A bit of mystery has been built around the main palace Gopal bhavan by giving it a single storey look from the front, double storey from the sides and four storeys from the back that merges with the lake. One storey was always immersed in water when the Deeg palace was in use, now of course it is used by the washermen to wash clothes. Main palace is traditional from outside but is quite modern from inside for its times. The entrance proudly displays a granite bed which the Jat kings brought from Delhi after they won a small war there, thinking it to be the bed of the king, only to discover that it was used for bathing dead bodies before they were buried. Huge main hall has a floor made from crushed seashells and displays the hunting honours of the kings in form of a stuffed tigress. There are two elephant feet also preserved on the tables and these are said to be the feet of the elephant who opened the gates of Red fort for the king’s army, though the elephant died in the war, king preserved the feet as a mark of respect for the animal. The furniture is pretty colonial and the influence of British in the lifestyles of the kings in 18th century can be seen. This hall also has the fountains with water channels running across. Narrow staircases lead to the first floor where there are two dining halls, one a regular western style with dining table and chairs, and the other an Indian style with a low marble table for people to sit around and in between space for kitchen staff to serve while guests and hosts eat. I found this concept quite interesting, wonder why no one else built an Indian dining table like this. This palace is also known in the region for the silver bed of the king, but we found that only the pai or the feet of the bed are made of silver. There were pretty modern bathrooms complete with bathtubs, and an attached staircase from outside that directly landed into the bathroom for the cleaners to come. There is a mechanical cooler that was operated by two men to create cool breeze for the king, and it still works. This is what the royalty had access to 250+ years ago and as you drive around this region in mornings or evenings you can see row of people still using the roadside for relieving themselves. There are few rooms for the kind of space, but I guess it was meant only for the king and the queen to live.

The palace has borrowed the Mughal char bagh style for laying its gardens with water channels running through the length and breadth of it. The pipes we were told were made of terracotta and continue to work till date. There is a marble swing that the guides claim belonged to Jahanara, Shahajahan’s daughter and was brought over from Delhi. A swing in the middle of a palace built on the theme of monsoon is a perfect fit irrespective of its origin.

Open palaces are now covered with mesh doors, which is a good way to maintain them but take away the feel of the place. Most of the palace is made in pink sandstone except Suraj mahal that is built in white marble with colorful inlay work typical of the mughal style. Guide told us that the building was actually located in Agra or Delhi and was brought here after dismantling by Suraj Singh and then re-assembled here. But my guess is that it might have been built from the rubble of the royal buildings of mughals. This building is more like a pavilion rather than a residential place. Separated by Rup Sagar, on the other side of the palace is the fort, which now only has a Tope to see. The huge bastions give the impression of a strong fort but most of it is withering away. The palace was obviously a pleasure place, and fort may be a place to defend in case of an enemy attack.

While you go there for the architectural beauty in stone, you would see a whole lot of birds around the two water bodies, specially parrots and owls. Well, Bharatpur bird sanctuary in not too far from here. Of course, there are lots of monkeys as well. Outside the palace and fort, it is a typical north Indian small town, where you can wander around and see women walking around with their faces fully covered by their Sari pallus. You can see everything being sold on the pushcarts and you can see all the dirt and filth that the town lives with.

You can see Deeg Palace when you visit Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary or when you tour Braj Bhoomi. For Delhiites, this can be a good weekend option.

Recommend you to read following Places to visit in Rajasthan.

1. Neemrana Palace & Fort .
2. Little Gem of Rajasthan – Alwar .
3. Surprise discoveries at Ajmer .
4. Kumbhalgarh Fort with an unwinding Wall .
5. Jain Temple at Ranakpur .