Bharatpur is a significant city of Rajasthan in terms of history and culture. It has been ruled by the Jat kingdom since a long time and has been in existence since the 11th century. Its Lohagarh Fort is the strongest fort of India ever built. Read on to know more.
Bharatpur is a city in the Brij region of Rajasthan. It is just 180 k.m. from Delhi and once an impenetrable capital of the Jat kingdom. The Royal House of Bharatpur dates back to the 11th century. The city is part of the National Capital Region (NCR) and hence holds a prominent place in the country. This place is full of tourist attractions since it has long been ruled and you can find signs of the past that are yet existent in the architecture and old buildings of Bharatpur. There are a lot of hotels in Bharatpur under different tariff range and you would have no problem finding an appropriate accommodation according to your budget.
Bharatpur has long been ruled by Jats, especially the Sinsinwar clan which originally is an indo-scythian tribe. This clan migrated to India in the 100 AD and Maharaja Suraj Mal and Maharaja Ranjit Singh are some of prominents kings that ruled in Bharatpur. Like any historical city, Bharatpur is full of the monuments and palaces that mark the times of the gone era. Lohagarh Fort is one of the main attractions in the city. It is also called the Iron Fort. It is said that Lohagarh Fort, Bharatpur is the strongest ever fortress ever built in India. The British attacked the fort several time in order to succeed. There are a number of sites inside the fort that you can visit to know more about the city and the palace. Kishori Mahal is one such site. Another one is Mahal Khas which represents the architectural expertise of the past. Kothi Khas is the site where gatherings happened and it is more so a bungalow of old times built in a royal fashion. Another noticeable site is the Moti Mahal. Two tall towers, Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj, were built to mark the celebration of victories over the Mughals and the British. If you look at the gateway that stands at the front, you would see paintings of elephants. It would give you a picture of how the royal past of the city appeared like.
Some religious sites to visit in Bharatpur are the Shri Rajendra Suri Kirti Mandir, Ganga Mandir, Lakshman Mandir, Banke Bihari Temple, and DevNarayan Temple. There are some temples at Kaman as well. Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal are some major attractions around Bharatpur. The place is very popular for its Brij Mahotsav which is held in February-March around the holi festival. During Dussehra, an even called Jaswant Exhibition is held. Other festivities celebrated in Bharatpur are the Teej and Gangaur festivals.
If you are keen about knowing different parts of the country and find more about its cultural and historical aspects, Bharatpur is one place you should visit. You can comfortably stay in one of the hotels in Bharatpur and hire a taxi to see around the city.
