Deeg - The Destination
Deeg
is a small town situated in the north Indian
state of Rajasthan, around 152 km away from
Delhi. Once the summer resort of the rulers
of Bharatpur, it served as the second capital
of the region. This interesting town is strewn
with massive fortifications, beautiful
gardens,
magnificent palaces, and a colorful
bazaar.
A small town in the state of Rajasthan in
India, Deeg was once the summer resort of
the rulers of Bharatpur. Today, Deeg is a
sleepy little town , but most of the
palaces are in an excellent state of repair. |
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In fact, the palaces still contain
some of their original furnishings and some are even
looked after by the occasional old family retainer.
The palaces were set in extravagantly laid Mogul gardens
with placid pools and fountains. There are richly
carved cornices, pavilions and eaves. The rooms are
filled with trophies collected from Jat adventures
in Delhi and Agra. It is said that Raja Suraj Mal
actually carried home an entire marble building from
Delhi. Much of the inlaid marble here was plundered
from Mogul palaces. Gopal Bhavan, completed
in 1750 by Raja Suraj Mal, has a marble swing believed
to have belonged to emperor Jehangir's queen - the
Persian beauty, Noor Jehan. An interesting anecdote
is attached to a marble statue of an Englishwoman
dressed in a nautch girl's garb. She is said to have
been a reigning beauty at the court of Raja Kishen
Singh. Though English, she conformed to the Rajputana
tradition of sati when the Raja died. The palaces
are filled with fascinating articles and features,
each with a colorful story of its own.
Deeg, just 39 kms from Krishna's
Vrindavan, is also the place where the dark god's
gopis (milkmaids) had their skirts embroidered. Their
frolic is the subject of a large repertoire of erotic
art and literature. Deeg has an interesting bazaar,
peopled by tall good-looking Jat farmers in pristine
white turbans and dhotis (an unstitched garment wrapped
loosely at the waist) and brightly dressed women in
swinging skirts. For this farming community, tractors
are the main mode of transport, and they trundle along
the roads, packed with people going off for a fair
or a wedding.
Deeg, with all its colours and
charm is a must-visit place during your travel to
Rajasthan to experience the real essence of the
place.
Deeg - Facts
at a Glance
| State : |
Rajasthan |
| Area
: |
22 sq km |
| Temperature : |
37°C - 45°C
(Summers)
21°C - 31°C (Winters) |
| Altitude : |
205 meters |
| Language
: |
Rajasthani, Hindi,
English |
| Best
Season : |
October – March
|
History of Deeg
The Jats, a dynasty that dared challenge the power
of the Mughals, once ruled Deeg. The living testimony
to their rule is a fort constructed during the reign
of Surajmal in 1730s. Surajmal was also responsible
for the development of the town of Deeg. In 1776,
the reign of Jats ended following their defeat in
the hands of the imperial Mughal army under Mirza
Nazaf Khan. Nevertheless, Deeg was returned after
a decade, but it did not remain free for long. It
was again seized, this time by new rulers, namely,
the British with their peculiar style of gun power
and diplomacy. The British set it free not long afterwards
in 1805.
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