India Tourism » Travel to Bharatpur

As with all other places of Rajasthan, Bharatpur's track record in the history is also long and important. But the person singularly responsible for Bharatpur's claim to fame is undoubtedly its Raja Surajmal Jat. For without his creative passions, the World Heritage Bharatapur National Park could not be there on the map, nor would there be the stunning palaces of Deeg and the impregnable Lohagarh fort. Bharatpur was the only Jat kingdom of its times and its rulers had the guts to face the invincible Mughal armies. They looted them and had even thwarted British attacks!

The biggest reason to visit Bharatpur is definitely its bird sanctuary known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park. The park was artificially constructed by Raja Surajmal Jat to give him perennial supply of waterfowls to shoot. An exclusive dam was constructed and several channels were made to control the water flow into the park so that a perfect shallow marshland could always be maintained. With time this conducive protected environment has resulted in the park becoming home to more than 354 species of birds! Many of the birds are migratory such as the rare Siberian cranes. Other prominent bird species of the park are the painted storks, Indian Saras, moorhens, egrets, herons, robins, wagtails and myenas.Deeg water Palace - One of the several unique creations by Raja Surajmal Jat There are a good variety of animals too like the deer, jackals, jungle cats, mongoose, hare, blackbucks and pythons.

The park has a good network of roads leading inside; the best way to visit is by quiet cycle-rickshaws. For closer looks, boats can be hired.

Deeg: Hardly 35 kilometers from Bharatpur town is Deeg, famous for its water palaces. Perhaps, the king was very fond of monsoons; he had tried to create the magic of the monsoons through extensive use of multicolored fountains all around the palace. It is said that there are more than 2000 fountains which when operated together created the sounds of rains and even thunderstorms! The inside of the beautiful palace called Gopal Bhawan is also replete with this theme. The palace complex is surrounded by water on three sides and even houses a marble building looted from the Mughal fort in Delhi.