Sultanpur National Park is located in Gurgaon District, Haryana, India. It has an area of 1.43 square kilometres. It is a protected area where over 250 species of birds have been sighted.
Sultanpur area on the Farukhnagar Gurgaon road was a low lying marshy area
which used to get inundated during monsoons. The collected brackish water
attracted a large variety of animals and aquatic plants which in turn attracted
migratory as well as a variety of resident birds. Earlier this was a favourit hunting
grounds of the rich and famous around Delhi and the rulers of the small
principalities in the area excelled in the sport of waterfowl hunting. Dr. Salim Ali, the
doyen of Indian Ornithology is largely responsible for converting this hunting
grouonds to a Bird Sanctuary. He was a frequent visitor till the last days. It was
officially declared a Bird Sanctuary in 1971, thanks to the keen interest of Dr. Ali. In
1991, the Sanctuary was upgraded into a National Park.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The resident bird population include Gray and Black Franklolins, Hoopoe, Indian
Roller, Drongo, Paddyfield Pipit, at least five variey of larks, three types of egrets,
Purple Sunbird, Kingfishers, Lapwings, Indian Courser, Bushchats, Indian and
Magpie Robins, Prinias, Black Kites, Shikra, Marsh Harrier, Oriental Honey Buzzard,
Black Shouldered Kite, Sarus Crane, Comb Duck, Spotbilled Duck, Cormorants,
Night Heron, Spotted Owlet and two types of Parakeets.
Migrants includes almost all common ducks who visit Northern India, including, Teal, Gaganey, Northern Shoveller, Pintail and Brahminy Duck. Various species of Storks and ibis as well as Spoonbills are also commonly seen in the park.
Other migratory waterbirds like Sandpipers, Plovers, Black winged Stilt, Green Shank, Red Shanks, etc. also visit this Sanctuary in good numbers. Summer Migrants include Asian Koel, Cuckoos, Golden Oriole, Bee Eaters, and others.
The Sanctuary has a large number of resident Neelgai(Boselaphus tragocamelus
Pallas) besides some jackals, porcupines and mongooses.
HOW TO REACH
Sultanpur is 47 km from Delhi and 16 km from Gurgaon. Delhi has the nearest airport. Gurgaon has a railway station and Metro Railways is likely to connect Gourgaon with Delhi soon. Bus service from Delhi to Gurgaon is frequent and convenient. It is better, however, to hire a taxi from Delhi to Sultanpur or to drive down
Images By spiderhunters/Satie Sharma
