About The Bharatpur in Rajasthan :

Bharatpur has not that much of rich heritage sites, architecturally or even, commercially like the other cities of Rajasthan. But it is the home of more than 380 species of beautiful feathered birds, and this is the reason why visitors want to visit this place time and again. It is situated in the eastern part Rajasthan of India and significant for Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary. The best season to visit is October to February. Here, mainly Hindi and English are spoken. Distance from Agra is 56 km and from New Delhi is 215 km. Brij Festival is the most colorful festival of Bharatpur. It is celebrated prior to the festival of Holi, which marks the beginning of the spring season and end of winters and thus, falls mostly in March.

The villagers wear traditional costumes that are dyed in bright vivacious colors, sing Holi songs and enact Raslila dance that depicts the playful dance of Krishna with 'gopis'. The reenactment and the overall atmosphere of the region during the festival, is full of gaiety and enthusiasm. Everybody, whether young or old, men or women, give in to the boisterous moods of the festival and celebrate with folk melodies and performances, warm and hearty smiles and splashing colors on everybody. Visiting Bharatpur during this time gives you a chance to have first-hand experience of the festival.

Some Tourist Attractions In Bharatpur :

Bharatpur (Keoladeo Ghana) National Park :

The Bharatpur National Park is also known by the name of Keoladeo Ghana. The name Keoladeo is derived from a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva situated in the center of the park. The word Ghana means dense and refers to the thick forest that used to cover the park area at one point of time. The park houses approximately 375 species of exotic birds, both resident as well as migratory. Out of those, almost 132 breeds inhabit the sanctuary. The migratory birds arrive not only from different parts of India, rather, from places as far as Europe, Siberia, China, Tibet, etc. Bharatpur also serves as a habitat to animals like Sambar, Cheetal, Nilgai, Boar, etc.

Bharatpur Palace and Government Museum :

The Bharatpur Palace owes its formation to a number of Maharajas. This beautiful piece of architecture is a blend of the Mughal and Rajput styles. The palace houses a number of apartments, decorated with elaborately designed patterned floor tiles. The main central wing of the palace has now been converted into a museum. The museum exhibits rich collection of artifacts dating back to as far as the 2nd century. On display, is an array of antiquities, exquisite sculptures, ancient inscriptions, etc.

Ganga Mandir (Temple) :

Ganga Mandir is an architectural wonder. Built by Maharaja Balwant Singh in 1845, this temple has a unique story attached to it. It is believed that all the people employed in the service of the state were asked to donate one month's salary or any increment in their salary for the temple. The temple was constructed out of this money only.

Laxman Mandir (Temple) :

Laxman Mandir is dedicated to the younger brother of Lord Rama, Laxman. The doorways, ceilings, pillars, walls and arches of the temple are carved with intricate stonework.

Lohargarh Fort (Iron Fort) :

The focal point behind the construction of the Lohagarh Fort was strength and defense. The fort withstood many attacks by the British. They fort is known not for beauty, rather, for the power and brilliance it exudes. It is unlike any other fort in the state of Rajasthan. Surrounding the fort is a moat, which acted as a form of defense against the enemy attacks. The fort has an Ashtadhatu (eight-metal) gate, adorned with huge elephant paintings. Other attractions of the fort include Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas, Moti Mahal, Kothi Khas, Jawahar Burj, Fateh Burj, etc.

How to Reach Bharatpur :

by Air:The nearest airport is Agra, which is about 54 kms from Bharatpur. Agra has daily flights for Delhi, Bombay, Varanasi (via Khajuraho) and Lucknow.

by Rail:Bharatpur is on the main Delhi - Bombay line with regular connections to Mathura, Sawai Madhopur and Kota on the same route. It is also connected with Agra.

by Road: Bharatpur is well connected by road with Agra, Mathura, Delhi and Jaipur. Regular bus services operate for all major cities. The road distance to important places from Bharatpur are: Agra 55 kms Fatehpur Sikri 22kms Mathura 39kms Delhi 184 kms Jaipur 176 kms Alwar 117 kms.

Travel in Bharatpur:Bharatpur has auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws and tongas. One can also hire bicycles and go around the place, which is quite inexpensive.