Deeg

Deeg is a little known town, situated 36 km away from Bharatpur. Founded by Maharaja Suraj Mahl in the 18th century, this town served as the second capital of Bharatpur and a summer retreat for the royal family. The main attraction of the place is the Maharaja's Palace, in the centre of the town, with sprawling gardens beautified with fountains expansive courtyards. Deeg bore the brunt of battles in which Maharaja Suraj Mahl showcased the strength of his Jat empire against the combined empires of Mughals and the Marathas.

Kings of Bharatpur administered their empires both from Bharatpur as well as from Deeg. This signifies the importance of this lesser known town in Indian History. Once you lay your eyes on the the Palace pavilions and the fortification near it, you will realize the magic of the place which otherwise appears to be nothing more than an agricultural area.

Sights:
Suraj Mahal's Palace:
It is known to only a few avid travelers that there lies such a beautiful palace just near to Bharatpur, which is only associated with the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Onlookers get amazed by seeing such brilliant engineering skills portrayed through the well planned buildings and series of fountains. It was a live palace till 1970s and still preserves the interiors as were used by the royal family with exquisite furnishings, imported cutlery, antique show pieces, fan-swings, king-size beds and stuffed animal skin, all giving a feel of a royal living, which we get to witness only through movies.

The palace represents elements of both Rajput and Mughal architecture. There are two thrones, one in white marble kept in the southern pavilion, while other in black marble kept on its opposite pavilion. Gopal Sagar and Rup Sagar are two large sized tanks that water the beautifully laid out gardens. These gardens are really unique in their planning, as they follow certain themes. The monsoon pavilion produces sounds of thunder when it rains, while there is a summer pavilion which is called Kehsav Bhavan. A network of hundreds of fountains surround the flower laden gardens and its arcades. The Gopal Bhavan offers a splendid view of the western pavilion as well as the lush gardens.
< BR> Laxmi Mandir:
Just a 20 mins walk from the palace is Laxmi Mata Temple, an ancient Hindu temple devoted to the goddess of wealth, Laxmi. A female priest who is referred to as 'Mataji' takes care of the rituals and customs of the temple. Enshrined are the images of various other Hindu gods like Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga and Lord Hanuman.

Sleeping:
Deeg is mostly for day trips, but if you have to stay here then their are very less options available.

The best place to stay in Deeg is RTDC Midway Deeg, located near the town's bus station. The rooms are comfortable and meals are good too, but don't expect a lavish or stay or top end facilities here.

Getting There and Away:
Bumpy roads take you to this small town of Deeg. The best mode to travel here is bus which runs from Bharatpur, Alwar, Agra and Mathura. It takes one hour to reach Deeg from Bharatpur and 2 ½ hours from Alwar.