By Pratyosh Gogoi
Life in the city drains us out. Most of us long for vacations but they are hard to come by in our fast paced lives. Hence we settle for the weekends- we take two days off and go to a place which is not too far but promises enjoyment and a break from the mundane lives that we lead. We have for you a perfect getaway- full of cycle rides and blissful hours of being close to nature.
Let’s take you to our own bird paradise- Bharatpur!
The Place
Keoladeo Ghana National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan is India’s most famous bird 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 World Heritage Site and has been maintained very well.
Bharatpur is the paradise for bird lovers in India and is flocked throughout the year by nature lovers and birds alike.
How To Reach
While the place is well connected to all parts of Rajasthan by bus; but if you are traveling from Delhi, it’s better to take a train. A lot of trains run on this route from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in the morning and reaches Bharatpur before noon.The sanctuary is five kilometers from the station and you can either enjoy a ‘tonga’ ride or take an auto.
Specialities
Along with native birds, Bharatpur boasts of a large number of migratory birds during the winters. The swamps get filled up with varieties of geese and cranes every year making it a sight to look at and wonder. Other than the park, Bharatpur has to offer the scenic Deeg Palace and Lohagarh Fort.
Let’s take you on a visual journey of the park:
Just getting ready with our bicycles to hop onto the spectacular adventure.
And soon enough came our first catch. Unsure what bird it was, we immediately clicked a picture. Still, don’t know what bird it is.
Here we are refreshing ourselves at the sanctuary canteen. You could find some chips and drinks to snack onto or just relax yourselves like we did.
Next on the list were these beautiful feathery birds. The sight was magnificent, and these birds were even more so.
Next on the list was the ‘king of good times’ a.k.a, Kingfisher.
We also got lucky when one of my friends caught the Snake-Bird or (Darter) on the camera.
This lone beauty was another beautiful bird we captured.
Sitting peacefully on the branch.
The deadly stare of this bird was calling us to be captured in our camera.
Another peachy looking, beautiful bird.
We also got to meet Asia’s largest antelope- Nilgai. What a stunning looking creature!
And here’s our last capture. Possibly a bluebird.
And, then hopping onto our bicycles, we came back!
Experience
This place can be covered in a day- which might be the best thing about it. Cycling amongst the birds is an experience to cherish and you can get extremely close to birds barring some restricted spots. Make it a point to talk to the bird enthusiasts you meet there- they are an encyclopedia of information and never hesitate to share.
Value For Money and Recommendation
It is one of the go-to places if you want a break- a short break. The park makes for a perfect weekend getaway without burning a hole in your pocket at all. You even don’t lose too much time due to the fact that the place is so well connected.
A must visit place!
Image Credits: Pratyosh Gogoi
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