Stand at the southern gate of Lohagarh Fort and you are looking across a moat that has held its line for centuries, with the four-pillared Chowbruj rising ahead of you. This is the Bharatpur of the Rajasthan plains, a city of Jat-built forts, sandstone mosques and a bird sanctuary that fills with migratory birds in the cool months.
It suits travellers who are already in the region and want a compact stop built around history and wildlife rather than a long itinerary of ticketed sights. Most of what is worth your time sits close together, and the sanctuary rewards an early start.
This guide covers the fort and its surviving structures, the sanctuary, and the temples named in the source material, followed by a one-day plan and answers to common questions.
Top things to do in Bharatpur
1. Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary
Also known as Ghana, this sanctuary was developed by the Maharaja of Bharatpur and is a Natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the single strongest reason to build a day here: the birdlife is the draw, and the park is at its best from October to February, when migratory birds arrive. Outside that window it can be relatively bird free.
Plan around the light. The best times for bird spotting are early morning and early evening. Admission is ₹200, an optional driver is ₹100 per hour and an optional guide is ₹150 per hour. Another way to see the park is to hire a bike at your hotel or at the entrance for roughly ₹40 per day.
2. Lohagarh Fort
Built by the Jat ruler Maharaja Suraj Mal in the 18th century, Lohagarh Fort is one of the few forts in India not conquered by the British, despite a siege that lasted six weeks in 1805. The fort is surrounded by a moat that has remained intact to this day, and you enter through two gates.
Set your expectations for the interior: not much remains, as most of the original structures have been replaced by new constructions including schools and hospitals. Come for the walls, the moat and the gates, and combine the visit with the surviving old structures listed below, which sit within the fort.
3. Chowbruj
This is the gate in the south of Lohagarh Fort, known as Chowbruj, meaning four-pillared. It is one of the two approaches to the fort and the natural place to begin a walk through the complex.
Pair it with Astadhatu at the opposite side so you see both gateways in one circuit of the fort.
4. Astadhatu
The gate in the north of Lohagarh Fort is known as Astadhatu, meaning eight metal. Together with Chowbruj it forms the pair of entrances through which the fort is approached.
If you are walking the moat edge, this makes a sensible finishing point at the northern end before you move on to the temples.
5. Jawahar Burj
One of the remaining old structures inside Lohagarh Fort, Jawahar Burj was built by Raja Jawahar Singh in 1765 to commemorate his victory over the Mughals at the Battle of Delhi in 1764.
It is worth seeking out precisely because so little of the fort's original fabric survives; treat it as part of a single fort visit rather than a separate stop.
6. Kishori Mahal
Kishori Mahal is another of the old structures that remain within Lohagarh Fort, listed alongside Jawahar Burj among what is left of the original buildings.
There is a museum inside the fort, so allow time for both the mahal and the museum in the same visit.
7. Ganga Maharani Temple
This temple stands south of Lohagarh Fort and was built by Maharaja Balwant Singh in 1845. Its position makes it an easy addition to a fort visit rather than a separate trip.
Come here after you have walked the fort, since it sits just to the south of it.
8. Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid is the main mosque of Bharatpur, built by Hindu Jat rulers and constructed in sandstone. The pairing of patron and building is what makes it worth a look, quite apart from its role as the city's principal mosque.
It is a short, quiet stop; fold it into the same half-day as the fort and Ganga Maharani Temple.
9. Laxman Temple
Laxman Temple is a 400-year-old temple, which makes it one of the older religious structures named in the source material for the city.
Visit it as a calm counterpoint to the fort complex, and keep it for the part of the day when you want to slow down.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, since early morning is one of the two best times for bird spotting. If you are visiting between October and February you will have migratory birds to see; hire a bike at your hotel or at the entrance if you prefer to cover ground on wheels rather than on foot.
Afternoon: Move to Lohagarh Fort and enter by Chowbruj in the south. Walk the moat and the walls, then look for what remains of the original interior at Jawahar Burj and Kishori Mahal, and allow time for the museum inside the fort. Leave by Astadhatu in the north.
Evening: Head south of the fort to Ganga Maharani Temple, then fit in Jama Masjid and, if the day still has light in it, Laxman Temple. If you would rather return to the birds, early evening is the second of the two best times for bird spotting at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary?
The best time to see the park is October to February, when there are a lot of migratory birds. At other times it can be relatively bird free.
What does it cost to enter Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary?
Admission is ₹200. An optional driver is ₹100 per hour and an optional guide is ₹150 per hour. You can also hire a bike at your hotel or at the entrance for approximately ₹40 per day.
What is left to see inside Lohagarh Fort?
Not much remains in the interior, as most of the original structures have been replaced by new constructions including schools and hospitals. Among the old structures that do remain are Jawahar Burj and Kishori Mahal, and there is a museum inside the fort.
How do you enter Lohagarh Fort?
The approach is through two gates. The gate in the south is known as Chowbruj (four-pillared) and the one in the north is known as Astadhatu (eight metal).
Decide your dates around the October-to-February window, then build the rest of the day around the fort and the temples that sit close to it.