Bharatpur, Rajasthan:

Lohiya Gate in Bharatpur

Four weeks after my last trip to Khajuraho, I used the holidays surrounding Diwali and took the train to Bharatpur in easternmost Rajasthan.

Bharatpur is famous for the beautiful Keoladeo National Park, but since I had enough time I also visited the city itself. The town is centred around the Lohagarh Fort with its impressive walls and wide moat. Two bridges lead into the fortress: the Lohiya Gate in the south and the Austdhatu Gate in the north. In general, the entire place seems a little neglected and certainly not many tourists come here. I wanted to visit the museum in an old palace building, but unfortunately it was closed for maintenance. Consequently, I only wandered through the fort’s alleys and checked out the Kishori Mahal Secretariate and an old tower, the Jawahar Burj.

on the streets of Bharatpur

on the streets of Bharatpur

on the streets of Bharatpur

on the streets of Bharatpur

entrance to the Museum within the Lohagarh Fort

a glimpse of the museum from the outside

streets within Lohagarh Fort

Kishori Mahal Secretariate

view across the roofs in Lohagarh Fort

Statue of Maharaja Suraj Mahl, the founder of Bharatpur

Statue of Maharaja Suraj Mahl, the founder of Bharatpur

Kishori Mahal Secretariate

Kishori Mahal Secretariate

Kishori Mahal Secretariate

Kishori Mahal Secretariate

Jawahar Burj

Jawahar Burj

Jawahar Burj

Jawahar Burj

Jawahar Burj

children asking for a photo

Austdhatu Gate

Austdhatu Gate

detail of the Austdhatu Gate

Lohiya Gate

Lohiya Gate

Lohiya Gate

the road to the Keoladeo National Park

Hotel Sunbird

Hotel Sunbird

my bungalow

Diwali lights

During the two days in Bharatpur, I stayed in Hotel Sunbird, a great place situated very close to the entrance of the national park – check out the coming post, if you want to know what I saw in the sanctuary!