Monday, August 17, 2009

Bharatpur- Deeg

Bharatpur

Bharatpur is a busy town. It is located close to Uttar Pradesh hence its lifestyles is strongly influenced by it. Bharatpur, along with Deeg and Dholpur, holds an important place in the history of Rajasthan. Another interesting aspect of this region is the domination of the Jats as a ruling power. The Jats were active in the late 17th century and leaders like Churaman and Badan Singh brought the Jats together to turn them into a formidable force. Its fort is different from other Rajasthan forts and when built it was encircled by a moat with thick mud walls. Today, most of the fort is occupied by government offices and a museum. One ineresting facts here is the lack of ostentation; it seems very stark and functional, without intricate carvings, painted embellishments and others ornamentation. The museum in the fort has some interesting sculptures, collected from various ancient and early medieval sites in nearby areas.

DEEG

Deeg is located 34 km north of Bharatpur and known for its water palaces and gardens. Seems fascinating because Rajasthan have very few of these water palaces or garden, given the acute shortage that most of the state faces. The structures here are strongly influenced by the meticulous planning that went into the Mughal Gardens and the rulers borrowed their style. The tourist would enjoyed visiting the well preserved and laid out palace pavilions.