Page 373 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

R A JASTHAN  371

3 Bharatpur leader, Raja Suraj Mal (r.1755–63), a pharmaceutical college,
fortified the city of Bharatpur while the other two, around
Bharatpur district. 181 km (112 miles)
E of Jaipur. * 204,500. @ n RTDC in 1733 and used the loot from the Katcheri Bagh, house the
Hotel Saras, (05644) 223 790. Mughal buildings to embellish State Museum. Its artifacts
_ Jaswant Mela (Oct). the forts and palaces of include a rare collection of 1st­
his kingdom. and 2nd­century stone carvings.
Most famous for its bird sanctuary, In the centre of the town An interesting sunken hamam
the kingdom of Bharatpur was is Lohagarh (“Iron Fort”), a (bath) is close by. In 1818,
founded by the fearless Jats, master piece of construction. Bharatpur became the region’s
a community of landowners. Its massive double ramparts first princely state to sign a treaty
Their most remarkable of packed mud and rubble with the East India Company.
surrounded by impressive
moats withstood repeated E State Museum
attacks by the Marathas Tel (05644) 22 8185. Open Fri–Wed.
and the British until it was Closed public hols. & free on Mon.
finally captured by Lord Extra charges for photography.
Lake in 1805. Three palaces
built in the fort display a 4 Keoladeo Ghana
fine mix of Mughal and National Park
Rajput stylistic detail.
The moat and ramparts of Lohagarh One is now the site of See pp372–3.

5 Deeg Deeg’s Raja Suraj Mal and
his son, Jawahar Singh, were
Bharatpur district. 36 km (22 miles)
N of Bharatpur. @ n RTDC Hotel keen builders of lavish pleasure
Saras, Bharatpur, (05644) 22 3700. palaces and the most remarkable
_ Holi (Mar), Jawahar Mela (Aug). of these is the Deeg Water
Water Palace: Open daily. Closed the Palace, a romantic summer
day after Holi (Mar). & retreat for the Jat kings. The
magic of the monsoon inspired
Once the capital of the Jat a lyrical composition of sand­
kings of Bharatpur, Deeg rose stone and marble pavilions
to prominence after the decline replete with gardens and pools.
of the Mughal empire in the A skilful cooling system drew Sawan Pavilion, Deeg Water Palace
18th century. Its square fort and water from a huge reservoir and
fortified town, once filled with used a number of innovative produce rainbows. The colour ed
grand mansions and gardens, special effects to simulate fountains are now used only
now lie unkempt and forlorn. monsoon showers and even during the Jawahar Mela.
Deeg Water Palace Keshav Bhavan had heavy
Nand Bhavan lithic balls placed on its roof,
and these rolled and produced
Sawan Pavilion is shaped like “thunder” when water gushed
an upturned boat. Its ingenious up the hollow pillars and
water system created a semi­ pipes inside the arches.
circle of falling water.

Entrance The roof-top
reservoir had
Gopal Bhavan’s numerous water drawn to it
overhanging kiosks and balconies from four wells.
are reflected in Gopal Sagar, from Pipes leading from
which it seems to rise. The interior its sides supplied
still retains the original furnishings water to the chutes
and objets d’art. and fountains.

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