BHARATPUR or BHURTPORE, an Indian State in the Rajputana agency. Its area covers 1,978 sq.m., and its popula tion in 1931 was 486,954. The country is generally level, but de tached hills, rising to 2o0ft. in height, occur, especially in the north. These hills contain good building stone and some of them iron ore. The Banganga is the only river which flows through the State, on its way to the Jamna below Agra.
Bharatpur rose into importance under Suraj Mall, a Jat chief tain, who founded the present ruling family and bore a conspicu ous part in the destruction of the Delhi empire. Having built the forts of Dig and Kumbher in 173o, he received in 1756 the title of rajah, and subsequently joined the great Mahratta army with 30,000 troops. In 1803 the East India company concluded a treaty, offensive and defensive, with Bharatpur. In 1804, how ever, the rajah assisted the Mahrattas against the British. Lord Lake captured the fort of Dig and besieged Bharatpur, but was compelled to raise the siege after four attempts at storming. A treaty, concluded on April 17, 18o5, guaranteed the rajah's territory; but a dispute as to the right of the succession again led to a war in 1825, and Lord Combermere captured Bharatpur with a besieging force of 20,000 men, after a desperate resistance, on Jan. 18, 1826. The fortifications were dismantled, the hostile chief being deported to Benares, and an infant son of the former rajah installed under a treaty favourable to the company. In the State came under British management during a minority, and the administration was improved, the revenue increased, a sys tem of irrigation developed, tanks and wells were constructed and an excellent system of roads and public buildings was organized. The present maharajah succeeded in 1900, maintains a fine force of imperial service troops, and enjoys a salute of 17 guns.
The City of Bharatpur is 34m. W. of Agra by rail. The pop ulation in 1931 was 30,173. The immense mud ramparts still stand. It has a handsome palace, a new hospital and a high school. There are special manufactures of chauris, or flappers, with handles of sandalwood, ivory and silver, and tails also made of strips of ivory or sandalwood as fine as horsehair. The splen did palace of Suraj Mall is at Dig, 21m. from Bharatpur.