Resource Collection and Essential Guides for Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, India

A renowned wetland sanctuary and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Rajasthan, famous for its extraordinary birdlife and migratory waterfowl

Keoladeo National Park

Keoladeo National Park occupies a distinctive ecological niche in northwestern India, where the semi-arid landscape of Rajasthan gives way to the more verdant environments of the Indo-Gangetic plain. The park's human-made wetland system, developed initially as a shooting reserve in the late 19th century and later transformed into a conservation area, represents one of the most successful examples of habitat creation and management for waterfowl in South Asia. The reserve's name derives from the nearby Keoladeo temple and the local term Ghana meaning dense forest, reflecting both the area's religious associations and its historical vegetation cover. The wetland ecosystem is maintained through a network of mounds, dykes, and water control structures that allow managers to manipulate water levels and create optimal conditions for different bird species and vegetation types. The park's location at the crossroads of major migratory flyways has made it a crucial waystation for birds travelling between their breeding grounds in Central and South Asia and their wintering destinations on the Indian subcontinent. Beyond its ornithological significance, the reserve provides important ecosystem services including flood protection for nearby Bharatpur settlements and grazing opportunities for local communities.