Historically momentous, the Deeg palace of Bharatpur district, is a potential site demanding tourist attraction. Although little forgotten, this strategic location of the past, in propinquity to Mathura and Agra links itself to the Hindu mythology, where Deeg comes under the parikrama path of Krishna which was started from Goverdhan , just 12 kilometres far from Deeg. Identified by some as the ancient town of ‘Dirgha’ or ‘Dirghapur’, mentioned in Skanda Purana and Bhagawat Mahatmya, Deeg became a throttlehold of the Jat rulers during the 18th and 19th century. The architecture of Deeg is epitomized by the beautiful mansions called ‘Bhawans’ popularly known as Gopal Bhawan, Suraj Bhawan, Kishan Bhawan, Nand Bhawan, Keshav Bhawan, Hardev Bhawan.
Badan Singh (1772-56 AD), the formal founder of the princely state of Bharatpur, constructed the Royal Palace and Gardens at Deeg. He built the Purana Mahal, with an interior consisting of two separate courts, arcades indented with small concave curves and points and the Rup Sagar reservoir on the east and Gopal Sagar on the west. Two oblong vault storeys were constructed as summer resorts on the water front of Gopal Bhawan. It consists of a central hall flanked by wings of two storeyed seizures on either side. A room in the northern wing contains a black marble throne- platform believed to be spoils of war brought by Jawahar Singh from the imperial palaces of Delhi. The Gopal Bhawan is bordered by two small pavilions known as Sawan and Bhadon Bhawans to its north and south respectively.
Next to Rup Sagar tank stands Keshav Bhawan, the monsoon pavilion, which is a single-storeyed baradari and an octagonal base. An arcade runs around the interior of the pavilion over a canal with hundreds of fountains. Minute water jets perforate through the walls of the canals, beautifying the palace view. Deeg was a site of legendary battle between the Jats and a combined Mughal and Maratha army of 80,000 men. As a consequence, the traces of both Hindu and Muslim taste of architecture is found here. The design of the gardens has been motivated by the Mughal Charbagh.
The hushed forts of Deeg still clutch on to the cacophony of ancient whispers. In the month of September a three day fair is held here, when Deeg is mottled to life. The palace is open from 9 am to 5 pm, except on Fridays. You can catch up this enchanting spot from the nearest airports at Agra and Delhi, or railhead in Bharatpur junction. The aesthetic garden, multiple fountains, quadrangle form, large moats, decorative beams and rustic surrounding, calls you. Do pay a visit and redefine the experience of Deeg sightseeing in your own prodigy.