Bharatpur Town, Jaipur

	The Town of Bharatpur
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Bharatpur itself was founded by the Jat king Surajmal, who built the virtually impregnable Lohagarh Fort at its heart in 1732; known as the eastern gateway to Rajasthan, it soon developed into a busy market centre.

Although the original moat, 45m wide and up to 15m deep, still encircles the town, little remains of the thick eleven-kilometer walls that protected it - the British spent four months in 1805 trying in vain to penetrate them, before suffering their heaviest defeat in Rajasthan.

As you enter the fort from the north, through Assaldati Gate, you'll see a jumble of old and new buildings, among them the three palaces built by the Jats between 1730 and 1850.

Of these, the Maharaja's Palace with its stone lattice windows, painted walls and a curious collection of hammams (sunken baths) on the ground floor, is the most aesthetically appealing.

The Kamra Palace in the west of the fort now houses the government museum (daily except Fri 10.30am-5pm), with a well-stocked gallery of Jain sculptures, a copious assortment of weaponry and graphic manuscripts in Arabic and Sanskrit.

Among its collection of statues from the region is a figurine of a yaksha from the first century BC. From the shade of a lofty pavilion on the roof of the palace, you can enjoy great views of the surrounding countryside.

South of the fort, in the main market area, lie the Jami Masjid , fronted by a magnificent arched portal, and Ganga Mandir , a large, elaborate temple of pure sandstone.