A natural depression of some 28 sq. km (probably the flood plains of Yamuna), Keoladeo Ghana Park is heralded as one of the finest bird reserves in the world. Owing to its global, ecological, faunal and floral importance UNESCO has deemed it  a 'World Heritage Site'. Some 425 species of birds have been recorded in and around the park.

An unraveled breeding site for the Painted Stork, Purple Heron, White Ibis and Eurasian Spoonbill, the park is the last known wintering ground in India for the central population of the Siberian Crane. The park - largely a shallow water marsh, artificially created - is also the favored winter destination of the Bar-headed Geese and is an excellent place to view various owl species such as Collared Scops Owl and Eurasian Owl.

Though renamed in 1981 as Keoladeo Ghana (after the ancient Shiva temple in the centre of the park and Ghana, meaning dense), the park is known by its old name Bharatpur. Open throughout the year, the park is at its full glory when the migrant birds visit between October and February.

Fauna:
Bharatpur's residents include Eurasian Wigeon, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Great Crested Grebe, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Temminck's Stint, Kentish Plover, Northern Lapwing, Sarus Crane and Black-necked Stork.

Land birds include Blue Cheeked Bee-eater, Wryneck, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Oriental Skylark, Marshall's Iora, Striated Babbler, Cetti's Bush Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Rain Quail, Chestnut Bellied Sandgrouse, Bluethroat and nightjars like Savanna and Indian Nightjar. Greater Spotted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Marsh and Montagu's Harrier are some raptors that thrive on ample prey base.

The area is also a safe haven for several endangered avifauna such as the White-bellied Heron, Greater Flamingo, Spotbilled Pelican, Greater Adjutant, Red-necked Grebe, Pied Avocet, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruddy Kingfisher, Spotted Crake and Indian Skimmer.

The Indian Rock Python, Soft-shell Turtles, Monitor Lizards, Fishing Cat, Otter and Porcupine are its other attractions. Besides, a tigress has been residing here for the past few years. Other mammals here are Spotted Deer, Sambar, Nilgai, Blackbuck, Striped Hyena and Jungle Cats.

Flora:
In a semi-arid biotype the park is the only area with much vegetation, hence the name Ghana, meaning dense. It is this fascinating tapestry of wetlands, woodlands, woodland swamps and dry grasslands that has blessed the park with a rich biologically diverse birdlife. The principal vegetation type is tropical dry deciduous forest intermixed with dry grassland. Kadam (mitragyna parvifolia), jamun (syzygium cuminii) and babool (acacia nilotica) dominate the north-eastern area of the park. Apart from the artificially managed marshes, much of the area is covered by medium sized trees and shrubs. The aquatic vegetation is rich in species and a valuable source of food for waterfowl.