bharatpur

Written By Unknown on Mar 16, 2011 | 3:50 PM

Situated at a distance of 55 from Agra, Bharatpur is a historic town of Rajasthan. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Bharatpur was a major centre of Jat stronghold. During those days the Jats maintained a high degree of autonomy and they successfully opposed the Mughals.

Once surrounded by an 11 km long wall, the town is now known for its Bird Sanctuary. Also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary lies just 5 kms south of the city centre and it easily reachable by cycle-rickshaw. Many travellers rate this park as one of the best parks which they have visited earlier.

If you are a bird-watching enthusiast, then you would surely like to spend a few day at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The park is open from 6 am to 6 pm daily, walking or cycling along the road provides unique opportunities to closely observe the rich avian life. Just at the entrance to the park, you will see a range of stuffed birds, map of the park, nests of the various bird species, examples of the aquatic species found in the park and a photographic display. Entry to park is free. Don’t forget to carry binoculars for better bird-viewing, try to get some with a strap so you can conveniently hand them around your neck.

Apart from the bird sanctuary, Bharatpur is home to a number of other tourist attractions namely – Lohagarh Fort, Government Museum, Nehru Park and Ganga Temple. Maharaja Suraj Mal built the Lohagarh Fort also known as Iron Fort in the 18th century and which withstood an attack by the British in 1805 and a long siege in 1825. The fort took its name from its supposedly impregnable defences. The fort is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily and admission is free. The Government Museum housed in Durbar Hall of the fort, has a good collection of sculptures, inscriptions and works of art from the region.

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