Visitor's note about Bharatpur
Visiting the tranquil place like Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary was an eye opener. I reached here on my way to the famous Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary but the village itself was no less charming. The colorful chops here selling exquisite handcrafted items and the smiling faces of local people who are always willing to help is something I will remember for the rest of my life. I strongly recommend everyone to spend some time here in the village before heading to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

Factfile
Location: Rajasthan
Best time to visit: November-February
Must visit attraction: Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary
Excursions: Deeg

A word about Bharatpur
Bharatpur is popular for its bird sanctuary near the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, which is the finest in Asia with a rich avian variety. Every year, the rare Siberian cranes come to spend the winter in the warmer climate of Bharatpur the best place for Birdwatching in India.

Of the remnants of the royal past remain the marvelous Bharatpur Palace housing a rich repository of a large number of ancient exhibits that date back to the early 15th century.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN BHARATPUR

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
I was aware of the fact the best time to watch birds in early morning so I hired an accommodation near the sanctuary. Early morning I started for the sanctuary on a rented bicycle. The actual sanctuary started 2 kms inside the gate. Once inside the main sanctuary, I could view countless birds including Indian More Hen, Snake bird, Saras crane, Grey Haron, Sleeping Heron, Weaver bird, Falcon, Owl and the all famous Siberian Cranes.

I took a lot of photos of the birds and the landscape, which was also very attractive. The Siberian Cranes were deep in the mashes and were not visible clearly. So I headed towards the Python Point and was lucky to view atleast 20 pythons together. By the time I returned back, it beginning to dark and I returned back to my hotel room with enchanting memories of birds.

Lohagarh Fort in Bharatpur
Next morning I wanted to visit the Bharatpur bird sanctuary again but time didn't permit me and I headed directly towards the Lohagarh Fort. As soon as I reached there a small kid came to me and offered his services as a guide. I accepted the offer and came to know that it was built in early 18 century and due to its impregnable defense, it sustained British attacks. I explored all the three palaces within its precincts - Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas that left me speechless with their exquisite architecture.

The Palace of Bharatpur
My next destination was the palace and it surprised me with its grand look. The architecture exhibited a unique fusion of Mughal and Rajput architectural styles with magnificent apartments and intricately designed floor tiles having interesting patterns.

Government Museum of Bharatpur
A museum located in the central pan was a delight to explore. The whole museum was divided into various sections including archaeology, arts, crafts and industry, children gallery and miscellaneous. I was particularly impressed by the collection of paintings, manuscripts, zoological specimens and specimens of miniature paintings on leaves of the peepal tree, mica and old lithopapers