Bharatpur Excursion : Places nearby Bharatpur - Rajasthan

Places to visit nearby destination - Bharatpur

Alwar

Alwar is at a distance of 116 km from Bharatpur. Though the city is regarded as the gateway to the royal state of Rajasthan, it has a legacy more powerful than that. There are many tourist attractions in the city that reflect the glorious Rajput history of the place. The main attraction of Alwar are the Bala Quila and the City Palace complex. There is a lake beside the City Palace, as well as a government museum and the tomb of Tarang Sultan.

Barsana

Barsana (50 km from Mathura), considered as the birthplace of Radha, the consort of Lord Krishna, has a very special place in every Hindu//’s heart. Barsana is famous for the festival of Holi, when the women of this village attack the men from Nandgaon (considered as Krishna//’s village) with wooden sticks in response to their efforts to put colour on them. The main attractions here are Larily Lal Temple, Mor Kutir, and Sankari Kor.

Deeg

Situated 32 km north-west of Bharatpur on the way to Alwar, Deeg was once the favourite summer resort and second capital of Bharatpur state. As towns go, Deeg is not much of a place, being small and dusty and primarily agricultural. But it has a past worthy of note. Built as a holiday resort by the Jat rulers of Bharatpur, Deeg has a fort with all of twelve bastions. The largest of these, Lakha Burj, is still mounted with a cannon. But more than the fort, Deeg is not to be missed for the excellent sense of balance with which its palaces and gardens have been laid out. The buildings form a large rectangle enclosing a garden and two large tanks at the eastern and western ends. The largest and most impressive structure is Gopal Bhawan inside which, even on a summer//’s day, the air is cool and refreshing. Perhaps the most attractive part of the garden complex is the summer pavilion, Keshav Bhawan. On special occasions the 500 fountains around the pavilion used to spout coloured water while fireworks lit up the night sky. Some of these fountains still play during local festivals.

Mahaban

A part of Brajbhoomi, Mahaban (approximately 35 km) is the place where, according to legends, Lord Krishna spend most of his youth. A major attraction of Mahaban is the Palace of Nanda, Krishna//’s foster-father, which is believed to contain Krishna//’s actual cradle.

Nandgaon

Nandgaon (56 km from Mathura) is the place where Lord Krishna is believed to have spent his childhood. Several stories of his childhood are associated with this village. The temple dedicated to Nand Rai, situated atop a hill, is the prime attraction of Nandgaon. It was built by a Jat ruler called Roop Singh. The other temples here are dedicated to Narsingha, Gopinath, Nritya Gopal, Girdhari, Nand Nandan, and Yasodha Nandan. Along with Barsana, Nandgaon has a glorious tradition of Holi. One day before the Holi, women of Barsana visit Nandgaon and challenge the men of this village to play Holi with them. The next day the men of this village go to Barsana to play the famous Lathmar Holi (Holi played with wooden sticks).