Tourist Destinations of Rajasthan

Deeg

About This Place

Deeg is a must-visit tourist destination if you are planning to travel to Rajasthan. Travel to Deeg, a small town in the state of Rajasthan which was once the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur. This interesting town is strewn with massive fortifications, beautiful gardens, magnificent palaces and a colorful bazaar.

Deeg travel offer tourists a varied experience. Approaching the town, one can see the battlements of the fort built by Surajmal. This was constructed in the form of a square, measuring about 274 m. The entrance to the fort is from the north. An outer gateway leads to an L-shaped bridge. Inside the fort is a palace (haveli). This is now in ruins, but one can still see what was once its entrance, an ornate red sandstone construction with a pointed arch. The forecourt was added later and for many years served as a prison. One can see a couple of canons on nearby mounts and, at the top of the northwestern battlement, known as Larkha Burj, another canon lies on its side discarded.

It is from the top of the western wall of the fort that one may view the palace below, built beyond a pond-the Rup Sagar-and alongside the former Purana Mahal. The style of the gardens and buildings are from the Mughal period and yet with a distinctive flavor-a result of the Jats' own aesthetic vision that flourished at a time when the Mughal architecture started to deteriorate. The most striking feature is the fountains numbering about 500. One can see the bases of these sticking up all around the palace.

The main building in the complex is the Gopal Bhawan, which was the actual residence of the Raja. Here one can see a spacious hall where the Raja was able to greet and address guests while upstairs were the Royal apartments. These can still be seen as they were when used; in one room, there is a raised elliptical dining table, while at the back there is a dining room in the western style.

From the Gopal Bhavan, one can have a good view of the char-bagh. A marble archway forms the support for a hindola (swing). Inscribed on the base is the name of the seventeenth-century Mughal ruler, Shah Jahan. Beyond the Gopal Bhawan is the Suraj Bhawan. This houses its own fountains and is remarkable for its plant decorations on marble slabs that were probably looted from Agra. Other parts of this building also appear to have been taken from other Mughal residences.

On either side of the Suraj Bhawan are two detached pavilions, Sawan and Bhadon, which are designed to look like pleasure barges. During the rains, they allow water to fall down a specially carved chute and later out onto a verandah in a charming display.

The meeting hall (Kisan Bhawan) lies in the southeastern corner of the complex and sports a series of fountains on its terrace. Here the Raja would discuss with advisors and some affairs of state were debated and decided upon. As elsewhere, one can see the use of Persian carpets.

The other bhawans are the wrestling hall (Nandi Bhawan) and the Kesav Bhawan, a place for members of the public to air their views. This building, situated on the edge of the Rup Sagar, is surrounded by a row of small and larger fountains and now has a support in the middle to prevent it from collapsing.