Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary History

History of Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

Sultanpur area on the Farukhnagar Gurgaon road was a low lying marshy area which used to get inundated during monsoons. The collected brackish water attracted a large variety of animals and aquatic plants which in turn attracted migratory as well as a variety of resident birds. Earlier this was a favourit hunting grounds of the rich and famous around Delhi and the rulers of the small principalities in the area excelled in the sport of waterfowl hunting. Dr. Salim Ali, the doyen of Indian Ornithology is largely responsible for converting this hunting grouonds to a Bird Sanctuary. He was a frequent visitor till the last days. It was officially declared a Bird Sanctuary in 1971, thanks to the keen interest of Dr. Ali. In 1991, the Sanctuary was upgraded into a National Park.

Location: Gurgaon District of Haryana, India
Distance: Approximately 46 km from Delhi
Established In: 1971
Best Time to Visit: October to June
Main Attractions: Resident and migratory birds, wild animals, etc

Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the most popular excursions for the people residing in Delhi. Situated at a distance of hardly 46 km from the national capital, the bird sanctuary comes under the state of Haryana. Established in the year 1971, as a bird sanctuary, the protected area was later given the status of a national park in 1991. Sultanpur National Park is sprawled over an area of approximately 143 sq km and provides a natural habitat to the local birds as well as those who migrate here every year......


Adequate arrangements have been made inside the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary to make sure that the visitors are able to have a good look over the birds. These include four watchtowers and a number of hideouts inside the park. All such places provide you excellent views of the entire park, so that you do not miss out on seeing any exotic bird specie. If you want to get information about birds, check out the small museum and library in Sultanpur National Park. The best time to visit the park is during the months of October to June.

Flora

The vegetation of the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary mainly comprises of tropical and dry deciduous forests. Thus, you will find trees like babul savannah grasses, acacia, jamun and banyans dotting its landscape. However, the soil of the sanctuary is quite fertile and can be found carpeted with lawns, trees, shrubs and heaps of bougainvilleas.

Birds
Sultanpur National Park is mainly known for being home to a wide variety of birds. White Ibises, Spoonbills, Red-Wattled Lapwings, Herons, Spoonbills, Painted Storks, Cormorants, Egrets, Plovers are the popular residents of Sultanpur. While, Siberian Cranes, Flamingoes, Gadwalls, Mallards, Spotted Sandpiper, Darters, Ruddy Shelducks, Pelicans, Flamingoes, Bar-Headed Geese, Darters, Demoiselle Cranes, Grey Lags, Spotted Sandpiper, Pochards, Shovellers, Gadwalls and Mallards are amongst the most popular migratory birds seen inside the park.

Wildlife

Apart from being home to such a large and exotic variety of birds, Sultanpur National Park also supports a rich wildlife. The common animals seen here include Striped Hyena, Leopard, Nilgai, Sambar, Blackbuck, Hog Deer, Four Horned Antelope, Caracal, Wild Dog, Rattle/Honey Badger, Mongoose, Hedgehog, Wild Pig, Wild Cat, Indian Porcupine, etc.

Accommodation
Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary does not offer tourists too many accommodation options within its premises. Haryana Tourism Development Corporation's tourist lodge will be your best bet there. However, there are a number of hotels and guesthouses situated in the vicinity of the national park, which will provide the answer to all your accommodation needs.