller cum guide told us.
History of
Bharatpur bird santury
Bharatpur bird santury
It is better to tell
about this Bird santury, before entering in a mesmerizing world of flaura and fanna.
The 29 km, reserve is locally known as Ghana, and is a mosaic of dry
grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps, and wetlands.
about this Bird santury, before entering in a mesmerizing world of flaura and fanna.
The 29 km, reserve is locally known as Ghana, and is a mosaic of dry
grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps, and wetlands.
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 and a variety of other invertebrates.
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 and a variety of other invertebrates.
Keoladeo Ghana
National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is a famous
sanctuary that plays host to thousands of birds especially during the summer
season.
Over 230 species of birds are known to have made the National Park
their home. It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971. It is also a
declared World Heritage Site.
their home. It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971. It is also a
declared World Heritage Site.
The sanctuary was
created 250 years ago and is named after a Keoladeo (Shiva) temple within its
boundaries. Initially, it was a natural depression.
created 250 years ago and is named after a Keoladeo (Shiva) temple within its
boundaries. Initially, it was a natural depression.
The park was a
hunting ground for the maharajas of Bharatpur, a tradition dating back to 1850,
and duck shoots were organised yearly in honor 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 then Governor-General of India.
hunting ground for the maharajas of Bharatpur, a tradition dating back to 1850,
and duck shoots were organised yearly in honor 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 then Governor-General of India.
The journy
insiside sanctury, in the silence and mystic beauty.
insiside sanctury, in the silence and mystic beauty.
I preferred to walk
with my camera, Bilal on bicyle and others on rickshaw. Rickshaw puller was a well
trained guide having knowledge of the various species of birds both inland and
migratory.
He guided me to points of clicking the birds, by their names and habits.
It was a treat for my photography.
with my camera, Bilal on bicyle and others on rickshaw. Rickshaw puller was a well
trained guide having knowledge of the various species of birds both inland and
migratory.
He guided me to points of clicking the birds, by their names and habits.
It was a treat for my photography.
I still remember the
hues and the colors which the sanctuary was bestowed with; a drop of sunshine
and the whole place was lit with morning soft sun light mixed with thin frost
glory.
hues and the colors which the sanctuary was bestowed with; a drop of sunshine
and the whole place was lit with morning soft sun light mixed with thin frost
glory.
Into the tranquility
and serenity of the sanctuary which still engulf my mind and soul and takes me
in a completely different world with melodies of birds chirping, whistling,
flipping and all other sounds that I feel lost in a world of dreams.
and serenity of the sanctuary which still engulf my mind and soul and takes me
in a completely different world with melodies of birds chirping, whistling,
flipping and all other sounds that I feel lost in a world of dreams.
This place is a
perfect set-up for nature lovers, poets, philosophers and authors, a setup for
thoughts, emotions and words.
perfect set-up for nature lovers, poets, philosophers and authors, a setup for
thoughts, emotions and words.
We moved in a magical
world of dream, the world which is ruled by birds, about 2 hours. I confess 2
hours are none for this place. It requires at least one and half full days to
witness and inhale the magic of birds.
world of dream, the world which is ruled by birds, about 2 hours. I confess 2
hours are none for this place. It requires at least one and half full days to
witness and inhale the magic of birds.
All were tired and in
a mood to return back. My camera was fully loaded with memories of this
unforgotten journey.
So vivid was this
travelling that even after a long time since our visit, it is still part of the
poetry of my imagination.
“Take nothing but memories, leave
nothing but footprints!”
nothing but footprints!”
