Bharatpur is popular for its bird sanctuary near the
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, which is the finest in
Asia with a rich avian variety. Every year, the rare
Siberian cranes come to spend the winter in the warmer
climate of Bharatpur.
Of the remnants of the royal past remain the marvellous
Bharatpur Palace housing a rich repository of a large
number of ancient exhibits that date back to the early
15th century.
Prime Attractions of Bharatpur
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Once the royal hunting reserve of the princes of
Bharatpur, it is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in
the world, inundated with over 400 species of water
birds. more..
Brij Festival
The Brij Festival takes place a few days before Holi,
the festival of colours. Held in honour of Lord Krishna,
this festival is marked by verve and zest. Villagers, in
gay, multihued attire, can be seen singing and
performing the Raslila dance-the immortal love-story of
Radha and Krishna. more..
Govt. Museum - Bharatpur
Located in the centre of the famous Lohagarh Fort, the
Bharatpur Museum houses a rich collection of
archaeological wealth of the nearby areas as well as
from the old Bharatpur State. The huge palatial building
Kachahari Kalan, once the administrative block of the
rulers of Bharatpur state, was converted into a museum
in 1944 AD. Later on, the Kamra Khas (personal chamber)
building on the first floor was added to the museum.
Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj
A few of the eight imposing towers still stand erect
within the glorious ramparts of the fort. Especially two
of them - Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj are of special
interest. These were built by Maharaja Suraj Mal to
commemorate his victories over the Mughals and British
respectively. The coronation ceremony of the Jat rulers
of Bharatpur was also held at the Jawahar Burj.
Lohagarh Fort
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.
The Palace
This royal edifice is a fusion of the Mughal and Rajput
architectural styles with magnificent apartments and
intricately designed floor tiles having interesting
patterns. One can marvel at the ancient exhibits
displayed in the museum in the central pan of the
palace.
Excursions from Bharatpur
Deeg Palace (32Km.)
The famous old fortress of Deeg, which contributed
substantially in the making of the Jat principality, is
now in shambles. Its formidable cannons now lie
abandoned in the forlorn fort. |