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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.
History of Bharatpur
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.
Tourist Attractions in Bharatpur
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. More...
How to reach Bharatpur
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. |
