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The famous Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is situated in the State of Haryana; spread in an area of 44212 square kilometers of the State's boundaries. There is a surprising amount of forest cover, hill tracts and wildlife.
The State promotes tourism and encourages visitors with emphasis on the protection and development of the available natural resources.
The Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary forms one of the main wildlife reserves in Haryana, located at a distance less than 50 kilometers from Delhi. The sanctuary was established with an aim to protect the wildlife that inhabits these areas. The sanctuary covers over 400 acres and is home to a large range of birds, both resident and migratory species. Migratory geese and Siberian crane spend the winter in Sultanpur and there is also the demoiselle crane, the ruddy selduck, pelicans, flamingoes, bar-headed geese, grey lags, gadwells, mallard, pochard, shoveled and teal. Local species include the plover, the red-wattled lapwing, herons, cormorants, white ibis, spoonbills and the painted stork. Winter is a good time to visit Sultanpur, since it is breeding time so you can see many of the birds in their brightest plumage performing their courting dances.
The vegetation of this park is tropical and dry deciduous and the flora include grasses, Dhok, Khair, Tendu, Ber, Jamun, Acacia, and Banyan tree. Other wildlife in the park include Blackbuck, Nilgai, Hog Deer, Sambar, Wild Dog or Dhole, Caracal, Wild Cat, Hedgehog, Mongoose, Striped hyena, Indian porcupine, rattle/honey badger, leopard, wild pig, and four horned antelope. Here you can see many species of duck while rowing boats on the Karna Lake.
Kalesar forest, which covers 5098 hectares, is the only Sal forest tract in Haryana and it is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Monkeys, chital, sambhar and the barking deer can be spotted there, as can hyenas. There are many flowering trees in the Kalesar forest, including Dhak, Kachnar and Amaltas and the bird life is equally rich, with Partridge, Drongo, Hornbills, the tree pie, the flycatcher and peacocks that are commonly seen.
On this wildlife tour you can visit the Morni hills, situated along the River Ghaggar flowing through them are 3000 feet above sea level and lie in the Shivalik range and they are 45 kilometers from the State capital, Chandigarh. Many common species like the Sand grouse, doves and quails and sambhar, jackals and hyenas and jungle cats inhabit the place. In the last couple of years, a pheasant-breeding programme has been introduced in the Morni Hills. These hills are also an ideal place for rock climbing and for trekking and since there are two lakes and a ruined fort, there is no shortage of trekking routes though the hills.
Haryana has several other sanctuaries too. In Rohtak district there is the Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary where the wildlife drinking water facilities have recently been extended. In the last couple of years 1036 acres of Bir Bara Ban, in Jind district have also been declared a Wildlife Sanctuary.
Fact File:
Getting There: Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (35 km) Palam Domestic Airport, Delhi (35 km). The nearest airport from Sultanpur is the Indira Gandhi International Airport and Palam Domestic Airport in Delhi at a distance of just 35 km.
Gurgaon Railway Station (15 km) Gurgaon is the nearest railway station connected to Delhi and many places in Haryana and Rajasthan by regular trains. New Delhi, Nizamuddin, and Old Delhi railway stations are important railway links from where one can get trains to almost all parts of the country.
Accommodation: Inside the park, the Haryana Tourism Development Corporation runs a tourist lodge that has air-conditioned as well as general rooms. The facilities there include a bar, restaurant, and cottages for the guests. One can also stay in any of the large number of hotels at Delhi or Gurgaon and go to Sultanpur for a weakened or day trip.
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