Main Attraction: Migratory Birds
Location: Delhi - Jaipur highway (46 km from Delhi)
State: Haryana
Area: 359 acres
Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi
Nearest Town: Gurgaon (15 km)
Nearest Railway Station: Gurgaon Railway Station
Entry Fee: Rs. 5 for Indian Nationals and Rs. 40 for foreigners
Best Time to Visit: October-March
Number of Bird Species: 100
If you are in Delhi and looking for a break from the humdrum city life, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is an ideal place to spend a day with wonderful avian species. The sanctuary is a bird watcher's paradise. Declared a bird reserve in 1972, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is home to a number of birds and animals. Some migratory birds also flock within the sanctuary in winter. There are a number of birds that you can watch on your bird watching tour to Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. More than 100 species of birds have been identified here.
The sanctuary is located about 46 kilometers from Delhi in Haryana. Haryana is the neighboring state of Delhi. This sanctuary is also very well connected by roads with Gurgaon and Delhi.
The earlier Sultanpur area was basically a low lying marshy area that used to get swamped at the time of monsoons and due to this attracts a number of animals, resident birds as well as migratory birds. This area also served as a hunting ground for rich and famous and also for rulers of the small principalities. These rulers excelled in the waterfowl hunting sport. Dr. Salim Ali who was a prominent person of Indian Ornithology is responsible for transforming this hunting ground into a Bird Sanctuary. In the year 1971, this hunting ground was officially declared as a Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary was further upgraded into a National Park in the year 1991.
Dry and tropical deciduous are the vegetation of this park and the flora includes banyan tree, ber, grasses, jamun, acacia, khair, dhok and tendu.
Some of the birds that you come across are ruddy shelducks, demoiselle cranes, flamingoes, bar-headed geese, pelicans, gadwalls, mallards, pochards, teals and shovellers. Some of the local birds include red-wattled lapwings, herons, plovers, white ibises, cormorants, painted storks and spoonbills.
Sultanpur Wildlife Sanctuary is not only home to birds but a number of animals as well. Some of the animals that you can see on your wildlife tour to Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary include sambar, nilgai, hog deer, Blackbuck, Caracal, wild cat, mongoose, striped hyena, hedgehog, Indian porcupine, leopard, four horned antelope and wild pig.
The climate of the area is tropical. It is quite hot in summer and chilly in winter.
The best time to visit the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is between December and January. This time you can see a number of migratory birds in the sanctuary.
There are four watch towers that are located at different points for facilitating bird watching. Almost two hours are enough for taking a leisurely walk along the perimeter of the entire park.
There are a number of places around Sultanpur that you can visit. Delhi, which is just 46 kilometers away, has a number of historic places that you can visit. Some of the places that you can visit in Delhi include India Gate, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Lotus Temple and Lodhi Gardens. Visitors can also see a number of art galleries, educational institutions, museums, theaters and libraries.
By Air: Indira Gandhi International Airport and Palam Domestic Airport in Delhi are the nearest airport from Sultanpur that are located at a distance of 35 kilometers. There are regular flights to the international destinations from the Indira Gandhi International Airport. On the other hand, Palam Domestic Airport is well-connected to almost every city in India and conducts regular flights of many domestic airlines.
By Rail: The nearest railway station that is connected to Delhi along with other places in Haryana and Rajasthan is Gurgaon Railway Station. Tourists can also get trains to almost every part of the country from the Nizamuddin railway station.
By Road: Delhi is the ideal point to head for Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. A number of taxis and buses are available from Delhi (46 km), Gurgaon (15 km) along with from other neighboring centers. Accommodation Facilities.
The Haryana Tourism Development Corporation provides a tourist lodge within the park that offers air-conditioned along with general rooms. This lodge offers cottages, bar and restaurant for its guests. You can also stay in Delhi, which has a number of good quality hotels.
The Sultanpur National Park also offers some basic facilities such as drinking water facilities, toilets, a children’s park.