Bharatpur

Location: Eastern Rajasthan, 27.22omch

Major Attractions: Bharatpur Palace, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary,

Government Museum, Ganga Mandir, Laxman Mandir, etc

STD Code: 05644

Named after Bharat, the brother of Lord Ram in Ramayana, Bharatpur was founded by Maharaja Surajmal in 1733 AD. The city is set in a region rich in history and is known for the bounty of nature it enjoys. It also enjoys proximity to Agra, the city of Taj Mahal, which is just 55 km away. The chivalrous Jat ruler Maharaja Surajmal made the city impenetrable by the forts and ramparts which stand even today to tell the tale of the glorious past of the city. The Kings of Bharatpur prayed to Laxman, brother of Lord Ram who was their family deity and one even finds Laxman's name on state

arms and royal seals as well as the temple dedicated to Laxman.

The city of Bharatpur if not for anything else is renowned for the world famous Keoladeo Ghana National Park popularly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. This City is a bird viewers delight and is immensely rich in avian population which includes not just local species of birds but migratory birds which fly to Bharatpur in the winter month from as far as Siberia, China, Russia, Europe and Persia. Here one can find over 375 species of birds which include the Siberian crane, little cormorants, darters, purple and grey herons, various species of egret, white-necked as well as black-necked storks, white ibis, spoonbills, night herons and many  more. The bird sanctuary has now been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Also known as the eastern gateway of Rajasthan the Bharatpur city has many a historical tales to arrate to its visitor. The ancient city of Bharatpur was once a part of the Matsya Pradesh which flourished in the 5th century BC. The rulers of Bharatpur enriched it architecturally by building numerous forts and palaces in the region. The Bharatpur Palace, Lohargarh fort, Deeg Palace (the pleasure palace), Ganga and Laxman Mandir stand erect at Bharatpur all recounting the romance of Bharatpur city which its rulers enjoyed with it.