Bharatpur is situated 55 km away from Agra and is best known for
its bird sanctuary, the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, which is rich in avian
variety and is one of its kind in Asia. Every year the rare Siberian cranes
migrate here to spend the winter in the warmer climate of Bharatpur.
Bharatpur was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733 AD and is also known as
'The Eastern Gateway to Rajasthan'. Bharatpur was earlier known as Mewat and
was constructed in a manner that it remained fortified. It was named
Bharatpur after 'Bharat', the brother of Lord Rama, whose other brother
Laxman was worshiped as the family deity of the Bharatpur.
Attractions in Bharatpur
Keoladeo National Park : The Keoladeo National park is spread over an area
12 square miles, just outside Bharatpur. It is one of the most exotic parks
with complex woodlands, swamps, wet prairies and dry savanna. It is home to
370 types of birds, among which 115 species are migrants flying in from
Central Asia, Siberia and Western China during the winter months. This bird
sanctuary is one of its kind and watching birds here is an enriching
experience.
» Lohagarh Fort : The Lohagarh fort was conceived
and designed by Maharaja Suraj Mal, the founder of Bharatpur and was built
in ealy 18th centuary. It has faced many British attacks. The fort has three
palaces within its premises, they are, Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi.
» Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj : There are
about eight imposing towers that still stand erect within the rampants of
the Lohargarh fort, among them two of the them, Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj
are of special interest. They were built buy Maharaja Suraj Mal to signify
his victories over the Mughals and British. The coronation ceremony of the
Jat rulers of Bharatpur were held at the Jawahar Burj.
» The Palace : This exotic building is a blend of
Mughal and Rajput architecture. It has lovely tiles on the floors having
interesting patterns. The museum in the palace exhibits ancient articles of
importance.
» Government Museum : This museum has a rich
collection of carved sculptures and ancient inscriptions that are exhibited.
The museum is situated inside the palace itself.
» Deeg (32 km) : Deeg is an exquisite excursion
destination, lying 22 miles north of Bharatpur. Created by Raja Badan Singh
with additions by Raja Surajmal in the mid-eighteenth century, this was an
idyllic refuge from the battles which the erstwhile rulers constantly waged.
Once the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur, it served as the second
capital of the region. This interesting town has massive fortifications
amidst beautiful gardens.
Getting there
» By Air : The nearest airport Agra is 56-kms from
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The place is also well connected with Delhi
Airport, which can be reached from Agra.
» By Rail : The Bharatpur railway station is 6-kms
from the national park. The regular trains connect Bharatpur with all the
major cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra.
» By Road : An excellent road network connects
Bharatpur to all the major towns of the Rajasthan like Agra, Jaipur, Delhi
and its neighboring states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
