Bharatpur, Rajasthan

Bharatpur is a city in Rajasthan state of India. 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. It is also the administrative headquarters of Bharatpur District.

History

The town was named Bharatpur after Bharat, the brother of Lord Rama, whose other brother Laxman was worshipped as the family deity of the Bharatpur. The legends say the ruler Laxman's name is engraved on the state arms and the seals. In the early 17th century, Jats rebelled against the Mughals and established a state in Mewat, with a capital at Deeg. Leaders like Gokula, Raja Ram, Churaman and Badan Singh brought the Jats together to mould them into a force to reckon with. The city and the fort have been believed to be founded by Rustam, a Jat chieftain of Sogariya clan.

Maharaja Suraj Mal was the state's greatest ruler, who made the state a formidable force in the region. Maharaja Suraj Mal took over the site of Bharatpur from Khemkaran, the son of Rustam, and established it as the capital of his state. He fortified the city by building a massive wall around it.

Bharatpur District

Bharatpur District has an area of 5,066 km². It is bounded by Rewari and Gurgaon districts of Haryana on the north, Mathura and Agra districts of Uttar Pradesh on the east, and the Rajasthan districts of Dholpur on the south, Karauli on the southwest, and Dausa and Alwar on the west.

Administrative especially in the northern part. Three rivers, the Ban Ganga, Rooparel, and Gambhir, cross the district. The Ban Ganga originates in Jaipur District, passes through Dausa and Bharatpur districts to meet the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh. The Gambhir River starts from Pachana Dam of Karauli district, and meets the Ban Ganga in Bayana tehsil. The Rooparel River starts from hills of Alwar District and enters the district in Kaman tehsil.

Bharatpur District is famous for Keoladeo National Park, a major wintering area for migratory birds. Established as a duck-hunting reserve by the Maharajas of Bharatpur, it was known as the best duck shooting resort in the British Empire. The site was declared a bird sanctuary in 1956 and later upgraded to National Park. UNESCO has listed it as a world heritage site. Keoladeo National Park attracts 364 species of birds, including many from India, but also from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Siberia, China and Tibet, including the rare Siberian Crane. As the monsoons arrive and the wetlands and marshes start to fill with water, birds start pouring into the park.