An Oasis for feathery tweeters at concrete NCR-Sultanpur National Park Gurgaon

Not only a paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers Sultanpur National Park is also a perfect retreat for anyone who wants to spend some peaceful time away from the hustle bustle of city life. Just a stone throw distance away from  Gurgaon (about 15 kms) the sanctuary is located on Gurgaon Farrukhnagar highway. Sultanpur lake around which this beautiful  forested sanctuary exists attracts morethan 250 species of resident and migratory birds. The best time to visit the park is between the months of November and March when thousands of migratory birds make this their temporary abode . However during other times also more than 100 species of resident  birds and a few species of summer migratory birds keep the park lively.

At the entrance is a ticket window  and an interpretation centre which has a library and a collection of photographs by the renowned Indian ornithologist Dr Salim Ali. You can enter the park between 6;30 am to 4:30 pm after buying a ticket for Rs 5/- per head  and an additional Rs 25/- if you are carrying a camera.There are four machans or watch towers and one can climb up to the top to get a ‘ birds eye view’ of the park. The walkways through the forest are beautiful  with lots of trees and an occasional glimpse of a herd of blue bulls which inhabit this place. You also may be lucky to sight a couple of black bucks. Probably a birding enthusiast would advocate coming to the park early morning but we found that the park is equally alluring and enjoyable the entire day. What comes as a pleasant surprise is the cleanliness and complete absence of littered  packets of chips . This is because there are no food places inside the park and if one needs to eat something there are options available nearby which include the Haryana Tourism restaurant and local dhabas .

Probably one of the best kept parks Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is a must visit haven for traffic hit residents of concrete Jungle that NCR has become and also for  those tourists  who wander around the capital and complain about the complete absence of  scenic beauty.