Bharatpur

Bharatpur is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733. Located in Mewat region, Bharatpur was once an impregnable, well-fortified city, and the capital of a kingdom ruled by Jat maharajas. The trio of Bharatpur, Deeg and Dholpur has played an important part in the Jat history of Rajasthan. Located 50 km west of the city of Agra (the city of the Taj Mahal), it is also the administrative headquarters of Bharatpur District. Cycle rickshaws or Auto rickshaws are availible from the bus station and the tourist office. To hotels it is roughly Rs 25 and from the train station it should be Rs 30.

Each year before the arrival of winter, thousands of birds migrate from the frozen waters of Siberia, Tibet, Mongolia and eastern Europe to India. One of the best destinations for these birds is the marsh of Bharatpur lying between Agra and Jaipur in the north-western part of India. The protected area of about 29 square kms is now the famous Keoladeo Ghana National Park. The reserve derives its name (Keoladeo) from a temple devoted to Lord Shiva which is situated in the park. The reserve was established in 1890 by the Maharaja of Bharatpur is purely for the creation of an exclusive royal game. A large area of the forests is enclosed with earthen embankments called bunds. These bund led to the creation numerous lakes and marshes. Large-scale conservation efforts initiated by famous ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali led to the reserve being declared as a National Park in March 1982. In 1985 the sanctuary was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.