The Eastern Gateway of Rajasthan

What’s in a name? This sentence is heard and used for a lot of things. Looking at it, there can be a lot in a name. For instance, a whole country. “Bharatpur” is the name. It has the name of India (Bharat) right there in its name. That's what can be in a name.The beautiful city of Rajasthan which is also known as the “Eastern Gateway of Rajasthan”.

Ancient Temple of Bharatpur ; Source: Rajasthan Tourism

Having fought for by the Muslims and the Hindus a lot for its land, the land of Bharatpur dates back to 5000 B.C.  Not only did the Muslims or Hindus reside on the land, but, dating back that long, the heroes of the Mahabharata, the Pandavas, spent their 13th year of exile on this land.

Bharatpur, when it was a part of what Rajasthan was formerly known as ‘Rajputana’, It was managed and ruled by the Hindu sovereigns of the Jat group.

In the 20th century, its region was almost 5,200 square km, with less than 1 million people residing in the area. The prevailing rulers were the Jats, who were solid cultivators,  making the region rural and perfect for agriculture and cultivation.

Bharatpur was perceived by the Mughals as independent in 1722. Its most prominent ruler, Suraj Mal, looted Delhi and took over the rule of Agra in 1761. Just two years after this incident, Suraj Mal took his last breath and lost the light in his eyes. Not long after his demise, the state started experiencing losses, going through two attacks by the British. The historical backdrop of Bharatpur is additionally impacted by the approach of the British. Colonel Lake, along with different British soldiers, attempted to attack Bharatpur multiple times but experienced a huge loss.

After India was freed from the reigns of the British, Bharatpur was retained in the province of Rajasthan.

Now, Bharatpur is located in an area that is a magnet for exotic birds and animals seasonally. The infamous Keoladeo National Park is situated in Bharatpur and is home to a lot of exotic flora and fauna.