Deeg Fort

Deeg in the 18th century, was the capital of Jat rulers. Located at a distance of around 35 kms from the main city, Deeg Fort in Bharatpur is one of the major attractions of the city. The central citadel, set up in 1730 is square in layout and stands on a slightly raised ground. The whole monument is encircled by a shallow wide moat. The protective walls are 8 km in circumference pierced by 10 gateways and studded with 72 bastions. The gateway to the fort is protected with anti-elephant strikes. Housing some of the most exquisite palaces, fountains and lush gardens, Deeg fort is a marvel for its visitors. It is believed that the Deeg fort in Bharatpur played an important role in establishing the prominence of Jat rulers in the region. Maharaja Surajmal of Bharatpur built the fort and it had taken a span of around ten years for the completion of the citadel. The fort was built in a square shape and was known to be a strategic fort to foil attempts of invasion. A moat surrounds the fort giving it an edge in providing safety to its inhabitants. It is a popular belief that Maharaja Surajmal had special affinity for Deeg and therefore he built a number of palaces flanked by sprawling gardens. The fort is known to have a number of palaces that are simply majestic and exhibit beauty to the beholders. The major palaces of the fort are Gopal Bhavan, Suraj Bhavan, Nand Bhavan, Kishan Bhavan, Keshav Bhavan, Purana Mahal and Sheesh Mahal. All these palaces are collectively known as Deeg palace and are strikingly beautiful. The fort is also famous for its sprawling gardens that are set on the famous char bagh style that was peculiar to Mughal architecture. The gardens in the fort are maintained extremely well till today and locals come to these gardens for picnics.