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BHARATPUR PALACE :
It is a fine fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture and was built in
various phases by different maharajas. The magnificent apartments are
richly decorated with patterned floor tiles having exquisite and
intricate designs. The museum occupies the main central wing displaying
collections dating back to the 2nd century which demonstrates the art
and skill of the region.
GOVERNMENT
MUSEUM : It is a fine
fusion of Mughals and Rajput architecture and was built in various
phases by different maharajas. The magnificent apartments are richly
decorated with patterned floor tiles having exquisite and intricate
designs. The building –Kamra Khas, within the fort, has been converted
into a museum displaying a rich collection of antiquities, exquisite
sculptures and some ancient inscription.
The museum occupies the main central wing displaying collections dating
back to the 2nd century, which demonstrates the art and skill of the
region. The sculptures speak volumes about the art and culture that
flourished here in those timers and help in tracing the inscriptions are
of immense historical value and help in tracing the royal lineage and
local life.
GANGA
MANDIR (TEMPLE) : Maharaja
Balwant Singh started the construction of this big temple in 1845. The
construction was carried out by a unique method, where all persons
employed in the service of the state, were asked to donate one month’s
salary of their service or any raise in pay towards the shrine. The
temple is a beautiful piece of architecture.
LAXMAN MANDIR
: This temple is famous for
beautiful stone work with elaborate carvings from doorways to ceilings,
pillars, walls and arches. The temple is dedicated to Laxman, brother of
lord Rama.
KEOLADEO GHANA NATIONAL PARK :
This bird paradise acquired its name –Keoladeo
because of the existence of the Keoladeo temple of Lord Shiva. After the
name of this temple the lake is called ‘Ghana’ Keoladeo. Ghana being the
vernacular synonym for dense forest. It was known as the best duck
shooting resort during the British reign, but was declared a reserve for
birds in 1956 and later upgraded to a National Park. UNESCO has listed
it as a world heritage site.
The geographical location is ideal, as it is on the main north-south
avian route of India. Although small in size (only 29 sq. kms), it has
over 375 species of beautiful birds, and more than 132 of these
breeds inside the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Almost every year, new
species are added to the list. The Bird Sanctuary not only attracts
birds from all over India, but also from far off Europe, Siberia, China
and Tibet.
Before the monsoons, hundreds of these
exotic birds roost and nest here, and building activities start on the
‘babool’ and ‘Kadam’ trees of the park. Water flowing through the Ajan
Bandh starts filling the various ponds and lakes of the Park. When
assured of enough food, hundreds of large, medium and little
cormorants, darters, purple and grey herons, various species of egret,
white-necked as well as black-necked storks, white ibis, spoonbills,
night herons and other birds get busy courting and mating .The trees are
overloaded with nests- a single tree houses approximately fifty to sixty
nests-belonging to different species of birds looking after their young
ones.
Saras cranes, the tallest flight birds, nest in exposed and open areas;
both partners share the duty of hatching; while changing incubating
duties, they come together, raise their neck and give out shrill
trumpeting calls in unison, fanning their feathers at the same time same
time. The newborn chicks are only 10cm. In size but grow up to one meter
in height within a year.
As the monsoon arrives, birds from every
part of the country start flying into the Park. Migratory waterfowls,
including the pride of Keoladeo – the Siberian Cranes, form an
interesting species found in the Park. These waterfowls visit the Park
in hordes during the month of October. The rosy starling marks the
beginning of the arrival of migratory birds. The most noticeable
waterfowls coming to the Park are the bar- headed and greylag geese. The
ducks spotted here are pintail, common teal, ruddy shelduck, mallard,
widgeon, shoveler, common shelduck, redcrested pochard, gadwall etc.
Predatory birds like the imperial eagle, steppe and tawny eagle, spotted
eagle, marsh harrier and laggar falcon are attracted towards the Park,
completing the avian food chain of the ecosystem. Some of them, like the
short – toed eagle lesser spotted eagle and shikra, are the residents of
the Park.
About 11sq. Kms of the Park is covered by water; the remaining portion
is rich in birds like the kingfisher, red vented and white-cheeked
bulbuls, babblers, quails, partridges, sunbirds, sparrows, parakeets and
orioles, which live in bushes and burrows. These winged beauties carry
on their activities all the year round, thus making this Park a
pilgrimage for bird lovers and an ornithologist’s delight. Animals like
the black buck, sambar – largest Indian antelope, spotted deer, and
nilgais also show their presence here, theough they are greatly
outnumbered by the winged fraternity. Pythons can also be observed, at
some places, lazing in the sun.
Saras cranes, the tallest flight birds,
nest in exposed and open areas; both partners share the duty of
hatching; while changing incubating duties, they come together, raise
their neck and give out shrill trumpeting calls in unison, fanning their
feathers at the same time .The newborn chicks are only 10 cm. in size
but grow up to one metre in height within a year.
As the monsoon arrives, birds from every
part of the country start flying into the Park. Migratory waterfowls,
including the pride of Keoladeo - the Siberian Cranes, form an
interesting species found in the Park. These waterfowls visit the Park
in hordes during the month of October. The rosy starling marks the
beginning of the arrival of migratory birds. The most noticeable
waterfowls coming to the Park are the bar-headed and greylag geese. The
ducks spotted here are pintail, common teal, ruddy shelduck, mallard,
widgeon, shoveler, common shelduck, red crested pochard, gadwall etc.
Predatory birds like the imperial eagle, steppe and tawny eagle, spotted
eagle, marsh harrier and laggar fatcon are attracted towards the Park,
completing the avian food chain of the ecosystem. Some of them, like the
short-toed eagle, lesser spotted eagle and shikra, are the residents of
the Park.
About 11 sq. kms of the Park is covered by
water; the remaining portion is rich in birds like the kingfisher, red
vented and white-cheeked bulbuls, babblers, quails, partridges,
sunbirds, sparrows, parakeets and orioles, which live in bushes and
burrows. These winged beauties carry on their activities all the year
round, thus making this Park a pilgrimage for bird lovers and an
ornithologist's delight.
Animals like the black buck, sambar-the largest Indian antelope, spotted
deer, and nilgais also show their presence here, though they are greatly
outnumbered by the winged fraternity. Pythons can also be observed, at
some places, lazing in the sun. Vehicles are only permitted upto Shanti
Kutir inside the Park. The Electra Van of the Forest Department in the
Sanctuary can be engaged, although the best way to explore the Park is
on foot, bicycle or cycle rickshaws which are available on hire.
LOHAGARH FORT OR THE ‘IRON
FORT’ : LOHAGARH FORT OR
THE ‘IRON FORT’ Conceived and designed to last for years-Lohagarh Fort,
true to its name, stood solidly against many attacks by the British,
frustrating them to no end. It faced the British onslaught four times
and after a long siege they had to withdraw, but Lord Lake’s Bharatpur
for the British.
It is very different from the other forts in the State. There is no
flamboyance associated with this fort, but it radiates an aura of
strength and magnificence. The fort is surrounded by a moat, which was
filled with water to ward off the enemy attacks. Sandy battlements
strengthened the sandy ramparts, thus the enemy guns proved of no avail.
Some interesting monuments in the fort are Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas,
Moti Mahal and Kothi Khas. Jawahar Burj and Fateh Burj, inside the fort,
were built by Suraj Mal to commemorate the victories over the Mughals
and the British. The Ashtadhatu (eight-metal) gateway has paintings of
huge elephants.
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