Bharatpur

Bharatpur was the premier Jat State in Rajasthan. Badan Singh established and founded the fort and palaces of Deeg in 1725. Seven years later, his son laid the foundation nearby of the fort of Bharatpur. It was a formidable structure called Logagarh (iron fort), which lived up to its reputation.

Excursion

Lohagarh Fort
Lohagarh, built by Maharaja Suraj Mahl, is located in the heart of the old city. Its entrance is from a crowded street that leads through the massive entrance gate called the Astdhatu Gate. Asthdhatu means 'eight metals', a reference to the spikes on the gate which are reputedly made of eight different metals.Lohagarh is a living fort with several modern additions. However, a part of the fort has been preserved consists of a sprwling palace complex since it combines Rajput and Mughal architecture with Jat Influences in building style, a few of the eight original towers of which Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj are of particular intrest, and floors laid with tiles.

The massive iron structure built in the early 18th century. With its impregnable defences it sustained itself even after a number of British attacks. The fort was conceived and designed by Maharaja Suraj Mal, the founder of Bharatpur. The fort has three palaces within its precincts - Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas.

Government Museum
The government Museum is housed in the formar durbar hall, the maharaja's meeting hall, in the fort. The most intresting thing to see here is the hamam(bathhouse), which retains some fine carvings and frescoes.

It exhibits sculptures found during the excavation of old villages e.g. Noh, Mallah, Bareh, Bayana etc. ranging from the Kushan period (Ist century A.D.) to 19th century A.D. Weapons used in battles in the medieval period the Jat rulers, paintings, manuscripts, zoological specimens, local art and craft that was once Bharatpur.

The Art Gallery of the museum has specimens of miniature paintings on leaves of the peepal tree, mica and old lithopapers alongwith the paintings of the Maharajas of Bharatpur.

On the upper story one section consists of various types of guns & miniature canons used during 18th century A.D. Called ‘Chaddra’. These miniature canons - two sets of eleven each, were used by Maharaja Sawai Jawahar Singh in the battle while passing through the Jaipur territory on his return from a pilgrimage to Pushkar.

Only the exterior of the buildings may be photographed.

Keoladeo National Park
Amongst India’s premier wildlife sanctuaries is the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur, situated at the border between the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It’s a marshy area, stretching over 29 sq km of kadam forests, grasslands and shallow lakes. Created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the 19th century by diverting water from an irrigation canal, Keoladeo was founded as a shooting preserve, but given the status of a bird sanctuary in 1956. Upgraded to a national park in 1982, the area today ranks as one of the best waterbird preserves in the world- and it’s a World Heritage Site. Keoladeo Ghana, Bharatpur harbours some of India’s richest birdlife, including the gorgeous shocking-pink tinted painted stork, several species of cormorants, egrets, pelicans, ibises, cranes, ducks and geese. One can see over 350 species of birds, both native as well as migratory. Among the latter, the highly endangered Siberian Cranes, which come to nest in winter, are the rarest. Bharatpur is the Siberian Crane’s only known wintering ground in India; at last count, only 2 cranes nested at the park, definitely a cause for worry. In addition to the birds, Keoladeo is home to a wide range of mammal and reptile species, including deer, jackals, blackbuck, fishing cats, otters and blue bulls.

Best time to visit
Keoladeo Ghana Bharatpur is open throughout the year for visitors, although winter is definitely the best time to visit. Summers are too hot and monsoons too wet for comfort, but the months between October and February are very suitable for a trip. Besides the fact that the weather’s good at this time, the park’s migratory birds arrive during the winter.

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Getting There
By Air
Agra Flight Schedule
Agra 56 km is the nearest airport. Daily flight form Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi and Lucknow are available to Agra.

By Bus
A network of bus services links Bharatpur with several cities within and outside the State.

By Train
Regular rail services connect Bharatpur with several cities on Delhi-Mumbai trunk route, Jaipur and Agra. Some important train connections are : Golden Temple Mail (Mumbai-Bharatpur-Jammu-Tawi); Intercity express (Hazrat Nizamuddin-Bharatpur); Paschim Express (New Delhi-Bharatpur - Mumbai).

Getting around
Bharatpur has auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws and tongas. A fantastic way of zipping around is by bicycle, which costs Rs 20 to Rs 50 per day (the more expensive ones are in better condition).

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