Bharatpur travel is one of the high points of the Rajasthan tourist circuit. The place is regarded as a gateway to the western Indian state of Rajasthan. The principal attraction of traveling to Bharatpur is undoubtedly the Keoladeo National Park. The National Park is a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. The geographical location of Bharatpur is 27.22° North latitude and 77.48° East longitude.

Maharaja Suraj Mal founded Bharatpur in 1733 AD as a fortified city. Bharatpur was carved out of the region formerly known as Mewat. According to a popular legend, the city got its name from the name Bharat, who was the brother of Lord Rama. Bharat is also known as Laxman in the Indian epic. Laxman was worshiped by the Bharatpur rulers as the family deity. This is evident from the fact that Laxman's name is engraved on the former Princely state's arms and seals.

The visitor on a travel to Bharatpur is presented with a surfeit of transportation options. The Rajasthan city is well linked by the Indian railway network. Bharatpur is an intermediate station in the Delhi to Mumbai line. The nearest airport is located at Agra, which is 50 kilometers distant from Bharatpur. There are regular and scheduled public bus services from all major West Indian cities. The Rajasthan capital city of Jaipur is 117 kilometers away from Bharatpur. Winter is considered to be the best time to visit the place.

The principal attraction of Bharatpur is Keoladeo Ghana National Park. The former name of the park was Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The Keoladeo National Park was initially a Royal hunting ground. The 29 square kilometers area of the park formed a favorite bird hunting place during the British Raj. In 1956, it was declared as a reserve for birds and later was upgraded to a national park. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park not only attracts birds from all over India but also from international places like Europe, China, Siberia and Tibet.

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park or the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is known to be an intermediate resting place for more than 230 species of migratory birds. The list of migratory birds includes a number of rare avian species like:

Northern Pintails

Garganey

Tufted Ducks

Common Pochard

Coots

Ruddy Shelducks

Gulls

Visitors to Keoladeo National Park may also observe the number of wild animals that reside inside the park boundaries. Sambhar is the largest antelope native to the subcontinent. The animals in the park include:

Black Buck

Spotted deer

Sambhar

Pythons

Nilgais

Motorized vehicles have restricted access within the park premises. Vehicular movement is allowed up to Shanti Kutir. A more detailed tour of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is possible by employing the services of Electra Vans. Persons following a more active lifestyle may elect to walk or cycle.

Other popular tourist attraction of Bharatpur is the famous Lohagarh Fort. The Lohagarh Fort is also known as Bharatpur Fort. The fort was conceived and designed by Maharaja Suraj Mal. There are three palaces within the fort. The three palaces are known as Kishori Mahal, Kothi Khas and Mahal Khas. The Government Museum is a rich collection of exquisitely carved sculptures, artifacts and ancient inscriptions, which is another tourist attraction in Bharatpur. The Royal Palace has beautiful apartments and minutely designed floor tiles. It is a fusion of the Mughal and Rajput plan of architecture.

Tourists may enjoy traveling in the Bharatpur region during fair and festival time. Brij Festival is held in the months of February to March, Gangaur Festival in March to April, Teej during July to August and Jaswant Exhibition from September to October. There is a number of hotels in Bharatpur suited to every budget. Accommodation in Bharatpur ranges from the high end Udaivilas Palace to the moderately priced Bharatpur Forest Lodge.