The rickshaw waala peddles through the old lanes of Radha Kund as I click pictures of the old, dilapidated yet fascinating doors and shutters of closed shops.
He doesn’t seem to fathom why I get all excited whenever I see an old heritage building and wonders why would a rusty door interest me.
Suddenly we pass by a magnificent piece of architecture: with huge minarets, standing tall against the morning sun.
I ask him to stop so I can click and strangely he doesn’t oblige but peddles faster. Its weird, but I guess he is in a hurry.
Looking out for a landmark near this building, I make a mental note to visit it again for photography.
I am in Goverdhan, a small, religious town having strong mythological connections.
Nestled between Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, this village bustles with activity during Hindu festivals and days of religious relevance, namely Ekadashi and full moon days.
The highlight is the Goverdhan Parikrama. Read about it here.
What intrigues me is the rich architecture scattered across in bits and parts, living stories of yesteryears. Most of them unprotected, unnamed, unvalued.
In my conversations with locals, I often get these answers to my never ending questions:
“That building? No one goes there!”
“I don’t know how old it is, for us its always been a play area.”
For every other question Krishna is an answer. Inevitably everything is linked to Lord Krishna, some of them, extremely entertaining and visibly fictional.
The same day I saw the building with minarets, later in the evening, a local asks me if I would like to see Rudraksh trees?
I sit up, bewildered. Rudraksh trees cannot possibly be found in such an arid climate. That is why they are found amply in Nepal and Rishikesh.
My curiosity leads me to accompany him.
My jaw drops when he enters the gate of the minarets I saw in the morning. Coincidence much?
I sprint inside out of sheer excitement.
The courtyard is deserted, with just one watchman in sight. The first thing that caught my attention were the beautifully constructed cenotaphs (chattris).
A rusted board reads that this is a protected monument.
I walk past deserted corridors observing the intricate stone work, curious as to what could possibly be the story behind this ancient building.
I ask the watchman, to which he prompt replies, “Yahan to Shamshaan tha” (This was a crematorium). I freeze.
Sensing my shock and my sudden movement towards the gate, he is quick to add, ‘of the Kings of Bharatpur’. Now the board makes sense, the place is called ‘Bharatpur Rajaon ki chattri’.
Chattri or cenotaph is a memorial built for the dead royal family members. These intricately carved cenotaphs are built in stone or marble and are a quintessential part of the Jat, Rajput and Mughal architecture.
Plenty of such chatters are found across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
The local urges me to not go back. I wouldn’t of course. Not after seeing such ornately done doors.
We are walking around the main structure, when sounds of a shiv bhajan echo in the complex. There is no one in sight.
The watchman leads us to a descending flight of stairs.
The cenotaphs are no more in sight. All I can see are trees. Scores and scores of trees.
Ambushed between the green cover was a small shiva temple. Quite unusual, but there wasn’t any offering on the Shivling. The song being played was a treat not only to the ears but also the soul. A magnetic voice, almost addictive.
I have never heard this song before. But I feel I have visited this place before. As I am ruminating over this Deja Vu experience, I see Koyals strutting in and out of the foliage.
It is impossible to think that this was once a cremation ground. Parrots swung on branches while peacocks played hide and seek.
No there wasn’t an iota of negativity here. Some places that fill your soul with a terrific energy and positive vibes.
We are now facing a whitewashed vintage bungalow.
I am ushered in a drawing room filled with foreigners. It is a casual seating arrangement. A tall, well built Yogi is answering their questions. Questions pertaining to existence, subconscious being, Kriya Yoga, Kundalini meditation practices. The radiant Yogi answers every query in impeccable English with ease. I have a eerie feeling that he knows I am studying his face keenly.
I need some time to let all of this set in. The bizarre set of events: Finding the Chattris, wanting to click them, learning about the cremation grounds, visiting the Shiv temple, soaking in the greenery and now being face to face with a Yogi. (I will not name him as I didn’t seek his permission to reveal his identity) . He hands over two books that he has authored and reveals that he has never stepped out of the compound since 8 years.
Whether one believes in a particular Yogi or his teachings is one thing and that one meeting wasn’t enough to help me decide. But I knew one thing for certain.
This man had transformed a barren cremation ground into a lush, green paradise.
A forgotten piece of land where birds of prey flocked is now home to peacocks and parrots.
For this transformation and his dedicated effort, I held him in utmost respect.
The last king of Bharatpur had handed over the property to the Yogi who was then studying law, but was on the lookout of a guru who would teach him Kriya Yoga. After the last king was cremated, this ‘shamshaan’ was worked upon and the fruits of his handwork were clearly visible.
While exiting, I finally get to see the row of Rudraksh trees. The best of my scientific knowledge goes for a toss as I try to fathom how is it possible?
I give up. Some mysteries are best unresolved.
I turn behind one last time and look at the cenotaphs through the gate. Our country has so many stories hidden in every nook and corner. We only need to delve a little deeper.
There are some experiences which are out worldly. Where words cannot do justice to the experience. They reside in you for a long, long time and give you goosebumps whenever you think of them.
Its been over a year I visited ‘Bharatpur Rajaon ki Chattri’, but the experience is still fresh in my mind. Like the song I heard in the complex, whose lyrics I have forgotten but the tune stills lingers on in my mind.
Wow, it looks beautiful. What a breathtaking place to visit!
Thanks! 🙂 plenty of such little known places scattered across in India:)
I vividly remember seeing this place in an episode of shhh koi hai…and now I finally know where it is. Yet another Chattri I know of now and yet another architectural wonder not getting the limelight it should I realized. The abundance of such structures in the north has somehow made people less appreciative of the legacy they have been given by the numerous rulers of the area. Anyways – Loved the post!
Really? It was on TV? Even the locals don’t bother forget others. It’s just history lying there, unnoticed, unvalued and decaying!
Once again a wonderful post ! The real essence of traveling is that you get to see some magnificent places just like this one. I feel there are plenty of such places in India and a lifetime isn’t enough to visit them all !
Thanks Atul:) absolutely agree. One lifetime isn’t enough to span the length n breath of our country:)
I always look forward to your posts 🙂 Filled with lot of infos and pics they are amazing.
The best thing about this place is, it is not crowded (by tourists) from your pic. That gives you more opportunities for taking pictures and walking around.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Anoop 🙂 so glad you like them! Yes because it wasn’t known plus entry is restricted unless you are with a local, there was absolutely no crowd:)
have visited Bharatpur sanctuary a few times and once the Fort too. But your writeup on the chattris is a revelation. Thanks Divya for opening this hidden door with your beautiful photos and words
Thanks Doreen 🙂 this is a good 40 kms away from the sanctuary. On the border of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan . We will visit together someday:)
There are so many unknown places in India which is worth exploring. Thanks for bringing this place to limelight
Thanks Anin:) indeed and one lifetime isn’t enough.
Amazing place, Great pics. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Rupam 🙂
Never heard of this before! I didn’t know there is a slice of Rajasthan in my own state Uttar Pradesh. I would like to visit it one day. Perhaps this winter! And I can totally relate to the rickshaw wallah being unable to understand why you are interested in the rusty door, haha!
Lots of slices of Rajasthan in UP. Will tell you more about them 🙂 it’s very near delhi toh you can visit with ease! 🙂
You have explored quite a treasure!
😊😊
If you miss the name, everybody would think it’s in Rajasthan. 🙂 It certainly doesn’t look like a cremation ground from any angle.
Nicely written with very nice photos. I liked the door and the door knockers as well.
Keep exploring and keep telling us. One lifetime isn’t enough to explore our country so doing thru your eyes. 🙂
Haha yes! In fact many did and thought it was Rajasthan 🙂 the transformation is unbelievable! 🙂 thanks so much. Your appreciation means a lot 🙂
Your love for ruins and historic sites seems like mine. I like visiting old castles and forts (not that I have been to many yet). And, not many can understand our love.
The Yogi seems to have found peace there, as you found…it’s just our perception that there would be negativity there!
Hehe another similarity! 🙂 big big fan of historic places:) I love temple ruins as well:)
So true. It’s our perception that we associate negativity with things we don’t understand completely or know less about.
Lovely photos and beautiful write up.Really a treasure.Thanks for sharing.:)
Cheers,
Sriram & Krithiga
Thank you so much! 🙂
Wow those photos are breathtaking! Isn’t it so cool that you stumbled upon such a historical place by chance. The architecture is just fantastic! And that whole place looks so empty. Lovely picture of the peacock too. What an incredible experience you had! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Pooja:) it was secluded and deserted with just the sounds of birds and the devotional song being played. Truly a mystic experience! Thanks for reading!
Thank you for taking us along on this adventure — amazing detailed architecture and great photos.
Thank you so much 🙂 glad you liked it!
Brilliant find Divsi! The chhatries appear to be in surprisingly good condition. And what a delightfully luxurious home for a yogi! 🙂
Thanks Madhu. They are in good condition being fairly recent and only coz the property is a private property. Had it been under UP govt, things would be well.. Very different:)
Awesome article and photograhs, it was as if I was taking a tour of the place while reading.
Thanks Anita:) glad you liked it!
Divsi, this was one post where your narration brought alive more vivid images than the ones you have shared! I was transported to the mystical past wondering about the ancestry of the place, the unusual tune you mentioned and the mysterious Yogi! Beautiful post!
Thanks a lot for introducing a lesser known but a stunning place in our country…
As you rightly said, there so many such incredible monuments scattered all across this great land.
I really appreciate the way you have narrated the story through conversations and images 🙂
Have a nice day ahead 🙂
So beautiful, it seems strange to me that sights like these aren’t tourist destinations, how did it manage to fall off the map?
Sights like these, and many many more of such treasures are off the map because they aren’t marketed well. There is always an hype around the Taj Mahal and Varanasi but there are several architectural wonders which aren’t even brought to light!
Amazing photographs !! very well clicked !! what surprises me is that your govardhan parikrama post is dated october 2014 and it is now that you write about the chatri.. two different visits ?
Thanks Reema! Glad you liked them 🙂
Have visited Goverdhan several times. Both are documented during different visits, hence different dates 🙂
And i think i will reveal the Yogi’s name as i do have his permission 🙂 Yogi SHRI SHAILENDRA SHARMA ! 🙂
http://www.shailendrasharma.org/
http://www.siddhasiddhanta.com/
Ah! Brilliant 🙂 Did he read the post?
If you went there in the evening, the song playing must have been “Shiv, shiv, shiv…” by Gundecha Brothers. The yogi living there is far more mysterious that one can think. Perhaps you could get a sneak peek in to his life in this book – http://www.amazon.in/Right-Hand-God-Shailendra-Sharma/dp/1484196716/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483786453&sr=8-1&keywords=At+the+right+hand+of+god
Beautiful photographs 🙂 I had to look up what a Kadam Tree was as I had never heard of one – they must look spectacular when in full bloom. Thanks for sharing.
Lovely story and beautifully told. There is so much to see in India. I didn’t know of this place until now. And now, I can’t wait to visit. Thanks for sharing such stories 🙂