Bharatpur District is a district of Rajasthan state in western India. The town of Bharatpur is the district headquarters. The district has an area of 5,066 km². It is bounded by Rewari and Gurgaon districts of Haryana on the north, Mathura and Agra districts of Uttar Pradesh on the east, and the Rajasthan districts of Dholpur on the south, Karauli on the southwest, and Dausa and Alwar on the west.

Three rivers, the Ban anga, Rooparel, and Gambhir, cross the district. The Ban Ganga originates in Jaipur District, passes through Dausa and Bharatpur districts to meet the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh. The Gambhir River starts from Pachana Dam of Karauli District, and meets the Ban Ganga in Bayana tehsil. The Rooparel River starts from hills of Alwar District and enters the district in Kaman tehsil.

Bharatpur District is famous for Keoladeo National Park, a major wintering area for migratory birds. Established as a duck-hunting reserve by the Maharajas of Bharatpur, it was known as the best duck shooting resort in the British Empire. The site was declared a bird sanctuary in 1956 and later upgraded to National Park. UNESCO has listed it as a world heritage site. Keoladeo National Park attracts 364 species of birds, including many from India, but also from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Siberia, China and Tibet, including the rare Siberian Crane. As the monsoons arrive and the wetlands and marshes start to fill with water, birds start pouring into the park.

By plane
Bharatpur Airport (IATA: BHR), (ICAO: VNBP), near the city center.

By Bus
To Agra Local bus. Approx Rs40, 1 1/2 hours ride

To Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh Rs 12, one hour

Jaipur Rs 90, five hours

Deeg Rs 15, one hour

Alwar Rs 45, four hours

Bus’s depart at bus station and also beside Tourist reception center.

Train
The Janata express (no 9023/4) leaves new delhi at 1.45pm and arives in Bharatpur at 8.05am, arriving in the capital at 12.50pm (2nd class sleeper Rs 68/121). There are six trains daily to Sawai Madhopur (2nd class Rs78, four hours) and then at Kota after (2nd class/sleeper Rs43/121, six hours).

By Road
From Delhi: Take NH2 till Mathura which is about 45km from Bharatpur on a small road. The primary access to the highway is along Mathura Road in Delhi but, if coming from South Delhi or Delhi Airport, it is easier to take Aurobindo Marg (Mehrauli Road) and then work up to NH2 via Tughlakabad. While the highway is divided, it is worthwhile keeping an eye out for trucks, cars, and bullock carts heading the wrong way!

From Jaipur: National Highway 11, a two lane undivided highway, connects Bharatpur with Jaipur. The distance of around 200 Km can be covered in little less 4 hours.

Get around
Cycle rickshaws or Auto rickshaws are availible from the bus station and the tourist office. To hotels it is roughly Rs 25 and from the train station it should be Rs 30.