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Rickshaw
One of the options for going deep into the sanctuary Bharatpur is a very convenient weekend getaway destination from Delhi. We managed to combine it with a very pleasant trip to bharatpur and Agra within one weekend. Bharatpur was a chance destination as we left delhi on August 14th for Sariska, only to reach there and discover that the sanctuary was closed for the season. Unfortunately correct and sufficient information regarding the timimgs is not available on the internet either.
From Sariska to Bharatpur took more time than we had anticipated. The roads are under construction, and therefore the drive is slow. We reached late in the evening, checked into our guest house. There are plenty of hotels at reasonable rates within a walking distance from the sanctuary. Although the winter season is the peak time, we were told that this year has been bad in terms of tourists because the sanctuary didn’t attract that many birds. It was the result of a bad monsoon, which led to the lakes drying up. The authorities were using pumps to fill up the lakes as much as they could. Now at 9 PM the town seemed to be already in deep slumber. We asked for a dinner destination and were recommended SARAS,
Bharatpur museum
contains some great information about flora and fauna found in the sanctuary a Rajasthan Government outlet, and were also advised to checkout a new joint by the highway. We visited both the places, and found the restaurants to be almost deserted. Ultimately, it was good old Cafe Coffee Day outlet at Petrol pump and vegetarian sandwiches for us.
Next day early morning at 7 we were at the gates of the sanctuary, only to discover that we were there too early. Some persistence with the guards ta the gate brought out an official who agreed to get the museum opened for us while the official vehicles were awaited.
A word about history of the kingdom of Bharatpur.In 1733 AD, Raja Badan Singh 's adopted son, Suraj Mal had shown signs of promise, when he captured the fort of Bharatpur from Khemkaran, the rival chief, whom he killed and thus laid the foundation of Bharatpur City.
Maharaja Suraj Mal displayed immense courage and carved a niche for himself in the midst of political disorder. Gathering around him fiercely martial Jat peasants, he went from one success to another. He accompanied Emperor Muhammed Shah against Ali Muhammed Ruhela and in 1748 AD, at the battle of Bagru he led the Jaipur vanguard
panorama
very rare sight now. Old shot of visiting syberian cranes against the Marathas. He also defeated the commander-in-chief of the Mughal emperor. Despite being a very religious man he was secular.
Bharatpur, which is also called the Eastern gateway of Rajasthan, was found by Maharaja Suraj mal in 1733 AD. Raja Badan Singh’s adopted son, Suraj Mal had shown signs of promise, when he captured the fort of Bharatpur from Khemkaran, the rival chief, whom he killed and thus laid the foundation of Bharatpur City. Maharaja Suraj Mal displayed immense courage and carved a niche for himself in the midst of political disorder. Gathering around him fiercely martial Jat peasants, he went from one success to another. He accompanied Emperor Mohammed Shah against Ali Mohammed Ruhela and in 1748 AD, at the battle of Bagru he led the Jaipur vanguard against the Marathas. He also defeated the commander- in -Chief of the Mughal emperor.
He built numerous forts and palaces across the kingdom including the Pleasure Palace complex at Deeg. Bharatpur, is today known the world - over for its Keoladeo Ghana National Park.
So much for history. The museum concentrates on the ornithology heritage of the town.
It has some very interesting information on local flora and fauna.
friend, philosophor guide
Our driver of the battery operated sanctuary transport A short visit to the museum before entry in to the sanctuary can be a very good appetiser for the uninitiated (pun intended!!)
Out of the museum we were headed inside the sanctuary. There are three options for the trip inside. The best of course is on foot. However, you do have an option of either hiring a cycle rikshaw or engaging an official Battery powered vehicle. Latter comes with a guide cum driver, who is an essential requirement to make some meaning of what one sees inside.
The cycle rikshaw ride comes with its own share of unauthenticated information from the pullers, who in any case find it extremely amusing that people should travel great distances to watch the birds.
There is one arterial main road which travels about 4 Km inside the sanctuary. An old Shiva temple is located here alongside the remains of summer house of erstwhile rulers of Bharatpur kingdom. What one notices is that even the battery powered vehicle is not quite as quiet as it is expected to be. The driver shuts it down to allow us to observe the fauna around. The chatter of uninformed tourists can be a real
Air house
Bird nests are typically hung from edges of leaves, to protect the habitat from predaters like snakes and larger birds distraction for the bird lovers and their beloved, as birds realyy play truant, and hardly any exotic species can be seen by walking along the road. At the end of the road one has to quietly walk on foot, along the water body, giving due respect to the fact that we are the vistors and the place actually belongs to the birds, who are the original inhabitants of this place. Our labor of love payed off, and we did manage to get a glimpse of a rare bald eagle. My Sony DSLR Alpha 100, came really handy, as we could manage some great long shots.
I leave you with some of these images.
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