Bharatpur : A bird’s place

Since my college is over and I have not much to do, we planned a vacation to Bharatpur , Rajasthan. It’s a two hour train journey from Delhi. It’s famous for it’s bird sanctuary: The Keoladeo National Park. Tourists from all over the world come and stay here.

Bharatpur Railway Station

     The railway station

1. Watch sunrise and sunset

Experience the beauty of sunset and sunrise here. Birds humming along with soothing sun rays is a moment worth living.
It has a calming effect , filling you with positivity and joy.

2. Cycling
This park ensures that you stay fit. It rents you bicycle at a very nominal cost. Hop on to your bicycle and make your own paths. ! 😎

3. Explore different trails
  

               Kharanja as they say. It’s not a pucca road , neither a kachcha one.

Bharatpur bird sanctuary or Keoladeo National Park is spread on an area of about 3000 hectares. It is a home to many ecosystems. It has wetland , grassland , dense trees , lakes . There are many species of bird which you might not find in a day. Explore the different trails to meet new birds and new animals.

The concrete road surrounded by big trees like mango, ashok , banyan which forms an arch above you.

The kachcha road and the trees which got uprooted due to heavy rains and high speed winds.

The arid ecosystem

4. Eat rajasthani cuisine
  Relish the delicious rajasthani meal. I must warn you it’s quite spicy and very salty. There food has excess salt because of high temperatures , they sweat a lot and so as to not face a salt deficiency , they put more and more and salt. One suggestion do eat the Chulhe par bani moti roti. The roti ( chapati ) is a mix of wheat flour , chana , jwar and bajra with three to four teaspoon ghee is their specialty.
Please forget your diet for all the time you stay here.

       Men making a roti on chulha
5. Bharatpur bund

    Bharatpore bund

  Bharatpur bund is a dam built by Maharaja Ram Singh in 1856-57. It is about 50 kms away from bharatpur in a village named “bund baretha”. It is a very beautiful dam which uses the concept of rainwater harvesting to supply water to all the districts of “Bharatpore Province” through efficiently build canals. Though it is dysfunct now but it’s aesthetic value is intact.

The reservoir

It is also cooler than rest of the city. It also has beautiful gardens around it maintained by the Forest Department.

Reservoir again

6. View from watch tower

Steps to climb the watch tower

When in Keoladeo National Park ,  do climb the watch tower and have a “Bird’s eye” view of the whole park. It might be hectic because of all the cycling , but worry not you have canteen nearby , you can bring snacks above there and have a good view while eating. MAKE SURE YOU DON’T LITTER.

View from watchtower

In the end , I will suggest you make a list of birds and animal you saw. I saw salamander , blue bull , spotted deer , sambar , kingfisher , drongo , stork , rabbit , owl , peacock , peahen , white dove , snake , butterflies and now I am forgetting , so you make a list to make sure that you don’t forget.
😛

Have a good day 💕