Tucked away 15km from the centre of Gurgaon, a mere 46km from the Indian capital lies a breathtaking enclosure flanked by multi-hued bougainvilleas, towering trees and idyllic lawns. Dubbed the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary this one of a kind enclave in captivating Haryana is also one of the regions most popular attractions for bird lovers. Drawing visitors from far and wide during the months of December and January which are deemed the best time to visit the venue, the parkland is best known for its impressive collection of winged creatures.
Spread out over an expansive area of 359 acres the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary also provides four watch towers that allow visitors to observe the parks bird population without disturbing their daily cycle. The venues Educational Interpretation Centre also plays a pivotal role in informing and guiding guests through the sanctuary and its multi-faceted inhabitants.
Having been declared a sanctuary for birds in the early 70s the park was upgraded to the status of a national park in 1991 by the state governing body. Ideally geared for bird watching as it offers unhindered views of the lake and its surrounding ecosystems the locale is also renowned for its rich heritage of flora and fauna. Containing mainly tropical and dry plant varieties the parkland is littered with banyan trees, tendu, acacia, khair, dhok and jamun plants while the enclaves avifauna collections includes an impressive 250 bird species. These include the over 90 migratory bird varieties that fly in from Afghanistan, Siberia, and Europe such as Eurasian Widgeons, Black-winged Stilts, Rosy Pelicans, Greater Flamingoes, Wood Sandpipers, Starlings, Black-tailed Godwits, Yellow Wagtails, Northern Shovelers and Spotted Redshanks. Over 11 species of Asian migratory birds are also found at the sanctuary with the most popular being Blue cheeked Bee Eaters, Black-crowned Night Herons, Asian Koels and Eurasian Golden Orioles.
The parks resident bird population is equally captivating as it includes White-throated Kingfishers, Paddyfield Pipits, Rose-ringed Parakeets, Purple Sunbirds and Spot-billed Ducks in addition to Red-- collared Doves, Painted Storks, Black-headed Ibises, Magpie Robins, Bank Mynahs, India Crested Larks, Spotted Owlets and Cattle Egrets. Other stunning winged creatures such as the likes of Gray Francolins, Eurasian-collared Doves, Weaver Birds and Black Francolins are also known to inhabit the lakeside sanctuary as are Little Egrets, Red-Wattled Lapwings, Greater Coucals, Red-vented Bulbuls and Little Cormorants.
Wildlife varieties such as the likes of leopards, hog deer, four horned antelopes, mongooses, striped hyenas, blackbucks and sambar deer also call the sanctuary home as do Indian porcupines, wild cats and honey badgers.
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