One thing that comes to mind immediately at the mention of Bharatpur is its bird sanctuary.
Bharatpur is an ancient city of eastern Rajasthan. Its history dates from the era of the great Indian epic Mahabharata (approximately 1500 BC). But more interestingly, Bharatpur was the only kingdom in Rajasthan that was ruled by the Jats, the peasant stock of Haryana. The Jats rose into prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries and proved to be quite a fighting force.
Bharatpur itself is a pretty small town; if you stretch your legs a bit, you could go to many other beautiful places around like Dholpur, Karauli, Govardhan and Bayana.
Their coat of arms features a shield flanked by a lion and an elephant. A bull is engraves within the shield signifying Piety, with two crossed daggers on either side. Crowning the shield is the monkey god Hanuman's flag.
Today Bharatpur is best known for its bird sanctuary, the Keoladeo Ghana National Park which spreads at the confluence of the Banganga and Ruparel rivers. In the bygone days, the rajas hosted famous (read shocking) duck shoots in the marshes here which were frequented by British dignitaries and fellow maharajas (see Keoladeo Ghana National Park).
The Brij Festival, which is celebrated on a massive scale in UP, is an important socio-religious occasion for Bharatpur. The festival celebrates the loves and joys of Lord Krishna, and the Raslila (dances of Krishna and the milkmaids of Braj) is performed here with great enthusiasm.
