‘Eastern gateway to Rajasthan, Bharatpur’s history dates back to the time of Mahabharata. Matsya dynasty, the followers of the Pandavas flourished here in the 5th century BC. The city was named after the younger brother of Lord Ram, Bharat. The home of Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur is divided into 50 wards and falls under the Braj region of India.

In the 18th century, Maharaja Suraj Mal,the adopted son of Raja Badan Singh founded this city and decorated it with numerous forts and palaces. Travelers around the globe visit this city to witness the various historical attraction of Bharatpur.

1.  Bharatpur Palace and Museum

This Rajput and Mughal architectural monument is one of the best places to visit in Bharatpur. This palace reflects the royalty, grandness and the rich culture of Rajasthan. Apart from the rich patterned floor, decorated walls and the glamorous apartments this palace also houses a museum inside it.

The Kamra Khas museum has numerous artifacts related with Bharatpur’s past. With 581 stone sculptures, more than 860 pieces of local art and craft this museum has become one of the well-stocked museum of Rajasthan.

2.  Government Museum Bharatpur

Located inside the historical Lohagarh fort, Government museum of Bharatpur consists precious archaeological wealth of the nearby places. In 1944 AD The Kachahri Kalan building of Maharaja Balwant Singh was converted into this museum, later on Kamra Khas (personal chamber) was also added to this centre.

Ancient sculptures from the villages like Noh, Mallah, and Bareh etc that existed between the periods of 1st century to 19th century, is one of the most noticeable collection of this museum. It also has some incredible weapons, paintings, manuscripts and zoological specimens from the medieval period. This prominent tourist spot is very well maintained and remains closed on Monday and public holidays.

3.  Ganga Mandir

Listed amongst the most beautiful temples of Rajasthan, Ganga mandir is located at the centre of Bharatpur. Built in 1845 this amazing ancient structure took 90 years to complete. This Temple has several striking idols. The statue of Ganga Maharaj is the most remarkable one, which is entirely made with pristine white marble. Another famous statue is the 4 feet high sculpture of King Bhagiratha. This two storied temple was named after the idol of Goddess Ganga which was placed in this temple by Brijenra Singh, the fifth descendent of Maharaja Balwant Singh.

4.  Keoladeo Ghana National Park

The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Keoladeo Ghana National Park is known for being one of the most important bird breeding and feeding center in the world. Till 1982, before declaring the ground as the national sanctuary this park was the hunting ground of the royal families. Spread over an area of 29 sq. km this park is completely man made.

More than 370 species of birds and animals such as basking python, painted storks, nilgai and more can be seen here. This ornithologist paradise is also famous for many migratory birds, coming from Siberia, Afghanistan and Central Asia. November to March is the best time to visit the park. Well trained guides are available who can help the travelers explore this amazing land.

Suggested tour package for Bharatpur:

• Palace on Wheels luxury train
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5.  Laxman Mandir

This 400 years old prominent shrine is a tribute to Lord Laxman, the brother of the Hindu God Ram. As per legends, Naaga baba, a sage who used to work for humanitarian causes, built this temple at the centre of the market. This temple has imposing idols of Lord Laxman and his wife Urmila as well as smaller statues of Hanuman, Shatrughan, Bharat and Ram. These beautiful idols, decorated walls and the typical Rajasthani look make this temple one of the best tourist spots of Bharatpur.

6.  Lohagarh Fort

Built by the Jat ruler Maharaja Suraj Mal in the 18th centur, Lohagarh fort is one the finest architecture of Rajasthan. It is considered to be the strongest castle ever made in the history of India.

Inside the fort travelers can explore palaces like Kishore Mahal, Mahal Khas, Kothi Khas and towers like Jawahar Burj, Fateh Burj, Kamra Mahal and Purana Mahal. This fort also houses a well-stocked government museum. Around the fort there is a moat filled with water to ward off enemy attacks.

7.  Deeg

Located 35 km away from the main city Bharatpur, this small town Deeg is believed to be blessed by Lord Krishna. According to myths, during parikrama, Lord Krishna visited this town and charmed by its beauty he blessed it. Apart from this mythological story, the first capital of Bharatpur, Deeg is famous for the Deeg Palace situated within the Deeg Fort and the three day long Deeg festival. Influenced by the Mughal constructions, Maharaja Suraj Mal built this fortin 1730. A garden resembling the Mughal Charbagh is also there.

This square shaped fort is built entirely by Red stone and marble. To lower the ambient temperature of the fort, it was decorated with nine hundred fountains. The tanks, Gopal Sagar and Rup Sagar available on either side, were used to help this fountains to run flawlessly. Even today travelers can enjoy this charismatic view on every Saturday during the monsoon season.

Among the other attractions Gopal Bhavan the residence of the king, Kisan Bhavan, the meeting room of the king, Nandi Bhavan and the room for wrestling are the renowned ones.

8.  Bankey Bihari Temple

This 150 years old temple is inspired by the Bankey Bihari Temple of Vrindavan. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, this temple has the tribhanga posture idol of the Lord. Bankey means bent in three places and Bihari means supreme enjoyer. Beautifully dressed and adorned with precious jewelry, the idol of the Lord is offered a unique seva.

This seva is divided into three parts, Shringar includes bath and dressing, Raj bhog offering feast and Shayan seva to put the Lord to sleep. The architecture of the temple is in Rajasthani style and the temple is decorated with a series of beautiful paintings. Everyday thousands of devotees visit this temple for the blessings of Lord Krishna.

9.  Dholpur Palace

The glamorous Dholpur Palace, also known as Raj Niwas Palace was built to welcome HRH Albert Edward during his visit to India in 1876. This red stone work is largely inspired by the Dutch ceramics.This awe inspiring marvel has witness the presence of many eminent personalities during the time of Independence.

The palace has now been converted into a heritage hotel which is equipped with modern facilities like Wi-Fi, spa, multi cuisine restaurant, private plunge pool, laundry services etc. Another attraction of this citadel is its 13 acres long garden. This garden is the home of several exotic species of birds including the national bird of India, the glorious peacock. Winter is the best time to visit the place as the temperature is lower at this time.

10.  Band Baretha

Band Baretha used to be a major town of Bharatpur district during the Mughal era. At that time it was known as Sripatha and Sriprastha. Home to many tourist spots, this town is mainly famous for Old Fort and the Barah Khambonki Chhatri.

The historical significance of this places has made Bharatpur a popular destination amongst the tourists. Apart from this, visitors can also enjoy the wildlife of Bharatpur. Spread over 200 square kilometer, this wildlife was created by the king of Bharatpur before the independence of India. It has 200 rare species of birds including Black Bittern and animals like leopard, hyena, blue bull and chital.

Be it an ancient marvel or wildlife, historical monument or religious spot, Bharatpur has all the necessary tourist spots in its kingdom, that’s reason travelers from the different parts of the world are curious to visit this amazing part of Rajasthan.

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