Bharatpur

Bharatpur, also known as Eastern Gate of Rajasthan was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733. Bharatpur was once the capital of a kingdom ruled by Jat maharajas and was impregnable, fortified city in Mewat region. Amongst the trio Bharatpur, Deeg and Dholpur this city has played important role in Jat history. It is located 50 km west of the city of Agra.
The place was named as Bharatpur after the name of Bharat, the brother of Lord Rama, whose other brother Laxman was worshipped as the family deity of the Bharatpur. The legends say the rulers Laxman’s name is engraved on the state arms and the seals. The city and the fort have been believed to be founded by Rustam, a Jat of Sogariya clan. Maharaja Suraj Mal took over from Khemkaran, the son of Rustam, and established the empire. He fortified the city by building a massive wall around the city. The city of Bharatpur is 184 km from Delhi and borders with Dausa District in south-west and Alwar District in the North-West. The city is famous for its wildlife sanctuary. Known as the Keoladeo National Park, which is a delight for the bird lovers. During the period of British rule in India, it was known as the Best Duck shooting resort, but in the year 1956, it was declared a bird reserve and later in 1972, it was declared a National Park. The park is named “Keoladeo” after the name of the temple of Lord Shiva in the park. This park has its place among the UNESCO World heritage list since 1985. The park is spread over an area of 29 square km and lies 370 m above the sea level. Much of the area inside the park is bushy, but it also contains semi arid woodland and scrub. Over 50 species of fishes, 5 species of Amphibians, 8 species of lizards, 13 species of snakes,7 species of turtles, 375 species of birds and 27 species of mammals have been found in the park. Important birds that adorn the sanctuary include cranes, storks, spoon bills, white ibis, Cormorant, Darters, Herons,Egrets, geese, ducks, pelicans, flamingos, eagles, vultures, owls, and kingfishers. The crane population in this sanctuary has been continuously decreasing.

History: Bharatpur was ruled by the kings who belonged from Sinsinwar Dynasty and this was an indo-Scythian community that migrated to India during the era of AD100. The city was also ruled by the Jats and before that many notorious groups disturbed the city and even tried to demolish the grave of Akbar which is located in Sikandra as it was again cremated by the Hindus as per their tradition. During the 10th century, the Yadav clan governed Dhaulpur, which had been ruled by the Rajputs earlier and was gifted by the Gohads during a contract between the Marathas and the British.

Dhaulpur was taken over by Sikandar Lodhi in 1501 and thereafter handed over to a Muslim governor in the year 1504. Dhaulpur fort was reined to Babur in 1527 and sustained under Mughal rulers till1707. After the demise of the last Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Raja Kalyan Singh Bhadauria took over the control of Dhaulpur, and his family made it as their official residence till 1761.  According to Bharatpur History, in 1775 Dhaulpur came under rule of the Jat ruler Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur; with the help of Mirza Najaf Khan; along with the Scindia ruler of Gwalior and then it was taken into rule by these kings and was controlled by the British Raj too.

The Indian Rulers: Bharatpur was controlled by many Maharajas and they were some Jats and Rajputs since Gokula and Raja Bachho Singh. Then it was followed by Raja Ram, Churaman , Maharaja Suraj Mal, Maharaja ,Kishan Singh, and Maharaja Bijendra Singh till the independence of India till 1947.

According to the History of Bharatpur the city was not handled much by the Britishers but the Jats and Rajputs ruled it successfully and thus the city has many castes as its population such as Vaishya, Rajputs Brahmans, Gujjars and Sinsinwar jats and that is why when you visit this city you can hear many different languages.

Tourist Attraction:
Bharatpur Palace:

The residence of the Royal family of Bharatpur, Bharatpur Palace showcases the beautiful blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture. Each ruler of Bharatpur has contributed in the construction of this palace. The palace is exquisitely decorated with patterned floors and convoluted designs. This is a massive palace which is known for its immensely beautiful Mughal and Rajput architectural; designs and construction. The palace is made of complete white marble is dated back to the area of 1857. The palace has been converted into a heritage hotel and people can see the lovely ornate designs and experience the warm hospitality here.
Located within the premises of the Bharatpur Palace is Kamra Khas, a museum that contains a vast number of antiques, over 581 stone sculptures, 861 local art and craft wares and ancient scriptures that depict the art and culture typical of Bharatpur. The palace itself was built in stages by various Maharajas and is a fine fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture. The various apartments in the palace have a variety of richly patterned floor tiles decorated with exquisite designs.

Lohagarh Fort: 

Lohagarh Fort is a 18th century fort in Bharatpur built by a jat ruler , Maharaja Suraj Mal. Also known as Iron Fort, it is regarded as one of the best forts among various others and one of the strongest ever built in Indian history. There are number of monuments inside the fort which are Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas. Moti Mahal and towers like Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj were erected to commemorate the victory over the Mughals and the British army You will also fing huge paintings of elephants ove the gateway. The fort stands proudly, as a living testimony to the chivalry and courage of the Jat rulers of Bharatpur.
 Lohagarh Fort Architecture of the two gates in the fort, one in the north is known as Ashtdhaatu (eight metalled) gate while the one facing the south is called Chowburja (four-pillared) gate. Begun by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1732, it was completed only 60 years later (see Maharaja Suraj Mal). The strong point of this once-formidable fort were its thick outer mud walls, which lovingly absorbed all the firing from the Mughal and British armies. The cannon balls would sink into the mud, only to be collected later and fired back at the enemy! These terrific walls were about 7km in length and took as many as eight years to complete. The main entrance to this grand fort is the Ashtadhatu Gate. Ashtadhatu means ‘eight metals’, for the spikes on this edifice are made of eight different metals. This north-facing imposing gateway with huge rounded bastions and paintings of war elephants carries a unique history.

Deeg Palace:

Deeg Palace in Bharatpur used to be the summer resort of Bharatpur Kings. Built in 1772 by King Suraj Mal , Deeg Palace is built with the blend of rajput and mughal architecture. The design of the gardens has been inspired by the Mughal Charbagh. The palace forms a quadrangle with a garden and walkways at its centre. Decorative flowerbeds, shrubs, trees and fountains cool the place considerably during summer. It is one of the famous tourist destination in Bharatpur.
The architecture of Deeg is mainly represented by the mansions called the Bhawans popularly known as Gopal Bhawan, Suraj Bhawan, Kishan Bhawan, Nand Bhawan, Keshav Bhawan, Hardev Bhawan. The striking features of these palaces are balanced outlines, fine proportions, commodious halls, attractive and logically disposed arcades, alluring greenery, charming tanks and canals with fountains. The layout of Deeg gardens is based on formality of the Mughal Char bagh or four fold garden patterns and flanked by two reservoirs called namely Rup Sagar and Gopal Sagar.

The architecture is primarily of trabeate order, but the use of arcuate system has also been made in certain instances. Mostly the arcades are of a decorative quality as each arch is formed by joining spandrel shaped slab cantivelers projecting from the pillars. The general features of this style are engrailed arches resting on ornate pillars, hypostylar halls flat roof terraces, balconies and pavilions with Bengal roofs, double eaves, moderate structural heights and spacious internal arrangements.

Government Museum:

Bharatpur Government Museum is one of the major tourist attractions in Bharatpur and people can see many beautiful sculptures and artifacts in this museum that is dated back to the 2nd century.The museum is located in the Lohargarh fort, and there is an art gallery in the museum which exhibits miniature paintings on leaves of banyan tree and on old lithos papers, stone sculptures, inscriptions, terracotta items, metallic objects, coins, weapons etc.
Collections of the Musuem-Within the Government Museum, there are a number of tourist attractions as well. The Kamra Khas of the fort after being transformed into museum displays an exquisite collection of antiques, sculptures and a number of ancient inscriptions. The central wing of the museum also provides an enriching experience as well. It displays a wide collection that dates back to the 2nd century. Witnessing the collection will be a worthy experience as it will give you a perfect demonstration of the art and skill of the region. The museum also possesses sculptures that were found after the excavation of villages like Bayana, Bareh and Mailah. Witnessing these sculptures are also a great experience for the tourists these sculptures dates back to Kuslian period. The various artifacts, inscriptions boast immense historical value and helps in making Government Museum one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bharatpur.

It is quite obvious that a museum possessing such a wide variety of historically significant collection will end up attracting a large number of tourists. Moreover, the visit to the museum will also let you get a clear idea about the royal past of the region. Hence, if you are planning for a visit to Bharatpur then you must make sure that you pay a visit to the Government Museum or else you will be missing something big.

Ganga Maharani Temple:

One of the most beautiful temples of Bharatpur, Ganga Maharani Temple was built back in 1845 by the ruler of the city, Maharaja Balwant Singh. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Ganga. The temple has a huge idol of Goddess Ganga with a large image of a crocodile. Holy Ganga Water is distributed to all the devotees as Prasad. The temple is known to signify the purity and holiness of Maa Ganga.

The temple has two entrance gates, while Lord Krishna stands holding the mountain of Giri Raj on one side; there are statues of Laxmi Narayan ji and Shiva Parvati on the other gate. The temple is considered immensely sacred and people from all over the country visit the temple to seek the blessings of Maa Ganga.

The temple is remarkable for its beautiful architecture. Ganga Maharani Temple features a unique mix of South Indian, Mughal and Rajputana form of architecture. The walls and pillars of the temple are decorated with beautiful carvings. The temple is mostly visited during the time of festivals like Gangashaptami and Ganga Dusshera. During this time, the temple is decorated with beautiful lights which make it more colorful and alluring.
Architecture of Temple- This two storeyed temple is a happy mix of various tiles of architecture and a rare one from the architectural point of view. Artistic carving work has been done on pillars and temple panels. On the main gate on one side is a statue of Lord Krishna holding the Giri Raj Mountain in his hand while on the other side are Shiva Parvati and Laxmi Narayanji. As a special feature of the temple is that the king and queen could have first sight of Ganga Maharani and even today a window in their royal palace opens exactly towards the temple of Shri Gangaji and the darshan of Shri Ganga can be held by the king or the queen.

Laxman Mandir:

Laxman Mandir is located at center of Bharatpur City in Rajasthan. The principal deities enshrined are Laxmanji and Urmila ji, but in addition to them other small idols of Ram, Bharat, Shtrughan and Hanuman are also installed . All these idols are of Astadhatu. The variety of sculptural work and architecture of the temple is unique. The front portion of the Jagmohan form top to bottom is decorated with relief features, floral patterns and birds. Similarly, the ceiling of the Jagmohan is not less in beauty. This also is a wonderful creation of sculpture. Since the temple stands at the heart of the City of Bharatpur, there is always a crowd of visitors present. The temple was built by Naaga Baba, a sage who worked all his life for the upliftment of mankind. A number of devotees visit the temple every year to seek the blessings of Laxman, the brother of Lord Rama of Hindu epic Ramayana.

Believed to be 400 years old, the temple features Rajasthani style of architecture and is entirely built of sandstone and white marble. People from across the country visit the temple to witness the intricate and beautiful architecture of the temple.

There is another Laxman temple next to this 400 years old temple. The temple was set up by the founder of the city, Maharaja Baldev Singh. He wanted to win every battle that he fought. For fulfilling this desire, he constructed the Laxman temple in Bharatpur and prayed to Lord Laxman daily. The temple displays beautiful architecture which makes it a major tourist attraction of Bharatpur.

Banke Bihari Temple:

One of the most popular temples in Bharatpur, Banke Bihari temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna who is also called Banke Bihari by his devotees. Spread in a vast land area, this temple has an architecture that is inspired from the very popular Banke Bihari temple of Vrindavan. In the main hall, captivating idols of Lord Krishan and his companion Radha can be seen.

These idols are dressed beautifully and are adorned with attractive jewellery. There is verandah outside this hall and its walls and ceiling are adorned with beautiful paintings reflecting the childhood events of the life of the Lord. The premises of Banke Bihari Temple Bharatpur enlivens with the chants of hundreds of Lord Krishna’s devotees who come here during morning and evening Aarti.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary:

Keoladeo National Park, also called the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Rajasthan. This bird sanctuary is recognized as one of the most important bird breeding and feeding grounds in the world. Playing a host to thousands of exotic species of birds, the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the finest in the world. This manmade sanctuary and wetland is located in the Bharatpur region of Rajasthan.

The sanctuary offers a natural habitat to more than 370 species of birds that include a rich assortment of water fowls and land birds like basking pythons, painted storks, deer and nilgai, besides others.  Its history dates back to 18th century, when the park was a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Bharatpur. Being renowned as a UNESCO world heritage site in the modern times, the bird sanctuary is one of the most popular attractions in Rajasthan. In order to watch the best of the flock, it is advised that one must plan a visit to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary between the months of October and February. It is during these months the migratory birds like the rare Siberian Crane make a raid over the skies of Bharatpur sanctuary. For the convenience of tourists, the sanctuary authorities have provided comfortable accommodations in the natural habitat. The ITDC Bharatpur Forest Lodge, which is located inside the sanctuary, is one such option.

Fair and Festival: 

Bharatpur is one of the states in Rajasthan which is founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal. The state was founded in 1733, which is situated in the Brij region. Bharatpur was previously a walled city. It was also the capital of the Jats. The kingdom was ruled by Sinsinwar Maharajas. The states of Bharatpur, Dholpur and Deeg played an important role in the history of Rajasthan. Many fairs and festivals are held in the region, which are pretty famous. Brij Festival Bharatpur is one such festival which is also celebrated with much pomp and show. The festival is held during the month of March. It is celebrated a few days ahead before holi. This festival is also held in a grand, elaborate and colorful manner. Lord Krishna is worshipped during this festival. Various types of cultural festivals are also held. Bharatpur comes alive during this festival, the spirit of which can be felt. When you visit Brij festival of Bharatpur, you can see people are brightly dressed. Men and women mostly wear colorful dresses and sings songs. One of the unique features of this festival is the Raslila Dance. In this dance, the entire love story of Radha and Krishna is shown. Men and women wear colorful dresses, depicting Radha and Krishna, and their associates. They also splash color on each other, which is pretty famous. Tourists from far and wide visit this festival. This festival is also a festival of color, where people eat, drink and is at their merry self. Tourists who visit Brij festival in Baharatpur also take part in this festivity, which signifies the eternal love of Lord Krishna. The entire region looks colorful and the whole region gets immersed in the festive spirit.

City Shopping, Bharatpur:

Although Bharatpur is famous for its national park, there are various shops around the city to satiate the shopaholic in you. Popular items include intricately carved jewellery of precious and semi-precious stones, handicrafts, marble carvings, brass work, antiques and Jaipur textiles.

The colourful Jaipur handlooms, especially bandhej materials for saree and suit are so attractive that you can't help but purchase a few sets. The kundans, precious and semi precious stones studded jewewllery represents the ageless Rajasthani art and culture. Apart from these apparels and fabrics, Bharatpur also offers antiques and intricately done marble and brass carvings which never fail to astonish with their beauty.
Main Markets: Mathura Gate is a popular bazaar in Bharatpur; where you can find traditional Rajasthani costumes and jewellery. The merchandises are fairly priced. Next is Chaurburja Bazaar, which is extremely crowded. You can find some clothes, shoes, marble carvings and antiques and thereby giving you an opportunity to experience the rusticity of the city as well as catering to your shopping desires.

How to Reach:

Bharatpur Location - Bharatpur is located at a distance of 55 kms from Agra, 39 kms from Mathura, 176 kms from Alwar, 186 kms from Delhi and184 kms from Jaipur.
By Air : The nearest airport is at Agra Airport and has flights for Delhi, Bombay, Varanasi and Lucknow.


By Train : The nearest railway station is at Agra. Bharatpur is also connected to Mathura, Sawai Madhopur and Kota by the main Delhi – Bombay line.



By Road : Bharatpur is well connected by road with Agra, Delhi, Mathura and Jaipur. There are regular bus services that operate for all major cities.