My Visual Travel Experience: Sultanpur National Park, Haryana, India

I visited Sultanpur National Park with my wife, my son, my son's two close friends, and the boys' respective fathers, towards the end of the winter season in 2019. We went armed with SLR cameras and binoculars, and we saw many birds, we spotted several animals, we had a nice little picnic, the three little boys ran around and played, and overall it was a very enjoyable morning! Given its proximity to Delhi, and more so to Gurgaon, I am surprised I had not visited earlier.

Sultanpur National Park is situated in the northern Indian state of Haryana, barely 50 km from the national capital Delhi. The park is just 15 km from Gurgaon. It has an area of 1.4 sq km. In 1970, the noted British ornithologist, Peter Michael Jackson, wrote to the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, with a request to convert Sultanpur Lake into a bird sanctuary. The area was declared a bird sanctuary in 1972. In 1989, it was upgraded and re-designated a national park. 

The Lake at Sultanpur National Park

There are over 10,000 species of birds in the world. About 370 migrate to India every year, due to seasonal changes and in search of food. About 250 species of birds have been found in Sultanpur National Park. Though some of them are resident birds, many of them are migratory birds that come from far off places.

Birds in the Lake

A Cormorant up on a Tree

Ducks in the Lake

Resident birds in Sultanpur National Park include cormorants, francolins, kingfishers, storks, ibises, egrets, larks, parakeets, doves, pigeons, and ducks. Migratory birds include Siberian cranes, flamingos, pelicans, herons, and cuckoos. In addition to birds, the park also has several species of animals, including blue bulls (also called nilgais), black bucks, and foxes. Cattle also roam around freely in the park.

A Nilgai inside the Lake

A Crane and Nilgai

A Bull at the side of the Lake

Sultanpur National Park is a popular picnic spot, especially during winter months which are pleasant and when thousands of migratory birds visit the park. The park has several watch towers, an education and interpretation centre, a library, a children’s park, and even a guest-house for those wanting to stay overnight. A walk around the park can take about 2 hours. Buggy rides are also available at reasonable prices for those who are not comfortable walking.

The Pathway running across the Park

A Watch Tower inside the Park

Buggies

For people living in Delhi and the National Capital Region looking for a quick get-away from the concrete jungle that the megapolis is, Sultanpur National Park is a serene place, and makes for a lovely half day outing. The best time to go is certainly in or around the winter months, because that's when you will get to see the thousands of migratory birds that come, and that's the only time of year when you'll be able to walk around the park comfortably because of the pleasant weather.