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Bharatpur is a city in Rajasthan state of India. It was founded by Maharaja Suraj
Mal in 1733. Located in Mewar region, Bharatpur was once an impregnable, well-fortified
city, and the capital of a kingdom ruled by Jat maharajas. The trio of Bharatpur,
Deeg and Dholpur has played an important part in the Jat history of Rajasthan. Located
50 km west of the city of Agra, it is also the administrative headquarters of Bharatpur
District.
Keoladeo Ghana National Park One of the finest bird parks in the world, Keoladeo
Ghana National Park is a reserve tha protection to faunal species as well. Nesting
indigenous water- birds as well as migratory water birds and waterside birds, this
sanctuary is also inhabited by, Chital, Nilgai, Sambar and Boar.
The sanctuary was created 250 years ago and is named after a Keoladeo (Shiva) temple
within its boundaries. Initially, it was a natural depression; and was flooded after
the Ajan Bund was constructed by Maharaja Suraj Mal, the then ruler of the princely
state of Bharatpur, between 1726 to 1763. The bund was created at the confluence
of two rivers, the Gambhir and Banganga. The park was a happy hunting ground for
the maharajas of Bharatpur, a tradition dating back to 1850, and duck shoots were
organised yearly in honor of the British viceroys. In one shoot alone in 1938, over
4,273 birds such as mallards and teals were killed by Lord Linlithgow, the then
Governor-General of India. After India's independence, the rulers of the princely
states were allowed shooting rights until 1972. In 1982, grazing was banned in the
park, leading to violent clashed between the local farmer and Gujjar communities
and the government.
Desert National Park,Rajasthan, India, is situated in the west Indian state of Rajasthan
near the town of Jaisalmer.This is one of the largest national parks, covering an
area of 3162 km². The Desert National Park is an excellent example of the ecosystem
of the Thar Desert. Sand dunes form around 20% of the Park. The major landform consists
of craggy rocks and compact salt lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes.
Despite a fragile ecosystem there exists an abundance of birdlife. The endangered
Great Indian Bustard is one magnificent bird found in relatively fair numbers. It
migrates locally in different seasons. The region is a haven for migratory and resident
birds of the desert. One can see many eagles, harriers, falcons, buzzards, kestrel
and vultures. Short-toed Eagles,Tawny Eagles, Spotted Eagles, Laggar Falcons and
kestrels are the commonest of these. Sand grouse are spotted near small ponds or
lakes. The most suitable time to visit .
The sanctuary hosts a small wintering population of the rare Siberian Cranes. Other
species include the ruddy shelducks, gulls, northern shovelers, northern pintails,
coots, garganey, tufted ducks and common pochard.
late 2004 however, the Rajasthan government led by Vasundhara Raje succumbed to
pressure from farmers to prevent water from being diverted to the sanctuary. The
water supply to the park dropped from 540,000,000 to 18,000,000 cubic feet (15,000,000
to 510,000 m³). The result was an ecological disaster with the marshlands turning
dry and inhospitable. Most of the birds flew off to alternate avenues as far as
Garhmukteshwar, Uttar Pradesh (90 km form New Delhi) on the river Ganga for breeding.
This resulted many of the birds being hunted for their meat.
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