Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur)

A very different kind of wildlife experience, Keoladeo National Park — long known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary — is one of the finest bird habitats in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This man-made wetland, once a royal duck-hunting reserve, now shelters hundreds of resident and migratory bird species.

In winter the park fills with visitors from as far as Siberia and Central Asia — painted storks, cranes, eagles, kingfishers and countless waterfowl. Explored on foot, by bicycle or in a cycle-rickshaw with a trained naturalist, it's a serene, immersive escape into nature.

• ›The migratory birds in peak winter season.
• ›A cycle-rickshaw tour with a knowledgeable bird guide.
• ›The peaceful walking and cycling trails through the wetland.

The trained rickshaw-pullers double as excellent bird guides — well worth it. Bring binoculars if you have them. It sits conveniently on the Jaipur–Agra route.