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Introduction of Bharatpur |
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Bharatpur - the eastern gateway to
Rajasthan is about 55 km from Agra. Bharatpur is a small city and
famous for its bird sanctuary - the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. The
Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of the finest National Park in
Asia. Once the hunting ground of the princes of Bharatpur, today the
Bharatpur is ranked among the world's best bird sanctuaries. In 1956,
this reserve was tuned into a sanctuary, though the Maharaja was
allowed to hunt in this reserve till 1972. In 1981, the sanctuary was
designated as a national park. Every year the rare Siberian cranes
come to spend the winter in the warmer climate of Bharatpur. Every
year this park is visited by over 400 species of water birds including
the exotic migratory birds from Afghanistan, Central Asia and Tibet
and the rare Siberian cranes from Siberia. Bharatpur is not only
famous for its Bird Sanctuary but also for its historical forts and
palaces like the Lohagarh Fort, Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj. |
Keoladeo Ghana National Park |
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31 Days
Rajasthan Tour (Including Bharatpur)
31 Days / 30 Nights
Delhi - Alwar - Deeg - Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Dholpur -
Ranthambore - Tonk - Bundi
- Jhalawar - Kota - Bijolia - Chittorgarh - Dungarpur - Banswara -
Udaipur - Rajsamand -
Nathdwara - Kumbhalgarh - Ranakpur - Mount Abu - Rohetgarh - Jodhpur -
Jaisalmer - Bikaner -
Nagaur - Mandawa - Sikar - Jhunjhunu -Jaipur - Delhi
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Tour Including Bharatpur |
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History of Bharatpur |
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Bharatpur along with Deeg and Dholpur
holds an important place in the history of Rajasthan. The history of
Bharatpur traces the rise and fall of Jat power in eastern Rajasthan.
These jats were active during the late 17th century and the rulers
like Churaman, Badan Singh and Suraj Mal dominated this region.
Bharatpur was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733 AD. Maharaja Suraj
Mal took over from Khemkaran, the son of Rustam and established the
empire. He fortified the city by building a massive wall around the
city. He also built the Lohagarh Fort or the Iron Fort in the year
1732. This fort took about 60 years to be completed and is still the
focal point of the town. This fort shaped the history of Bharatpur.
The place was named as Bharatpur after the name of Bharat, the brother
of Lord Rama, whose other brother Laxman was worshipped as the family
deity of the Bharatpur. |
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Tourist Attraction in Bharatpur |
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The main tourist attraction in Bharatpur
is the Bharatpur Bird sanctuary. This bird sanctuary which is also
known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park was established in 1956. Every
year this park is visited by over 400 species of water birds including
the exotic migratory birds from Afghanistan, Central Asia and Tibet
and the rare Siberian cranes from Siberia. This sanctuary is ranked
among the world's best bird sanctuaries. Other places are the
Lohagarh Fort, Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj. |
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Painted Stork |
Sambar |
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Great
Egret |
Group
Painted Stork |
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Introduction of Lohagarh Fort |
Lohagarh
Fort (Iron fort) is situated at Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. It was
constructed by Bharatpur Jat rulers. Maharaja Suraj Mal used all his
power and wealth to a good cause, and built numerous forts and palaces
across his kingdom, one of them being the Lohagarh Fort (Iron fort),
which was one of the strongest ever built in Indian history. The
inaccessible Lohagarh fort could withstand repeated attacks of British
forces led by Lord Lake in 1805 when they laid siege for over six
weeks. Having lost over 3000 soldiers, the British forces had to
retreat and strike a compromise with the Bharatpur ruler. Of the two
gates in the fort, one in the north is known as Ashtdhaatu (eight
metalled) gate while the one facing the south is called Chowburja
(four-pillared) gate.
It is very different from the other forts in Rajasthan 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. |
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Construction of the Fort |
The
Lohagarh Fort, constructed by Bharatpur Jat rulers, true to its name
stood solidly in front of many British attacks, and frustrated them to
ends. Lohagarh Fort means 'Fort of Iron', and the fort was what its
name suggested; virtually impregnable. Protected by deep moats on all
sides, it was said that it could fall "only when a crocodile swallowed
up all the water of the moat." It's obvious that the Jats did not
believe in laxity. So, while lesser forts gave way more easily,
Lohargarh stood firm, giving Bharatpur the security it needed.
The fort sits on an artificial island in the middle of the town, with
a somewhat forlorn look about it. Yet it is the focal point of
Bharatpur today, just as it was of the town's history in the past.
Begun by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1732, it was completed only 60 years
later. The strong point of this once-formidable fort were its thick
outer mud walls, which lovingly absorbed all the firing from the
Mughal and British armies. The cannon balls would sink into the mud,
only to be collected later and fired back at the enemy! These terrific
walls were about 7 km in length and took as many as eight years to
complete. Lohargarh was probably inspired by the mahi durg (mud fort)
as described in ancient Sanskrit scriptures. But sadly, the walls were
broken down by the British when they took over the fort in 1826,
though portions of the inner walls still remain. |
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Fort Museum |
Today most
of the fort is occupied by government offices and a museum. One thing
which strikes one immediately about the architecture is the lack of
ostentation; Lohargarh is definitely much simpler as far as carvings,
paintings and other frills go. With its emphasis on security and
security only, there's almost no room for unnecessary ornamentation.
It is modest and functional, which is perhaps something to do with the
Jat way of life. Some of the residential chambers do have some
adornment, but only very little.
Fort Palace
Inside the fort are three palaces, Mahal Khas, Kamra Palace and the
Palace of Badan Singh.
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 .
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Lohagarh Fort |
Water
Canel Outside of Fort Wall |
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Museum |
Kishori Mahal |
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How to get here |
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By Air:
The nearest airport is Agra which is about 55 km.
By Rail:
Regular rail services connect Bharatpur with several cities on
Delhi-Mumbai trunk route. Rail services also connects Bharatpur with
Jaipur and Agra.
By Road:
A network of bus services links Bharatpur with several cities within
and outside Rajasthan. |
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31 Days Rajasthan Tour
(Including Bharatpur)
31 Days / 30 Nights
Delhi - Alwar - Deeg - Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Dholpur -
Ranthambore - Tonk - Bundi
- Jhalawar - Kota - Bijolia - Chittorgarh - Dungarpur - Banswara -
Udaipur - Rajsamand -
Nathdwara - Kumbhalgarh - Ranakpur - Mount Abu - Rohetgarh - Jodhpur -
Jaisalmer - Bikaner -
Nagaur - Mandawa - Sikar - Jhunjhunu -Jaipur - Delhi
28 Days Rajasthan Heritage
Tour (Including Bharatpur)
28 Days / 27 Nights
Delhi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Bhandarej - Jaipur - Mandawa - Bikaner
- Gajner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Rohetgarh - Deogarh - Ranakpur -
Mount Abu - Udaipur - Dungarpur - Chittorgarh - Kota - Ranthambore -
Bharatpur - Delhi
24 Days Forts and Palaces Tour
(Including Bharatpur)
24 Days / 23 Nights
Delhi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Bhandarej - Jaipur - Mandawa - Bikaner
- Gajner - Jaisalmer - Osian - Jodhpur - Ranakpur - Mount Abu -
Udaipur - Kota - Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Delhi
11 Days Wildlife Tour (Including Bharatpur)
11 Days / 10 Nights
Delhi - Sariska - Jaipur - Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri -
Agra – Delhi
Rajasthan Buddhist Tour (Including Bharatpur)
23 Days / 22 Nights
Delhi - Samode - Nawalgarh - Khimsar - Osian - Jaisalmer - Pokaran -
Jodhpur - Rohet - Daspan - Bera - Ranakpur - Deogarh - Udaipur -
Dungarpur - Bijapur - Kota - Raj Mahal - Pachewar - Jaipur - Bhandarej
- Karauli - Bharatpur - Delhi |
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Map of
Bharatpur |
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