Bharatpur

Known as the “Eastern Gateway to Rajasthan"Bharatpur situated about 50 km west of Agra welcomes its connoisseurs to devour the richness of this historical city that represent the culture of this surreal place. Acknowledged for its numerous fortified forts and royal palaces that dot the kingdom, Bharatpur is truly a muse for the history and art lovers. Bharatpur is home to the famous Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary which houses some of the rarest species of birds. Formerly known as Bharatpur National Park, the Keoladeo National Park holds the most important role for tourism in Bharatpur. It is a World Heritage Site of UNESCO.

WEATHER

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The perfect time to visit Bharatpur is between October to March, when you get to see spectacular views of migratory birds at the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo National Park). Birds start migrating mid-February onwards and you might miss on a lot of them if you don't visit Bharatpur within these four months. This is also the time the pleasant Rajasthan winter starts settling in the city, creating beautiful sights and making your stay even more delightful.

CUISINE

The food here does not really stand out in terms of uniqueness or a vibrant food culture. Yet, the place will offer you simple and popular Rajasthani as well as North-Indian snacks and preparations. One can flatter their appetite with Pyaaz Kachori, Mawa Kachori, Aloo ki subzi and more.

Bharatpur has many top restaurants for tourists to enjoy a variety of delicious food from this region.

SHOPPING

Although Bharatpur is famous for its national park, there are various shops around the city to satiate the shopaholic in you. Popular items include intricately carved jewellery of precious and semi-precious stones, handicrafts, marble carvings, brass work, antiques and Jaipur textiles.

The colourful Jaipur handlooms, especially bandhej materials for saree and suit are so attractive that you can't help but purchase a few sets. The kundans, precious and semi precious stones studded jewellery represents the ageless Rajasthani art and culture. Apart from these apparels and fabrics, Bharatpur also offers antiques and intricately done marble and brass carvings which never fail to astonish with their beauty.

Mathura Gate is a popular bazaar in Bharatpur; where you can find traditional Rajasthani costumes and jewellery. The merchandises are fairly priced. Next is Chaurburja Bazaar, which is extremely crowded. You can find some clothes, shoes, marble carvings and antiques and thereby giving you an opportunity to experience the rusticity of the city as well as catering to your shopping desires.

LANGUAGE

The most spoken Language in Bharatpur is Hindi, Braj and Mewati. The dialects of the region are Mewati and Braj.

THINGS TO DO

1. GO BIRDWATCHING

Previously known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of the best bird watching destinations in the world. This man-made wetland today expands over an area of 29 sq kilometers. The wetland is famous for all migratory birds that flock here – ducks, geese, waders, raptors, flycatchers and many more. During the winters birders and ornithologists flock in the area to study the birds.

This place has a total of 370 recorded species. This place also plays host to the Siberian Crane. This is also their breeding ground and an important World Heritage Site. The place also has a well-defined trek route for the adventure lovers. These trek routes can be covered by foot or cycle or rickshaws that have trained rickshaw pullers extremely knowledgeable about the place.

2. BHARATPUR PALACE AND MUSEUM – GET AN INSIGHT INTO BHARATPUR’S HISTORY

This is basically a museum. Visiting here is one of the best things to do in Bharatpur. The museum is located within the palace in Kamra Khas. The room contains a large number of antiques. These include over 581 stone sculptures, 861 local art, and craft articles and ancient scriptures. These scriptures showcase the art and culture that is typical of Bharatpur. The palace is a work of art and a mixture of Mughal and Rajput architecture.

This is because the entire palace was built in stages by various Maharajas. An interesting thing about the palace is the variety of richly patterned floor tiles which are decorated with exquisite designs. Everything in this palace is extremely glamorous. This place is a storehouse of Indian culture, history, and traditions that are typical to Bharatpur.

3. SEEK BLESSINGS AT LAXMAN MANDIR

This Hindu shrine is dedicated to the brother of Lord Rama – Lakshman. This should be on your list of top things to do in Bharatpur. You must definitely come here to observe the intricate carvings of flowers and birds on doorways, ceilings, pillars, walls, and arches of the temple. The temple contains the invaluable culture and history of our country.

The idols here are all made of Ashtadhatu (a unique combination of eight metals). This temple is over 400 years old and is one of the most prominent temples in Bharatpur. The temple is believed to have been established by a certain Naga Saint who worked for the upliftment of mankind. The temple is frequented by a huge number of devotees every year. The Temple displays a very beautiful Rajasthan style of architecture.

4. BAND BARETHA – HAVE A PICNIC

This old forest reserve is another bird watcher’s paradise after the Keoladeo National park. There are over 200 species of birds, such as the elusive Black Bittern found here. There is a palace inside this reserve that was built by Maharaja Ram Singh in 1897 AD and is still the property of the Bharatpur royal family.

There is a dam on the Kakund River here started by Maharaja Jaswant Singh in 1866 AD. This place has been under British rule for a very long time. The dam at the Kakund River is a very famous picnic spot in this region. It draws in a large number of tourists in the winters.

5. LOHAGARH FORT – SEE THE BATTLE SCARS OF BHARATPUR

True to its name the Lohagarh Fort has withstood numerous battles. Most of these were attacks by the British. The Lohagarh fort is not a flamboyant one showing off its architectural beauty – it is a fort radiating an aura of rugged strength. There are many monuments inside it – the Kothi Khas, Mahal Khas, Moti Mahal, the Kamra Mahal and the Kishori Mahal. This is considered to be one of the strongest forts in Indian history.

There are two gates to this fort – the Ashtdhaatu (eight-metalled) to the north and Chowburja (four-pillared) to the south. The Kamra Mahal now is the State Archaeological Museum and visiting this site is one of the top things to do in Bharatpur. You will see the old portraits of the Maharajas who ruled here as well as various types of guns and miniature cannons on display in the armory section.

6. DEEG – GET PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE CITY

This beautiful garden town is located north of Bharatpur and is part of a fort. Visiting this Place is one of the important things to do in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. There is a watchtower here from where one can see the entire city. The interior of the city is in ruins but this tower still remains one of the best attractions. There is a three-day festival that is held every year in the month of September – it attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world.

When you are here to visit the garden, be sure to visit the Jal Mahal as well – it adds to the beauty of the place with its beautiful architecture. There are a number of gorgeous palaces around the garden like the Gopal Bhavan, Suraj Bhavan, Nand Bhavan, Kishan Bhavan, Keshav Bhavan, Purana Mahal, and Sheesh Mahal. The entire wall of Deeg runs for 8 km in circumference and is pierced by 10 gateways. This place can be reached by means of a private car or a cab available anywhere in the city.

PLACES TO VISIT

1. BHARATPUR NATIONAL PARK

Now known as the Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur National Park is a famous avifauna sanctuary and a bird watching paradise listed among UNESCO's World Heritage sites. The 29 km reserve is locally known as Ghana and is a mosaic of dry grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps, and wetlands. These diverse habitats are home to 366 bird species, 379 floral species, 50 species of fish, 13 species of snakes, 5 species of lizards, 7 amphibian species,7 turtle species, and a variety of other invertebrates. Every year thousands of migratory waterfowl visit the park for winter breeding.

The sanctuary is one of the richest bird areas in the world. It is a human-made establishment known for nesting of its resident birds and visiting migratory birds including water birds. What is interesting note is that this place was once the waterfowl hunting ground for the royalty and the British, but was converted into an asylum for birds and other wildlife as well in the year 1971. You can take a Jeep Ride or Rickshaw Safari to spot exotic birds and a few animals that inhabit the jungle as well. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is easily a bird lover's paradise, and photographers will find this place to be delightful as well.

2. LOHAGARH FORT

Located at Bharatpur in Rajasthan, the Lohagarh Fort indeed stands true to its name and has survived solidly and battled the attacks of military forces as well as the ravages of time for centuries. The fort was constructed by the Bharatpur Jat rulers. Maharaja Suraj Mal used all his power and wealth to a good cause and built numerous forts and palaces across his kingdom, one of them being the famous Lohagarh Fort. The monument is an architectural marvel that has especially captures the interests of architecture students and historians.

3. BANKE BIHARI TEMPLE

Considered to be one of the holiest towns in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Vrindavan houses a beautiful temple that is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Shri Bankey Bihari Mandir, established by Swami Haridas, a guru of the famous singer, Tansen shelters the image of Lord Krishna in the "Tribhanga" posture. This temple was constructed in 1864 and worships Lord Krishna in the form of a child or more accurately called "Nand Gopal". Situated in close proximity to the Radhavallabh temple, Banke Bihari temple constitutes one among the 7 temples of Thakur of Vrindavan. Banke translates into "bent in three places" and Bihari means "Supreme Enjoyer" and therefore the image of Lord Krishna is seen to be bent in three places.

4. BHARATPUR PALACE AND MUSEUM

Located within the premises of the Bharatpur Palace is Kamra Khas, a museum that contains a vast number of antiques, over 581 stone sculptures, 861 local art and craft wares and ancient scriptures that depict the art and culture typical of Bharatpur. The palace itself was built in stages by various Maharajas and is a fine fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture. The various apartments in the palace have a variety of richly patterned floor tiles decorated with exquisite designs.

5. GANGA MANDIR

The Ganga Mandir, which resides in the heart of the city of Bharatpur, is one of the most beautiful temples in Rajasthan. In it lies the magnificent deity of Ganga Maharaj made of pristine white marble. Maharaja Balwant Singh started constructing this temple in the mid-19th century. However, he had a very unique request that required all the affluent inhabitants of the city to donate one month’s pay to help towards the temple’s creation.

6. DEEG

Deeg is a beautiful garden town situated north of Bharatpur. It has many embellished palaces that add to the beauty of the place. Known for its forts, palaces, gardens and fountains, the highlight of Deeg is an impressive fort surrounded by moats and gateways. It was built by Raja Suraj Mal and stands over a slightly elevated point. Although the interiors are almost in ruins, the watch tower containing a gun still maintains watch over the city.

7. BAND BARETHA

Band Baretha is an old wildlife reserve of the rulers of Bharatpur, currently under the administration of the Forest Department. The construction of the dam on Kakund River was started by Maharaj Jaswant Singh in 1866 AD and completed by Maharaj Ram Singh in 1897 AD. The palace inside the reserve was built by Maharaj Kishan Singh and is the private property of the Bharatpur royal family. Band Baretha is a bird watcher’s paradise because of over 200 species of birds, including the elusive Black Bittern.

8. KAMAN

The locals also know Kaman as Kamaban. This old town is located at the north of Bharatpur and is a part of the Brij area where Lord Krishna spent his early years. It is a place of pilgrimage and is annually visited by a large number of Vaishnavs in the month of Bhadhva as a part of the Banyatara. The ruins of a temple / mosque consisting of 84 pillars named Chaurasi Khamba are the main attraction.

9. DHOLPUR PALACE

Dholpur Palace, better known as Raj Niwas Palace, is a magnificent heritage palace of the 19th century. Lately converted into a heritage hotel, the regal palace has a total of 40 rooms segregated in three different categories depending on the needs of the guests. Surrounded by beautiful peacock gardens, the palace is an ideal weekend getaway destination.