Bharatpur
general information
Bharatpur was the premier Jat state
in Rajasthan, Dholpur being the other one.
In a sense Bharatpur is the legacy of Churaman,
a Jat overlord whose forces were a source
of constant irritation to the Mughals in the
late 17th century. The Mughals retaliated
by destroying Jat villages. The Jats later
regrouped under Badan singh who firmly entrenched
himself in a belt along the river Jamuna between
Delhi and Agra.
Bharatpur is popular for its bird sanctuary.
Situated near the Keoladeo Ghana National
Park, Bharatpur is a wonderful place to view
the rarest of rare species of birds. Just
55 km by road from Agra, Bharatpur is the
eastern gateway to Rajasthan. The city is
also popular for the rare Siberian cranes
that come here to spend their winters in the
warmer climate of Bharatpur.
Sightseeing
of Bharatpur
Keoladeo Ghana National Park :
or Bharatpur National Park is just
outside Bharatpur city lies this small,
but amazingly rich bird sanctuary, considered
to be one of the world's outstanding heronries.
Perhaps no other bird sanctuary in the world
offers so many different species within
so small a compass, creating a uniquely
rewarding bird watching experience. The
park originally called Ghana meaning "dense"
takes its name from the ancient temple of
Keoladeo, or Lord Shiva that you will find
inside it. The new ecosystem that emerged
became an ideal habitat for birds of all
kinds.
Bharatpur national park supports a population
of 375 species of birds, numerous mammals
and reptiles. With the onset of winter,
migratory birds from all over world come
here. They arrive by August and leave in
February. Visitors include Coot Snipes,
Spanish Sparrow, Red Crested Porhard, Rosy
Pelican and Flamingo. The special attraction,
however, remains the arrival of the rare
Siberian Crane. Bharatpur wildlife sanctuary
is also rich in Pythons, Spotted Deer, Sambhars,
Blue Bull, Black Buck, Jackals, Otters,
Fishing Cats, Monitor Lizards.
Government Museum : A rich
collection of artefacts exquisitely carved
sculptures and ancient inscriptions can
be admired in the Government Museum located
in the palace. 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 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 : Built by various
Maharajas, the royal monument is a brilliant
blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture.
The magnificient apartments within have
patterend floors tiles with exquisite intricate
designs. The main central wing houses the
museum which has a rich collection of beautiful
sculptures, ancient inscriptions and other
exhibits which reflect the art and skill
of the region.
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Climate
and Best time to visit Bharatpur
Summers are invariably hot and winters are
not very cold. Carry light cottons during
summers and woollens during winters. Rainfall
is less but sufficient.
The Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary
is open throughout the year. August-October
is the breeding season, so the birds are best
left alone then. The best season for visiting
this place is between October to February
when the migratory birds come to visit this
park from all over the globe.
How
to reach Bharatpur ?
By Air : Indian Airlines
operates flights from Jodhpur to Delhi, Udaipur,
Jaisalmer, Jaipur and Mumbai.
By Train : Bharatpur is
connected with some major tourist cities like
Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Kota, Bikaner, Ahmedabad
and Delhi by rail lines.
By Road : Good road network
connects Bharatpur from Agra, Delhi, Jaipur,
Jodhpur to Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaisalmer and Ahmedabad.
Some important distance from Bharatpur
:
Ajmer : 200 kms
Bikaner : 243 kms
Jaipur : 331 kms
Jaisalmer : 308 kms
Udaipur : 266 kms
Kota : 379 kms