Private, tailor-made tours of Rajasthan, India and Nepal. Support 24 hours a day.+91 9999 777 122
Rajasthan Tour Packages, a unit of Discover India Vacations
A safari vehicle in the forest at Ranthambore

Bird sanctuary · Bharatpur

Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

A UNESCO-listed wetland near Agra and one of the finest bird sanctuaries in Asia, explored by cycle-rickshaw or on foot.

LocationBharatpur, 55 km from Agra
UNESCOSince 1985
Bird species370+ recorded
Best timeNovember – February

The story

A little history.

Keoladeo was created as a duck-shooting reserve for the Maharajas of Bharatpur in the 19th century, by flooding a natural depression. It became a bird sanctuary, then a national park in 1982 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Its shallow lakes, woodland and grassland attract huge numbers of resident and migratory birds, especially in winter, when ducks, geese and birds of prey arrive from Central Asia and Siberia.

What to see

Don't miss.

  • Painted storksLarge breeding colonies nest in the trees from late monsoon into winter.
  • Sarus cranesThe tallest flying birds in the world.
  • Winter migrantsBar-headed geese, pelicans, ducks and raptors.
  • Cycle-rickshaw toursTrained rickshaw drivers double as bird guides along the park's paths.

Our tip: Go early in the morning with binoculars and a naturalist. Bharatpur is an easy stop between Agra and Jaipur or Ranthambore.

Good to know

Questions travellers ask.

When is the best time to visit Keoladeo?

November to February, when the winter migrants are present.

Can I still see Siberian cranes at Bharatpur?

Sadly no. The Siberian crane has not been recorded at Keoladeo since the early 2000s.

How do I get around the park?

Vehicles are not allowed inside. Explore by cycle-rickshaw, bicycle or on foot.

More in Bharatpur

Bharatpur city guide

Tours that include Bharatpur

See it with us.

All tour packages

Plan your visit

Let us take you there.

See tour packagesAsk our experts