Bharatpur in Rajasthan is a small historical town with an 18 th century fort, 180 km from New Delhi. It is not, however, the fort that attracts the large number of visitors to this little town. Bharatpur also has nearly 29 sq. km of marshland that constitutes the Keoladeo national park.

Named after a temple within the sanctuary, the park is strewn with algae laden bunds, lakes and water channels, rotting tree stumps, thick green jungle foliage and miles of shrubs providing a feeding and breeding ground that birds find hard to resist. Over 328 varieties of birds have been spotted in the sanctuary. The beautiful Siberian crane is a regular visitor. Like many such parks, Keoladeo was originally a duck shooting preserve of the erstwhile Maharaja of Bharatpur. He banned shooting in 1964 and urged the government to declare the site a protected area. Bharatpur is regarded as a bird watchers' paradise. Pedal boats plying in the waters afford a closer look at the birds. Apart from the birds, one can also spot deer, wild boar, peacocks, and even the occasional python.

The sanctuary is 5 km south east of Bharatpur. The thorny babul trees, their tops high above the shallow water are ideal for making nests. The best way to watch the birds is by boats punted through the rushes. The best season for a visit is from October to February. The sunrise over the vast expanse of shallow water makes an excellent view.

Rajasthan photo gallery