Location: Bharatpur, Rajasthan

Highlight: Bird Sanctuary that has a wide variety of Flora and Fauna

How to Reach: The nearest airport to Bharatpur is at Agra, located at a distance of 54 kilometers. Bharatpur has its own railway station and is also easily reachable by roads.

One of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India, Bharatpur bird sanctuary in Rajasthan should be one of the topmost priorities on your travel itinerary. Bharatpur bird sanctuary is the only sanctuary that is man-made. It is regarded as one of the best bird sanctuaries in the world and is also known by the name of Keoladeo national park. The bird sanctuary is easily reachable from anywhere in Rajasthan and also from nearby places like Agra and Delhi. Bharatpur bird sanctuary is just a few hours drive from Delhi and Agra.

Bharatpur bird sanctuary is spread over an area 29 square kilometers and is home to a plethora of birds, both local and migratory. The bird sanctuary also houses some wildlife like the Wild Boar, Nilgai and various species of deer. On 10th March 1982, Bharatpur got the status of a national park. Finally in December 1985, Bharatpur bird sanctuary got the status of a World Heritage Site. Bharatpur bird sanctuary is the only sanctuary that is supposed to have been created by a Maharaja. The construction of a dam to avoid annual flooding of a river created the Bharatpur Lake, which turned into a lush green forest.

The Bharatpur bird sanctuary is home to over 300 species of birds. It is said that Bharatpur has the finest collection of birds and is a major breeding ground for rare migratory birds. The best time to visit Bharatpur bird sanctuary is during the months of August - November and October - February. This is the breeding time for birds that flock in large numbers much to the delight of tourists as well as wildlife enthusiasts. The birds come from as far as Central Asia and the most popular visitor is the famous and rare Siberian Crane. Other species include numerous kinds of cranes, ducks, geese, eagles, egrets, hawks, pelicans, buntings, larks, stints, etc.

The airport that is located nearest to Bharatpur is at Agra. It is at a distance of 54 kilometers from Bharatpur bird sanctuary. One can also reach Bharatpur from Delhi airport, which is located at a distance of 184 kilometers from this place. Bharatpur has its own railway station and is located on the main Delhi - Mumbai railway line and thus can be reached from major cities located nearby. Bharatpur can also be reached easily via roads as it is connected by many highways.

Prime Attractions of Bharatpur

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Once the royal hunting reserve of the princes of Bharatpur, it is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world, inundated with over 400 species of water birds. more..

Brij Festival
The Brij Festival takes place a few days before Holi, the festival of colours. Held in honour of Lord Krishna, this festival is marked by verve and zest. Villagers, in gay, multihued attire, can be seen singing and performing the Raslila dance-the immortal love-story of Radha and Krishna. more..

Govt. Museum - Bharatpur
Located in the centre of the famous Lohagarh Fort, the Bharatpur Museum houses a rich collection of archaeological wealth of the nearby areas as well as from the old Bharatpur State. The huge palatial building Kachahari Kalan, once the administrative block of the rulers of Bharatpur state, was converted into a museum in 1944 AD. Later on, the Kamra Khas (personal chamber) building on the first floor was added to the museum.

Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj
A few of the eight imposing towers still stand erect within the glorious ramparts of the fort. Especially two of them - Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj are of special interest. These were built by Maharaja Suraj Mal to commemorate his victories over the Mughals and British respectively. The coronation ceremony of the Jat rulers of Bharatpur was also held at the Jawahar Burj.

Lohagarh Fort
The massive iron structure built in the early 18th century. With its impregnable defences, it sustained itself even after a number of British attacks. The fort was conceived and designed by Maharaja Suraj Mal, the founder of Bharatpur. The fort has three palaces within its precincts - Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas.

The Palace
This royal edifice is a fusion of the Mughal and Rajput architectural styles with magnificent apartments and intricately designed floor tiles having interesting patterns. One can marvel at the ancient exhibits displayed in the museum in the central pan of the palace.

Excursions from Bharatpur
Deeg Palace (32Km.)
The famous old fortress of Deeg, which contributed substantially in the making of the Jat principality, is now in shambles. Its formidable cannons now lie abandoned in the forlorn fort.