When I was asked to visit Bharatpur for an official tour on a weekend, I
could not say "No"! If it was some other destination, I would have
immediately said "I don't want to ruin my weekend by traveling for work,
lets keep it for a weekday"! Visiting this place was on my "Must Visit"
places list for a long time..and I must admit I was not disappointed at all
by the destination, even though there were not many birds in the
sanctuary!
I suggested to take the Yamuna Expressway but our driver took the old
route to Agra, Mathura which was not very good. There was traffic and
chaos on the roads, too many hurdles ( a cow, people or dog crossing
the road after every few steps), not at all a smooth ride!
We reached
Bharatpur in 5 hours! However, on our return we took the Yamuna
Expressway and had a very pleasant ride.
Our first stop was "The Bagh" where we had to conduct an audit of the
property for best practices. We had a very warm welcome by the
General Manager- Mr. D.K.Tiwari. He gave us the brief history of the
resort, its promoters as well as Bharatpur. He then personally escorted
to the rooms and showed us around.
The hotel's twenty three rooms
are located in three different residential complexes. A restaurant,
banquet hall, coffee shop, library and a gym, all situated in a verdant
orchard, allowing guests to enjoy solitude and companionship in restful
indoor and outdoor spaces.
With over fifty species of flora, including fruiting trees and flowering
plants which attract birds, small animals and insects, guests can enjoy
quiet walks in the garden and commune with nature. It even housed
some beautiful peacocks and birds.
We had lunch in their in-house
restaurant and immediately got to the work after that.
The audit team went around checking the property and talking to the
staff, inspecting the kitchen and other amenities etc. In the evening we
had to meet with some of the local hoteliers and interact with them over
an informal get together.
The meeting was organised by the director of the hotel "The Bagh" Mr.
Vishnu Singh ji. It was really nice to meet a humble person like him,
who had no airs about either his designation or the fact that he is the
decendent of Maharaja Suraj Mal- the founder of the city. He stayed for
dinner with us and made sure we had a comfortable stay at his resort.
Day 2 was a quick visit to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary..we were
escorted by the very gracious and kind Mr. Vishnu Singh ji - the dirctor
or The Bagh as well as Bholu ji - the chief forest ranger. It was an
experience in itself to be escorted by the people who are not only
regarded by their knowledge of the park but also equally loved and
respected by the locals. Because of them we could spot some
beautiful species of the birds as well as get first hand information on the
park and its surroundings.
Our next stop after the park was "The Birder's Inn" which is a privately
owned lodge with 20 spacious rooms that overlook a garden populated
with fruit trees that attract various garden birds. All the trees and plants
in the lodge are labelled. The lodge is very tastefully designed and
build with natural sun light pouring in from all corners. It has all the
necessary modern comforts like air-conditioning, hot and cold running
water; a multi-cuisine restaurant & grill that serves a delectable variety
of dishes.
The most important factor is the personal involvement of the
management, they are present to look into each issue and sort it out
there and then. They even have in-house naturalist to share their
experience and insight to make visits to the Park truly worthwhile.
The inputs which we got from the local hoteliers is very important,
Bharatput is not only a destination for a stop over lunches, but it itself is
a complete destination which can be promoted to people looking for a
short holiday in North India. There are a few excursions also available
from Bharatpur, such as a day trip to Chambal, another visit to Deeg
Palace, visit to the Bund Baretha (Dam) and Dholpur in addition to the
world famous Taj and Fatehpur Sikri..
Below are the details of the excursions from Bharatpur:
Bund Baretha (38 Km)
A beautiful dam site 38 km west of Bharatpur, Bund Baretha offers
excellent views over a massive reservoir. The wetlands are home to
many waders and it is not uncommon to sight some species not found
inside the park. You can walk to the old Maharaja's palace and coupled
with a scenic sunset, it makes for a good day visit.
Deeg (39 Km)
Deeg was once the colourful summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur
and their second capital city. Displaying a trait shared by the Dresser
Crab and the Magpie Robin, the Jat rulers pilfered an assortment of
riches to beautify the palaces of Deeg. They ransacked victorious
Mughal armies returning from battle, took away a cannon and precious
inlay stones from Agra's Red Fort and even a whole fountain system
from the Red Fort at Delhi. Raja Suraj Mal got the fort constructed at a
slightly high ground. The main attractions of the fort include the Watch
Tower, from where you can oversee the entire palace, along with the
city below.
Day Visit to Agra & Fatehpur Sikri
Taj Mahal, Agra. Agra just 55 km away from Bharatpur, is home to
the world's most famous Monument of Love, the Taj Mahal. Together
with the Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri (22 Km), it makes for an excellent
day trip. At Sikri, you can see Buland Darwaza, the highest gateway in
India, the well-preserved buildings and some of the best Mughal
architecture.
Chambal Safari
-The Chambal Sanctuary is an excellent place to see
Gharials, Gangetic Dolphins and perhaps the world's largest population
of the Indian Skimmer. A motorboat ride on the Chambal river offers a
closer look at several other bird species and is extremely rewarding for
exploring the region's rich flora and fauna.
