Bharatpur

Geography

Bharatpur lies at the confluence of the Ruparel and Banganga rivers, at an altitude of 250 meters. t is equidistant from both Delhi and Jaipur at 176 km and is best known for its bird sanctuary-the Keoladeo Ghana National Park - finest in Asia 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 remains the marvellous Bharatpur Palace housing a rich repository of a large number of ancient exhibit that date back to the early 15th century.
Well connected with three most important tourist destinations of India, namely Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, it holds an important place in the Indian history.

History

Maharaja Suraj Mal founded the city of Bharatpur in 1733 AD. Once an unassailable and well-equipped city, it was carved out of the region previously known as Mewat. Suraj Mal seized the fort of Bharatpur from Khemkaran, the rival chief. Even in the time of political crisis, Suraj Mal made a name and position for himself and went from one accomplishment to another. A number of forts and palaces were built by him throughout the territory.
This siege eventually led to the signing of the first treaty of friendship between the Indian states of northwest India and the East India Company. Of the remnants of the royal past, remains the marvelous Bharatpur Palace, housing a rich repository of ancient exhibits dating back to the early 15th century.

Bharatpur Attraction

Keoladev National Park : One of the finest sanctuaries in the world, inundated with over 400 species of water birds, it is a paradise for avian world. Renowned for its World Heritage listed bird sanctuary, it was once the hunting estate of the Maharajas, with daily shoots recorded upto 4,000 birds. It was also known, as the best duck shooting resort in the British Empire, but was declared a reserve for birds in 1956 and later upgraded to a National Park. The geographical location is ideal, as it is on the main North-South avian route of India. The kingfishers, pelicans, Siberian cranes, open billed storks, painted bill storks, egret, ibis, cormorant, darter or snake bird, spoonbill and the grey herons are some of the exotic species. Plenty of ducks species and predatory birds are attracted towards the park, completing the avian food chain of the ecosystem. Exotic migratory birds come here in July/Aug, to spend the winters in the warmer climate and they breed till Oct/Nov. Vehicles are only permitted unto Shanti Kutir inside the park. The Electra, of the forest department, can be engaged in the sanctuary.

Lohagarh Fort : The Lohagarh or the Iron Fort remained invincible to many British attacks. The massive iron structure, built in the early 18th century, is very different from the other forts in the state, as there is no flamboyance associated with this fort but generates an aura of strength and magnificence. Some interesting monuments in the fort are Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas. The Government Museum within the fort has a rich collection of antiquities, exquisite sculptures and some ancient inscriptions. These are of immense historical value, and the royal lineage as well as the record of local life of the bygone era, can be traced back.

Government Museum : A rich collection of artefacts, exquisitely carved sculptures and ancient inscriptions can be admired in the Government Museum located in the Palaces. All these items speak volumes about the rich heritage, art and crafts of the region.

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 Palace :This royal edifice is a fusion of the Mughal and Rajpat 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 centeral part of the palaceRajput King, Raja Man Singh.

Bhartpur Climate

From being quite hot in summers to cold in winters, Bharatpur weather experiences quite variations. In the summer season, the average temperature escalates to a range as high as 38° C to 45° C, approximately. Monsoons bring some respite from these extreme climatic conditions of Bharatpur, Rajasthan. The average temperature falls down to about 27° C, with humidity hovering around 70% to 75%. Bharatpur experiences cold winter, where the average temperature drops to, as low as, even 10° C. Fog and mist is a normal feature of the climate of Bharatpur during the month of January

How To Reach Bharatpur

Flight : Agra at 55 km is the nearest airport and is connected to Delhi

Train : Regular rail services connect Bharatpur with several cities on Delhi-Mumbai trunk route, Jaipur and Agra.

Road : Bharatpur is connected to Agra, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. The Rajasthan State Roadways connects it to various cities within the state.