Keoladeo National Ornithological Park

Keoladeo National Park hosts thousands of birds during the winter seasons. More than 350 rare and endangered bird species are known to call the national park home. The park is also a major tourist center, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. The park is especially interesting not only for tourists, but also for ornithologists.

The area of the park area is more than 28 square kilometers and consists of forest, grassy and marshy areas. The park is home to more than 350 species of birds, 50 species of fish, 27 species of mammals, more than 350 species of plants grow. Rare animals living in the park are Indian zambaras, musangs and small civets. The rarest bird is the sterch.

The park was created in honor of Keoladeo (Shiva). Initially, it was a natural depression, which eventually filled with water. The park was originally a hunting ground for Maharajas from Bharatpur. It became a national park in 1982.