Bharatpur
Bharatpur
- the Eastern Gateway to Rajasthan, was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733
AD, it was once an impregnable well fortified city, carved out of the region
formerly known as Mewat. The trio of Bharatpur, Deeg and Dholpur has played
an important part in the history of Rajasthan.
The legends say that the place was
named as Bharatpur after the name of Bharat, the brother of Lord Rama, whose other
brother Laxman was worshipped as the family deity of the Bharatpur rulers, Laxman's
name is engraved onthe state arms and the seals. The city and the fort have been
believed to be founded by Rustam, a Jat of Sogariya clan. Maharaja Surajmal took
over from Khemkaran, the son of Rustam and established the empire. He fortified
the city by building a massive wall around the city.
The interesting aspect
of the Bharatpur history is the domination of Jats in the region since 17th century,
leader like Churaman and Badan Singh brought the Jats together to mould them into
a force to reckon with. Suraj Mal has been the greatest ruler who made them a
formidable force and played a very important role in the Indian history during
19th century.
Today Bharatpur is better known for the Keoladeo Natinal
Park, a unique bird place, delight of ornithologists. SIGHT
Places
To SeeKeoladedo National Park:
Aparadise
for the avian world, and the pilgrimage for the bird lovers, it was known as
the best duck shooting resort in the British empire. But was declared a reserve
for birds in 1956 and later upgraded to 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, 29 sq km. Only, it boasts
to house more than 375 species of beautiful birds, and more than 132 of them breed
inside the Keoladeo Ghana National Park and nearly every year new ones are added
to the list.
The sanctuary not only attracts birds from India but also
from places like Europe, Siberia, China and Tibet Before monsoons hundreds of
these exotic birds roost and nest building activities start on the babool and
kadam trees of the park. Water coming 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 cormorant, darter, purple and grey heron, various
species of egret, painted, open-billed, white necked and black necket stork, white
ibis, spoonbill, night heron and other birds get busy in courting and mating.
The trees are overflooded with nest, one can observe a tree housing nests upto
fifties and sixties in number belongign to different species of birds looking
after theri loving young onces. The nests on the trees look like pearl necklaces.
Gracious
Saras cranes, the tallest flight birds nest in exposed and open area, both partners
share the duty of hatching, while changing incubaating duties, they come together,
raise their neck and give out shrill trumpetic calls in unison and at the same
time fan their feathers.
The newly born chicks are only 10cm. In size
but grows upto one metre in height within a year. As the monsoons arrive birds
from every part of the country start pouring into the park. Migratory water-fowls,
including the pride of Keoladeo Siberian Cranes form the indispensable part of
Park.
The water-fowls visit the park in millions during the month of October.
Rosy starling marks the beginning of the arrival of migratory birds. The most
noticeable water-fowl coming to the park are barheaded and greyleg geese.
The
ducks spotted here are pintail, common teal, ruddy shelduck, mallard, widgeon,
shoveler, commong shelduck, red crested pochard, gadwall etc. predatory birds
like imperial eagle, steppe and tawny eage, spotted eargle, marsh harrier and
laggar falcon are attracted towards the park completing the avian food chain of
the ecosystem. Some of them like short toed eagle, lesser spotted eagle and shikra
are the residents of Park. About 11 sq. km.
Area of the park is covered with water the remaining portion is rich with Kingfisher,
Red Vented and white cheeked
Bulbuls,
Babblers, Quails, Partridges,Sunbirds, Sparrows, Parakeets and orioles which
live in bushes and burrows. The year round activity of the winged beauties has
made the park a pilgrimage for bird lovers and an ornithologists delight. The
animal populace also show their presence although they are thoroughly dominated
by feathers, wings and beaks. The animals include the Black Buck, Sambhar -
the largest Indian Antelope, Spotted deer, and Nilgais.
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 forest department can be engaged in the sanctuary,
although the best way to explore the park is on foot or bicycles which are available
on hire. Cycle rickshaws can also be hired.
Bharatpur
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