bharatpur

The Keoladeo National Park is the most famous tourist attraction in Bharatpur. This park, also known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, was constructed around 250 years ago by Maharaja Suraj Mal. In 1982, the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary has declared a national park & was named the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. In 1985, the park received the status of a World Heritage Site from UNESCO. Currently, this national park has seven varieties of turtles, 50 varieties of fish, and five varieties of amphibians. In addition, this park is a natural habitat for about 375 bird varieties. 

The Ganga Temple is a popular shrine in Bharatpur. The construction of this temple was initiated by Maharaja Balwant Singh, in the year 1845; however, its completion took almost 90 years. When the temple construction was over, Brijendra Singh, the fifth descendant of Maharaja Balwant Singh, placed an idol of river goddess Ganga inside it. It is said that the temple was built with a month's salary of all the employees of the state. The structure of the temple exhibits an amalgamation of the Rajput, the Mughal and the Dravidian architectural styles. The walls and the pillars of the temple are adorned with captivating and delightful carvings. The statues of Lord Krishna, Laxmi Narayan and Shiva Parvati are the main attractions of the temple. Devotees in large numbers visit this shrine during the festivals of Gangashaptami and Ganga Dussehra.

The Government Museum is a prominent tourist attraction in Bharatpur. It is located inside the Lohagarh Fort. The museum displays a splendid collection of the historic wealth of Bharatpur. Now a museum, this building served as administrative block to the rulers of Bharatpur. In 1944, the administrative block, Kachahri Kalan, was transformed into the museum. Later, the first floor of this building, Kamra Khas, was added to the museum, as well. These buildings were built by Maharaja Balwant Singh in the 19th century. The museum exhibits a rare compilation of ancient sculptures, paintings, coins, inscriptions, coins, zoological specimen, decorative art objects and arms and weaponry used by the Jat rulers. The art gallery in the museum displays miniature paintings drawn on litho paper, mica and leaves of the peepal tree.
 

The Laxman Temple is a prominent shrine of Bharatpur, which is believed to be 400 years old. The temple exemplifies the Rajasthani architectural style. The doorways, ceilings, pillars, walls and arches of the temple are adorned with magnificent stone work. The temple is located in the centre of the Bharatpur city and is dedicated to Laxman, brother of the Hindu deity, Lord Rama. According to a legend, the shrine was built by a sage named Naaga Baba. Another Laxman Temple is situated near this shrine. This temple, also dedicated to Laxman, was built during the reign of Maharaja Baldev Singh in 1870. The temple is built with sandstone and white marble. This shrine is famous for its Ashtadhaatu idols of Lord Ram, Laxman, Urmila, Bharat, Shatrughan and Hanuman.
 

The central tower of the fort is positioned at an elevated height, with a shallow canal surrounding it. An 8 kms long wall serves as a boundary to this fort. There are 12 towers within the fort, with Lakha Burj being the largest one. The Lakha Burj tower is situated in the northwest corner of the fort. The Suraj Mal Haveli, built in the Bangaldar architectural style, holds a significant part of the fort. The beautiful gardens in the fort have been constructed in the Charbagh style, a Persian style garden layout. The interiors of the fort are in ruins now. The Deeg Palace is situated adjacent to the Deeg Fort. The palace is a conglomeration of palaces that include Purana Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Suraj Bhavan, Nand Bhavan, Kishan Bhavan, Keshav Bhavan and Gopal Bhavan.
 

The Lohagarh Fort in Bharatpur is one of the architecturally sound forts in Rajasthan. This fort, also known as the Iron Fort, was built by Maharaja Suraj Mal.The fort is well known for its sturdy structure, which was able to withstand continuous attacks from the British army. There are three palaces in the fort, Mahal Khas, Kamra Mahal and Purana Mahal. Currently, Kamra Mahal functions as the State Archaeological Museum. Some of the other monuments in the premises of the fort include Kishori Mahal, Kothi Khas, Moti Mahal, Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj.