Dating back
to the epic age, the city of Bharatpur has
a rich history.
In the fifth century BC, Matsya kingdom flourished
at this place. In the war of Mahabharata the
Matsyas acted as the partners of the Pandavas.
Legend also has it that Bharatpur was named
so after Bharat, the brother of Lord Rama.
Lord Rama's other brother Laxman was regarded
as the family deity by the ruling family of
Bharatpur. The state seals and coat-of-arms
also have the name of Laxman on them.
Maharaja
Suraj Mal founded the city of Bharatpur
in 1733 AD. Once an unassailable and well-equipped
city, it was carved out of the region previously
known as Mewat. Suraj Mal seized the fort
of Bharatpur from Khemkaran, the rival chief.
Even in the time of political crisis, Suraj
Mal made a name and position for himself
and went from one accomplishment to another.
A number of forts and palaces were built
by him throughout the territory. Read on
this Bharatpur city guide to know more about
the city:
Bharatpur travel & tourism is most
famous for its bird sanctuary. Keoladeo
Ghana National Park houses some of the most
exotic species of birds, along with a rich
wildlife. Other attractions of the city
of Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India include
the Bharatpur palace and museum, a number
of temples, Lohargarh fort, etc. Apart from
these, there are a number of other places
also to see around Bharatpur. |
The most
famous and well-known tourist attraction
of Bharatpur is the Keoladeo Ghana National
Park. Apart from that, there are numerous
other places to see in Bharatpur. Some of
the places that must be included in the
Bharatpur Rajasthan sightseeing tour are:
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. |
