Deeg is a lesser-known but no less charming tourist spot. Few may know that close to Shekhawati bird sanctuary in Rajasthan lies another extraordinary tourist complex, consisting of a mini-lake palace, fort and an intricate fountain system. Home to the Jat rulers; its intricate fountain system is a marvel of engineering skills. Located about 35 km north of Shekhawati town, Deeg hamlet is set in rustic surroundings. While it does not have the romantic lure of Udaipur or Jaipur, its quiet elegance touches the soul immediately.

General Information

Area:                 29 sq.km.
Altitude:           205 meters
Climate:                   Max.                                    Min.
Summer                  450C                                 370C
Winter                     310C                                  210C

Season: The palaces are open throughout the year but the best season to visit is October to April.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
Air: The nearest airports are at Agra (70 km) Delhi (200 km) and Jaipur (270 km)
Rail: The nearest railhead is at Shekhawati junction (35 km). Shekhawati is on Mumbai-Delhi sector of Western Railways.
Road: : A number of Rajasthan State buses and private buses operate from neighboring destinations. The journey by road is 5 hours from Delhi, 1 hour from Mathura, 2 hours from Agra and 3 hours from Jaipur. Shekhawati is well connected by good motor able roads to Agra (54 km), Delhi (186 km), Fatehpur Sikri (20 km), Jaipur (174 km), Mathura (36 km) and Sariska (130 km).

LOCAL TRANSPORT / SIGHTSEEINGTourist cars and buses are available at Shekhawati while unmetered jeeps; auto-rickshaws and tongas are available at Deeg. It is wiser to hire transport from Shekhawati.

FESTIVALS If you plan a visit to Deeg during the colorful month of Holi, the spectacular view of the fountains unfolds. For exact dates check with the Rajasthan Tourism Department. Unlike other artificial fountains where one waits till sunset for the colored lights to illuminate the fountains, at Deeg the fountains gush multi-hued displays during the day as well. One can also explore the villages around Mathura. What to carry: A cap as a guard against the sun, drinking water, snacks and lunch as there are no decent eating places. Museum

The Jat rulers of Deeg and Shekhawati were influenced by the magnificence of the Mughal courts of Agra and Delhi. Various items such as designer gates, stone slabs, decorated beams, etc from Mughal constructions were used in construction and decoration.

A fine marble swing was brought here as a war trophy by Raja Surajmal from the Mughal court of Delhi and placed overlooking the gardens. Similarly, the black marble throne installed in front of Gopal Bhawan is a trophy brought by Maharaja Jawahar Singh, who secured it in 1764 A.D. during his victory over Delhi.
Accommodation

Good hotels are available only at Shekhawati to suit all pockets. The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation runs Sarus Hotel at Shekhawati.

Place Of InterestDeeg PalaceHistory: Deeg finds mention in ancient texts as Dirgha or Dirghapura. It is known for its famous water palaces, aesthetic gardens and fountains. The famous fortress of Deeg, which contributed substantially to the making of the Jat principality, is now in a shambles but retains the grandeur of a once thriving kingdom. Its formidable cannons and large moats lie in disuse. Even in desolation, it is an impressive sight.

Deeg was the first capital of the Jat people with Badan Singh being proclaimed its ruler in 1722. He was responsible for conceiving and constructing the royal palace on the southern side of the garden, now called Purana Mahal or old palace. Because of its strategic location and proximity to Mathura and Agra, Deeg was vulnerable to repeated attacks by invaders. In 1730, crown prince Surajmal is reported to have erected the strong fortress with towering walls and a deepwater moat with high ramparts about 20 feet wide in the southern portion of the town.

Although Surajmal shifted his capital to Shekhawati, he continued to lavish attention on Deeg. He built elegant palaces clustered around a garden complex, with multiple fountains in front and enormous water bodies in the rear. The entire complex, sprawling with palaces and gardens, is a marvel of engineering skill. The elegant designs and perfection of workmanship of these palaces are a rarity.

Architecture: The Deeg palace and the fort strike you immediately as beautiful pieces of architecture. The palace complex is ample proof that the Jat community possessed aesthetic sense.

The palaces form a quadrangle. At its centre is a well-laid garden with walkways, decorative flowerbeds, shrubs, trees and numerous fountains, which cool the place considerably during summer. The building to the north is called Nand Bhawan. The main building on the west, Gopal Bhawan, is the largest of all the palaces. On either side of Gopal Bhawan are two smaller buildings called Sawan and Bhadon Bhawans, named after the Indian Monsoon seasons. These buildings, including Gopal Bhawan, command a pleasing view of the western tank and gardens beyond it.

A curious feature of these three palaces is the appearance of a single story from the front while there are actually two additional floors cleverly concealed at the back. One floor of these palaces is either partially or wholly submerged in water throughout the year. Not only does it lend it the illusion of being a lake palace but also provides a cooling effect during summer. On the southern side of the quadrangle are two palaces facing north. One of them, Suraj Bhawan, is built entirely of marble and is tastefully ornamented with stones of different colors. The other palace, built of grey sandstone, is called Kishan Bhawan.

James Ferguson in his `History of Indian and Eastern Architecture' says that the Deeg palaces have been built on a perfectly level plain and laid out with a regularity that would satisfy the most fastidious Renaissance architect. While the palaces are not as massive as the fortified Rajasthan palaces, they surpass them all in the grandeur of conception and their beautiful detail.

Monsoon in the desert: A massive water tank on the terrace of Kishan Bhawan feeds the fountains in the middle of the garden. The gigantic water tank is capable of holding six to seven lakh gallons of water. Bullocks were employed with large leather 'buckets' to draw water to the tank through a complex pulley system. It took 60 days for the task, it is said.

Today, the tank is filled using motorized pumps. It still takes about 24 hours to fill up but just two-three hours are needed to flush the tank through numerous tiny holes strategically placed along the walls of the tank. The water flows out through an intricate network of pipelines opening up into different fountains in the middle of the garden.

The inner line wall of the tank has numbered outlets, where little pouches of colour would be stuffed. The numbers correspond to the fountain in the garden. And according when the water comes out from the tank through the fountain colored water makes intricate patterns of water. The Halls or Bhawans are surrounded with fragrant flowering plants. In one particular hall the walls are hollow & are filled with stones. When the water gushes in the walls it not only cools the hall but also create artificial roaring sound like the clouds.

Maharaja Surajmal aptly transformed his desert surrounding into a tropical paradise with just the sound of water & stones.