Bharatpur, venerated as the 'Eastern Gateway’ and an eminent tourist attraction in the state of Rajasthan. It is located at a distance of 184 km. south-west of the New Delhi. The town is en route various other tourist attractions such as Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Jodhpur. If bird watching is your hobby, than Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is the place, which will make you feel like a visit to paradise. It is just not the attractiveness or the variety of birds, but the sheer enormity of the region. The land being swampy in Bharatpur is always favourable for birds and animals, in search of water to satiate their dried up lips and throats. Catch the sight live on your camera to cherish the beautiful moments!
Maharaja Suraj Mal founded the city in the year 1733. Once the capital of the Jat Kingdom, the place has its own historical significance and narrates impassive stories of the bravery and courage of fighters, who survived and flourished in these hostile conditions. The region is also illustrious for the forts, palaces, monuments erected during the reign of Mughal and Rajput rulers. The sightseeing in Bharatpur includes watching some of India's best birds in the winter season, when they come out displaying their finest plumages whirling the park giving a stunning display of colour and appearance. You can also get a glimpse of all the beautiful migratory birds including the Siberian crane and the yellow-billed storks. Gather all necessary tourist information about the species of the park before your visit.
The bird sanctuary has several restaurants and eating hideouts in and around the place, which dishes out good cuisines laced with spices and flavours. The hotels and restaurants serves lunch buffets, Indian, continental and Mughlai menus. The restaurant at the Falcon Guest House serves mouth-watering Indian as well as multi-cuisine dishes. Some of the good places to dine include Hotel Sunbird, Nightingale, Falcon Guest House and ITDC's Forest Lodge within the park premises. If you wish to try out authentic local Rajasthani delicacies, it is best to visit some of the roadside eating joints.
Shopping in Bharatpur includes mainly small souvenirs, tribal jewelry, antiques items, statues and memento of marble carvings, showpieces depicting brass work, colorful lacquer bangles and Jaipur textiles. The Mathura Gate and the Chauraburja Bazaar, are the places where shop for ethnic souvenirs and presents.
The Tourist places worth visiting near Bharatpur includes: Mathura, Brindavan and Agra :-
- Mathura: This pilgrim city and birthplace of Lord Krishna, is at a distance of around 37 km. from Bharatpur. The sanctified place is flocked by travelers every year. It comprises of sanctified shrines, memorials and edifices that exhibit Hindu architecture. The Gita Mandir and the Vishram Ghat are the sites to visit in the city.
- Brindavan: This is a pilgrimage site linked with Lord Krishna, at a distance of around 52 km. from Bharatpur. Tourists in Mathura visit the Gokul temple, Gopishwar Mahadev Temple and the ISKCON Temple, on their visit to the temple city.
- Agra: At a distance of about 60 km. from Bharatpur, depicts the illustrious art, traditions and structural designs of Mughal period. It houses the seventh wonder of world, Taj Mahal, the famous Fatehpur Sikri and the historic Agra Fort, which are covered by travelers on their visit to Agra.