Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary
Just outside of Bharatapur lies the Keoladeo
Ghana Sanctuary, one of the world's outstanding bird sanctuaries. Located on a
major migratory pathway, this relatively small area (12 square miles) is home to
an astounding variety of species. Interestingly, the swamps that make up a large
portion of the sanctuary are man-made. It was
constructed
by the maharaja of Bharatapur by diverting water from a nearby canal and
creating a series of dykes and dams. The result is a soupy marshland that now
serves as a stopping point to over 370 species of birds, of which more than 115
are from Central Asia. The stew-thick marshlands (the "Ghana" in the name means
dense) take their primary name from the Keoladeo Temple of Lord Shiva, located
within the grounds. It is a complex ecosystem, with grassy savannah intermixed
with swamp. The grasslands are home not only to birds, but also to a variety of wildlife.
Just past the entrance to the sanctuary lies Python Hill (photo to the left)
where the reptiles may be seen sunning themselves, even on temperate January afternoons.
Lurking in the same underbrush
are mammals such as the Nilgai (Blue Bull) antelope, the largest of all Asian
antelope, shown hiding in the trees in the photo to the right. Ironically, the
creation of this wonderful ecosystem arose for a reason antithetical to
conservation--to
provide the maharaja a local spot for duck-shoots, a major event in the Indian
sporting regimen. This activity reached its
peak in November 1938, when British
Viceroy Lord Linlithgow and his party downed 4,237 ducks in a day, an act that
required assistants to cool his gun barrels with water between reloadings.
Maharajas used Rolls Royces with the roofs removed for their shoots.
Nowadays tourists transit a small causeway between the marshlands on foot or via
small cycle-rickshaws. (photo to the left). The highlight of the park is perhaps
the yearly migrations of the storks and cranes. The most famous of all is the
Siberian crane that flies in from that region every year. It stands up to
4 1/2 feet tall and has a wing span of over 6 feet. Unfortunately, we were there
too late in the year to see the Siberian Cranes, but storks abounded. In the photo
to the right, painted storks rest near the water's edge. Among the other types
of birds who stop at Keoladeo are ibis, kingfishers, herons, kingfishers,
peregrine falcons, geese, ducks, pelicans, and many more. It was a bit difficult
to photograph many of the birds using a digital camera with limited zoom.
However, below is a slideshow of the birds nesting and feeding within the scope
of the lens. To view the slideshow, simply put the cursor over the picture
below.
Virtual Visits: While this site does not use plug-ins such as Quick-Time and Shockwave in order to ensure faster loading times, there are some impressive virtual tours which use them to great effect. Below is a link to the World Heritage Tour's fabulous tour of the Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary
