Location : 32 km From Deeg, Rajasthan
Founded In : 1733 AD
Tourist Attractions : Keoladeo National Park, Lohagarh Fort
Best Time To Visit : October To February

Bharatpur - the Eastern Gateway to Rajasthan, was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733 AD, it was once an impregnable well fortified city, carved out of the region formerly known as Mewat. The trio of Bharatpur, Deeg and Dholpur has played an important part in the history of Rajasthan.

Bharatpur, an impregnable fortified city is today famous for the nearby Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary. Once the shooting preserve of royalty, it is perhaps the most spectacular water-bird sanctuary in India.

Deeg was the summer residence of the royals. It's beautiful buildings are set around a formal garden, on the edge of a large lake. In mid monsoon, there is a large fair, during which time the large network of fountains in the gardens and palaces are opened up for the public pleasure.

Major Attractions of Bharatpur
Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) : The Keoladeo Ghana National Park or-as many people prefer to call it-the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary lies between two of India's most historic cities, Agra and Jaipur. This north Indian sanctuary is situated in the country's northwestern state of Rajasthan, about 190 km from the national capital of Delhi. The name 'Keoladeo' is derived from the name of an ancient Hindu temple devoted to Lord Shiva in the sanctuary's central zone while the Hindi term 'Ghana' implies dense, thick areas of forest cover.

Government Museum : 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.

Lohargarh Fort : The Fort was designed and constructed by Maharaja Suraj Mal in the 18th century to withstand the attacks of the British powers at that time. The fort encloses three palaces within its precincts - Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas. It is also known as the Iron Fort, and occupies an entire small artificial island. The main entrance to the Fort is through the Astadhatu gate.

Jawahar Burg And Fateh Burg : These monuments inside the fort were built by Surajmal to commemorate the victory over Mughals and British. The monuments reflecting in the glory of past are worth visiting.

The Palace : It is a fine blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture, built in various phases by different Maharajas. The magnificent apartments are richly decorated with patterened floor tiles with exquisite intricate designs. The museum occupies the main central wing depicting sollections dating back to 2nd century, which relflect the art and skill of the region.

Best time to visit Bharatpur
The temperature ranges from 38°C to a maximum of 45°C during the summer which spreads from from April to June. In the winters, after Christmas, temperature start falling below 10°C. The place can be visited all round the year.

How to Get there
Air : Agra which is 56 kms away from Bharatpur and is the nearest airport while the International Airport lies at Delhi.

Rail : Regular trains connect Bharatpur with several cities on the Delhi-Mumbai trunk route, as well as to Jaipur and Agra.

Road : A good network of bus services links Bharatpur with several cities within and outside the state of Rajasthan.