Deeg is located 22 miles north of Bharatpur. This small town, far off the tourist trail, contains an exquisite pleasure palace that must be seen. However, the palace is in much disrepair for the same reason--it's off the tourist trail and therefore, low on the priority list. Upon our arrival at the gate, we were put off by the hefty admission price $5 (American) for foreigners, (5 Rs for Indians) the highest we'd seen during our visit. However, we decided to go in anyway, and we were not disappointed. The palaces were well worth the $5 entrance fee.

The pleasure palaces are set around formal Mughal gardens and are considered by some to be second only to the Taj Mahal in their beauty and symmetry. What made this place interesting for us was the fact that the Bharatpur royal family lived here until 1951. Inside you can still see their furniture and objects d'art. A far cry from the other palaces we had visited that were stripped of their furnishings and art. This place seemed more "real"--although the furnishings are, sadly, badly deteriorated.

This exotic setting was used for the film Siddharha which was based on Herman Hesse's novel. Additional scenes in the film were made at Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary near Bharatpur.

» Other Attractions Near Deeg Palace

Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) : The Keoladeo Ghana National Park or-as many people prefer to call it-the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary lies between two of India's most historic cities, Agra and Jaipur. This north Indian sanctuary is situated in the country's northwestern state of Rajasthan, about 190 km from the national capital of Delhi. The name 'Keoladeo' is derived from the name of an ancient Hindu temple devoted to Lord Shiva in the sanctuary's central zone while the Hindi term 'Ghana' implies dense, thick areas of forest cover.

Government Museum : Located in the centre of the famous Lohagarh Fort, the Bharatpur Museum houses a rich collection of archaeological wealth of the nearby areas as well as from the old Bharatpur State. The huge palatial building Kachahari Kalan, once the administrative block of the rulers of Bharatpur state, was converted into a museum in 1944 AD. Later on, the Kamra Khas (personal chamber) building on the first floor was added to the museum.

Lohargarh Fort : The Fort was designed and constructed by Maharaja Suraj Mal in the 18th century to withstand the attacks of the British powers at that time. The fort encloses three palaces within its precincts - Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas. It is also known as the Iron Fort, and occupies an entire small artificial island. The main entrance to the Fort is through the Astadhatu gate.

Jawahar Burg and Fateh Burg : These monuments inside the fort were built by Surajmal to commemorate the victory over Mughals and British. The monuments reflecting in the glory of past are worth visiting.

The Palace : It is a fine blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture, built in various phases by different Maharajas. The magnificent apartments are richly decorated with patterened floor tiles with exquisite intricate designs. The museum occupies the main central wing depicting sollections dating back to 2nd century, which relflect the art and skill of the region.

» Places to Stay in Bharatpur

There are plenty of accommodation options available from deluxe heritage hotels to budget accommodation. There are forest rest houses and PWD Dak bungalows also available.

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» Best time to visit Bharatpur

The temperature ranges from 38°C to a maximum of 45°C during the summer which spreads from from April to June. In the winters, after Christmas, temperature start falling below 10°C. The place can be visited all round the year.

» How to Get there

Air : Agra which is 56 kms away from Bharatpur and is the nearest airport while the International Airport lies at Delhi.

Rail : Regular trains connect Bharatpur with several cities on the Delhi-Mumbai trunk route, as well as to Jaipur and Agra.

Road : A good network of bus services links Bharatpur with several cities within and outside the state of Rajasthan.