Sultanpur National Park - Gurgaon

Gurgaon in Haryana is a fast developing area in India.  The urbanization was at rapid pace since the establishment of automobile industry Maruti Suzuki Private Limited.  The city and district is of historical importance; it is believed that the village Gurgaon – “village of Guru” is donated to Dronacharya for imparting warfare training to Pandavas and Kauravas. 

Recently when I visited this place and enquired about local places of tourist interest everybody talked about those seen in Delhi which is about 35 KM from Gurgaon.  As I have already visited places in Delhi, I asked for those specifically present in Gurgaon, in particular about Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary.  Many could not give any information about it.  The taxi driver we were traveling with initially took us to Sultanpur in NCR region and from there to Chattarapur temple.  After explaining him that I want to see birds park at Sultanpur he finally understood and took us to Sultanpur National Park. 

Sultanpur National park is about 15 Km from Gurgaon.  It is actually a jheel (lake) where many resident and migratory birds visit.  Peter Jackson a famous ornithologist who had seen the birds wrote to the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi to protect and accord it the bird sanctuary status.  Accordingly was done in 1971.  Later in the year 1991 it was upgraded to National park by including some areas in the surrounding villages and increasing that jheel area from 1.21 Sq. KM to 1.42 Sq. KM.  People in this area are more familiar with name Sultanpur Jheel, rather than Bird Sanctuary or National Park. 

Since it is upgraded to National Park it is developed to attract and maintain the resident and migratory birds.

  Mounds and pitches are built for the birds.  Bore wells are dug to maintain water levels.  When there are no rains water is supplied from nearby canals or bore wells.  There are four watch towers to watch birds.

When a visit is planned to this place, binoculars are a must.  I couldn’t find any binoculars being provided for charges at ticket counter.  One young boy approached us with his binoculars and said he will show us all the birds with his binoculars and will be our guide in the Park.  He wanted us to pay two hundred per head for the two hour tour.  As true Indians we bargained and settled for Rs.150/- .

  He took us around the Park and showed different birds and explained what little he knows about the bird and its habitat.

In this park there are also nilgai and some abandoned bulls. 

Sultanpur National Park is a beautiful place which has more than 250 species of local birds and also hosts migratory birds from Siberia, Europe and Afghanistan.

  There is also a library and museum which educates visitors about different birds and their habitats.

Here are few pictures of the birds seen at Sultanpur National Park, Gurgaon.