BHARATPUR Location : 185 km SE of Delhi, 175 km from Jaipur Renowned As : Ornithologist's Paradise Must Visit : Lohagarh, Bharatpur Sanctuary, Deeg Fort Best Time To Visit : October-February

(Keoladeo National Park) Churu

Jaipur Dholpur

Deeg

Bharatpur Tourism - Watch The Birds Sit on The Ancient Pages of History

Adorn yourself with a cap on the head and wear a pair of hunting boots, take a binocular, and start walking. The birds flying above your head will guide you to the most prestigious habitat of the avian species. Bharatpur. Nestling at 185 km south-east of Delhi, a visit to this gateway to the bird-watcher's paradise at Keoladeo, is a lifetime experience. And not only that. The trivial town of Bharatpur is a pleasure in itself. Dotted by numerous forts and palaces all over the terrain and vicinity, Bharatpur bird attraction surely enchants every visitor with its rural air of cordiality. Enjoy a glass of tea near Deeg fort, experience luxury at its best at Laxmi Vilas Palace, and then move out to gather colourful feathers of migratory avians that gather with the fall of winter. Imagine, what a holiday it would be!

Explore The Charms of The City - Bharatpur Attractions

Once the seat of power of the Rajasthani Jats, Bharatpur was once surrounded by an 11-km long wall (now demolished) which acted as the first line of defence. The Jats maintained a high degree of autonomy, both because of their prowess in battle and their chiefs' marriage alliances with Rajput nobility. You can very well feel their valour after a visit to Lohagarh or the Iron Fort, that dominates the skyline of this beautiful town. Displaying a flamboyant amalgamation of Mughal and Rajput architecture, the most famous attraction of Bharatpur is this colossal fort took its name from its supposedly impregnable defences. Enter through the 'Ashtadhatu Gate' and you will be amazed to see the spikes perching high on the apex, said to be made of eight different metals! You might have heard that 'action speaks louder than words', the Jats, they whole-heartedly believed in this hypothesis. As a fruit of their pride, today you can see two exquisite towers (Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj) embellishing the ramparts of this grand monument.

Take a tour of Bharatpur and visit the Iron Fort, but don't forget to step inside the Government Museum, housed in the former darbar (maharaja's meeting hall). At places, the museum is poorly lit, but that adds to the enchantment, you feel like you have been escorted to completely newer worls where the archaic memorabilia comes to life. See the grand display of ethereal sculptures which spans the ages, some pieces even dating back to 2nd century AD! Remember to see the 10th century fine carving of Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer. After such a rendezvous with history, you surely would like to spend some time with yourself. Enjoy a five minute walk to Nehru Park located betwen the Museum and the Astadhatu Gate. Relax for sometime sitting on the pleasant lawns and looking squirrels play nearby.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary - Bird Watcher's Delight

Bharatpur Tourism will ring you the most delightful attraction of the town - Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Reputed to be listed among the top World Heritage Bird Sanctuaries, Bharatpur National Park lies 5 km from the train station. Many travellers rate this beautiful bird park as a highlight of their visit to India and if by any chance you are a bird freak, you should spend atleast a few days here. To extract the best from this avian paradise, divide your trips over the different times of the day. First experience the early-morning birdlife and melodious bird songs (larks, thrushes, warblers, kingfishers); take in spectacular sightings of large flocks of waterbirds in broad daylight (ducks, geese, pelicans, flamingos, painted storks, herons); and catch the elusive birds at dusk (night herons, bitterns and owls). You only need three things to experience the extravaganza; binoculars, patience and a copy of Dr. Salim Ali's 'Birds of Bharatpur - a Checklist'.

Excursion from Bharatpur - Deeg Town, A Repertoire of Rural Relics

Very few travellers ever make it to Deeg, about 36 km north of Bharatpur town, on their vacation trip. This is a big mistake, because this small town with its massive fortifications, stunningly beautiful palace and bustling market is much more interesting than the famous Bharatpur town. Deeg was once the second capital of the state of Bharatpur and it was at this town that Raja Suraj Mal defeated a combined Mughal and Maratha army of some 80,000 men! Inspired with his victory, he attacked the Red Fort in Delhi eight years later and carried away an entire marble building that can be seen in Deeg today! Enjoy a chat with the caretaker who will tell you many interesting stories, including how the Maharaja carried away a huge, black stone bed from Delhi for his queen, only to realise later that it was a platform on which dead bodies were prepared for burial.

Drive Your Way - Reaching Bharatpur

Bharatpur is an easy side trip from Jaipur (175 km away), but you can afford a direct excursion from Delhi or Agra. One can get a direct bus service from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi or you may drive on a good ^-lane highway drive on NH 2 till Mathura via Kosi Kalan where you can halt at Dabchick Resort for mild refreshments. Tongas and Cycle-rickshaws are the best options available for local commutation within the city. It is essential to have a good guide to show you around the massive bird sanctuary. They will tell you the names of the birds, absolutely correctly, and they are so sharp-visioned that you wonder if they have built in binoculars! For more tourist related information, you can contact RTDC Office, Bikaner House at Pandara Road, New Delhi.

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