Bharatpur Tripadvisor

Bharatpur dates back to 5th century BC, when the Matsya kingdom flourished here. The Matsyas were allies of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata war. Legends say that the origin of the name Bharatpur is traced to Bharat, younger brother of Lord Ram. Laxman, the other brother, was given the most prestigious position as that of the family deity of the ruling family of Bharatpur. His name also appears in the state seals and coat-of-arms. In the early 18th century, Maharaja Suraj Mal captured the fort of Bharatpur by vanquishing Khemkaran, the rival chieftain and laid the foundation for Bharatpur. The valiant Maharaja was very keen to expand the cities and is credited with building the numerous forts and palaces that dot the kingdom, including the Pleasure Palace Complex at Deeg.

Bharatpur is also home to one of the world's best-known bird watching destinations, Keoladeo Ghana National Park (KNP). 250 years ago, the then ruler built embankments that allowed flooding of this land, turning it into a marsh. Named after the dense jungle that surrounded an old Shiva Temple, this 29 square kilometre man-made wetland is renowned for migratory birds – ducks, geese, waders, raptors, flycatchers and more. In winter, avid birders and ornithologists flock to the park to observe and study the feathered beauties. With more than 370 recorded species, KNP used to also host the Siberian crane. It is a World Heritage Site.

What To See

The Bird Paradise :
Bharatpur is best known for Keoladeo Ghana National Park popularly called as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Bharatpur lies between north India's historic cities of Agra and Jaipur. Located in northwestern part of Rajasthan, Bharatpur is at a distance of 190 kms from the national capital of Delhi.

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.