Places of
Interest in Bharatpur
==========================
KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK
A paradise for the avian
world, and the pilgrimage for the bird lovers, it was
known as the best duck shooting resort in the British
empire. But was declared a reserve for birds in 1956 and
later upgraded to National Park. UNESCO has listed it as
a world heritage site.
The geographical location is
ideal as it is on the main North - South avian route of
India. Although small in size, 29 sq. km. only, it
boasts to house more than 375 species of beautiful
birds, and more than 132 of them breed inside the
Keoladeo Ghana National Park and nearly every year new
ones are added to the list. The sanctuary not only
attracts birds from India but also from places like
Europe, Siberia, China and Tibet.
Before mansoon hundreds
of these exotic birds roost and nest building activities
start on the babool and kadam trees of the park. Water
coming through the Ajan Bandh starts filling the various
ponds and lakes of the Park. When assured of enough
food, hundreds of large, medium and little cormorant,
darter, purple and Grey heron, various species of egret,
painted, open-billed, white necked and black necked
stork, white ibis, spoonbill, night heron and other
birds get busy in courting and mating. The trees are
over flowed with nests, one can observe a tree housing
nests upto fifties and sixties in number belonging to
different species of birds looking after their loving
young ones. The nests on the trees look like pearl
necklaces.
Gracious Saras cranes,
the tallest flight birds nest in exposed and open area,
both partners share the duty of hatching, while chanting
incubating duties, they come together, raise their
neckand give out shrill trumpetic calls in unison and at
the same time fan their feathers. The newly born chicks
are only 10 cm. in size but grows upto one meter in
height within a year.
As the monsoons arrive
birds from every part of the country start pouring into
the park. Migratory water-fowls, including the pride of
Keoladeo Siberian Cranes form the indispensable part of
Park. The water-fowls visit the park in millions during
the month of October. The most noticeable water-fowl
coming to the park are barheaded and greyleg geese. The
ducks spotted here are pintail, common teal, ruddy
shelduck, mallard, widgeon, shoveler,common shelduck,
red crested pochard, gadwall etc. predatory birds like
imperial eagle, steppe and tawny eagle spotted eagle,
marsh harrier and laggar falcon are attracted towards
the park completing the avian food chain of the
ecosystem. Some of them like short-toed eagle, lesser
spotted eagle and shikra are the residents of Park.
About 11 sq. km. area of
the park is covered with water the remaining portion is
rich with Kingfisher, Red Vented and white cheeked
Bulbuls, Babblers, Quails, Partridges, Sunbirds,
Sparrows and Parakeets which live in bushes and burrows.
The year round activity of the winged beauties has made
the park a pilgrimage for bird lovers and an
omithologists delight.
The animal populace also
show their presence although they are thoroughly
dominated by feathers, wings and beaks. The animals
include the Black Buck, Sambhar - the largest Indian
Antelope, Spotted deer, and Nigais. Pythons can also be
observed at some places lazing in the sun.
Vehicles are only
permitted upto Shanti Kutir inside the park. The Electra
Van of forest department can be engaged in the
sanctuary, although the best way to explore the park is
on foot or bicycles which are available on hire. Cycle
rickshaws can also be hired.
LOHAGARH FORT OR THE 'IRON FORT'
The Lohagarh Fort, true to
its name stood solidly in front of many British attacks,
and frustrated them to ends. It faced the British
onslaught four times and after a long siege they had to
withdraw, but Lord Lake, however was successful in
capturing it in 1804.
It is very different from
the other forts in state, there is no flamboyance
associated to fort but it generates an aura of strength
and magnificence. The fort is surrounded with moat which
was previously filled with water to ward off the enemy
attacks. The sandy ramparts were strengthened by sandy
battlements, thus the enemy guns proved of no avail.
Some interesting monuments
in the fort 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 . The Gateway has paintings
of huge elephants.
GOVERNMENT MUSEUM
The
building Kamra Khas within the fort has been converted
into a museum, displaying a rich collection of
antiquaries, exquisite sculptures and some ancient
inscriptions. The sculptures speak volumes about the art
of a by gone era and culture typical of this area. The
inscriptions are of immense historical vault and helps
in tracing back the royal lineage as well as the local
life.
Timings :
10 AM to 4 PM
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
patterned floor tiles with exquisite intricate designs.
The museum occupies the main central wing depicting
collections dating back to 2nd century, which reflect
the art and skill of the region.
DEEG
(34 km.)
North of
Bharatpur is this beautiful garden town, the gardens
have been laid with great care and precision, the
sparkling fountains and meticulous palaces add to he
beauty of this idyllic retreat of the princes of
Bharatpur. The tourist enjoy the charming settings of
this agricultural town,along with the well preserved
palace pavilions and gardens.
Some very interesting
buildings can be observed like:
GOPAL BHAVAN
Completed in 1760, an
imaginatively designed building complex with beautifully
laid gardens at its entrance and the rear overlooks the
Gopal Sagar which is flanked with smaller pavilions
Sawan and Bhadon.
The formal gardens face a
raised terrace with an arch of lustrous marble installed
on a pedestal in the form of swing. This exquisite swing
is a war trophy brought in by the famous Jat king Raja
Suraj Mal from the Mughal court in Delhi.
The spacious and well
proportioned Banquet Hall has a double row of graceful
pillars. The rear of the chamber is further divided by a
charming sunken pool with fountains. The Banquet hall
houses a rich collection of curios, souvenirs and
Victorian furniture. Staircases wind upstairs to the
upper floors. One room contains a solid black marble bed
from Delhi.
BENGAL CHAMBER
It houses the dining
room, and has sloping arches, with comfortable cushions
along the outer edges forming the seating area. The
walls of the royal Chess Room has trellis design and are
painted in soft red.
SURAJ BHAVAN
To the east of the main
building, this palace has balconies overhanging the
water. The entire palace in marble is like an airy
pavilion with fine ornamentation within the apartments.
NAND BHAVAN
It is a larage audience
hall. KRISHNA BHAVAN, and the ingeniously designed water
works of KESHAV BHAVAN, with open twelve pillared
pavilion are of great interest.
PURANA MAHAL
It is the oldest palace,
planned as a spacious rectangle encircled by
compartments and chamber, it has a collection of some
very fine Rajput and Mughal schools.
DEEG FORT
The fort stands
majestically over a slightly elevated point, built by
Raga Suraj Mal. The fort is surrounded by impressive
moats, armpits and gateways, the interiors are mostly in
ruins now, but the watch tower still stands in the ruins
keeping an eye over the City and Palace; over it is
placed a gun captured from Agra fort. Another defunct
cannon which was captured from Ahmad Shah Abdali(1761),
who seized the fort for six months, guards a vantage
Excursions
near Bharatpur
======================
Delhi - Agra - Jaipur
How to reach
Bharatpur
====================
Bharatpur is connected to all the major Indian cities by
train. Buses, taxis and other coaches are available from
Delhi, Mumbai, Jodhpur, Udaipur and all the other major
cities.
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General Information
Area: 27,000 sq. kms
Altitude: 237 meters
Climate: Max șC Min. șC
Summer: 48 28
Winter: 22 4
Rainfall: 26-46 cm.
Best season: Oct-March
Distance
from major cities in kms
Agra
55 kms.
Jaipur 185 kms.
Mumbai 1,207 kms.
Delhi 258 kms.
Jodhpur 331 kms.
Kota 242 kms |
How to get
here |
|
Bharatpur
is accessible by road from Agra (55 km. or
34 miles) and Jaipur ( 185 km. or 115miles).
It is 1,207 km. (750 miles) from Mumbai on
the broad-gauge line of the Western Railway.
All
important places of Bharatpur are connected
by roads. In the district, total length of
roads is 1994.4 km. In the district 317
village panchayat and 911 villages are
connected by roads and 60 village panchayat
, 828 villages are to be connected. |
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What to
see |
Architectural wealth of Bikaner lies in its
forts, palaces and temples. Areas of
interest are Junagarh Fort, Lallgarh Palace,
Gajner Palace, Karni Mata temple (Deshnok),
Kolayat, Kodamdesar, Bhandasar Jain temple .
Festive Fun:
Teej, also known
as the festival of Swings (a reference to
the flower-bedecked swings which are erected
at this time), celebrates the onset of the
monsoon and is held in honour of the
marriage of Shiva and Parvati. It is
celebrated with particular fervour in Jaipur
Gangaur Festival : April
Kolayat Fair : November
Holi : March |
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Where to
stay |
Bharatpur provides a wide range of hotels
options varying from high end heritage
hotels to lower end budget accommodations.
Click for more information:
Click Here
For More Hotels Information |
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