Karauli Attractions - Tourist Places To Visit In Karauli

Bhanwar Vilas Palace was built in 1938 by the then ruler of Karauli, Maharaja Ganesh Pal Deo Bahadur, and served as the royal residence. The palace is designed in a colonial style and furnished with furniture of art deco period. The palace has now been converted into a heritage hotel and has 45 rooms laden with all the modern-day amenities.

City Palace, located in Karauli in Rajasthan, is a 14th-century palace that was built by the royal family. The palace is famous for its classic paintings, stone carvings, architecture and lattice works. The Darbar Hall houses some old pictures of the palace and displays the 600-year-old artwork of those times.

The palace served as the official residence of the royal family until 1938. After the construction of the Bhanwar Vilas Palace, the royal family shifted from City Palace to this new residence.

Although the original City Palace dates back to the 14th century, the present City Palace is an 18th-century building with frescoes and elaborately ornamented stucco work.

Kalyanji Temple, located in Karauli in Rajasthan, was constructed some 200 years ago by Maharaja Gopal Singh. Karauli, which was earlier called Kalyanpuri, has derived its name from the deity Kalyanji. This prominent shrine has an idol of the deity in the main hall and showcases beautiful traditional style of architecture. According to a folklore, the temple is the guiding force behind the welfare and development of Karauli.

Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Karauli, adjacent to the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh Border. It sprawls over an area of 676.40 sq km. River Banas flows through the western edge of the sanctuary while river Chambal flows in the south-east direction. The sanctuary, which is named after the Kela Devi (also called Kaila Devi) Temple, presents a scenic landscape to visitors.

The sanctuary is home to many animals which include chinkaras, wild boars and jackals. Other animals, such as tigers, leopards, sloth bears, hyenas, wolves and sambars, can also be spotted in this sanctuary.

Timangarh Fort is located very close to Karauli in the Masalpur tehsil. Historians are of the view that the fort was built in 1100 AD. However, it was destroyed soon by an attack. The fort was reconstructed in 1244 AD by Yaduvanshi Raja Timanpal, the scion of Vijay Pal.

People believe that ancient ashtadhatu, stone idols and sculptures are hidden under the temples of the fort complex. The beautiful geometrical and flower patterned carvings on the rooftops and pillars of the temples enthral onlookers. Images of several gods and goddesses are also carved on these pillars of the temples.

Several records discovered from the site confirm that the fort was occupied by Muhammad Ghori's forces between 1196 and 1244 AD. People believe that there is a Paras stone at the bottom of the Sagar Lake, present at the side of the fort.

Madan Mohan Temple, located at Karauli Fort in Karauli, was built by Maharaja Gopal Singh. It is dedicated to Madan Mohanji, an incarnation of Lord Krishna. Statues of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha, 3 ft and 2 ft high respectively, are kept in the temple. People are of the belief that after conquering the city of Daulatabad, Maharaja Gopal Singh dreamt that Lord Krishna wants him to enshrine his idol brought from Ajmer at a temple in Karauli.

The temple is constructed using the Karauli stone and showcases the architecture of the medieval age. A large number of pictures can be seen on the circumambulatory path around the garbhagriha. The architectural beauty of the temple is also depicted by the sanctum sanctorum, the open chowk and the spacious jagmohan. A large number of festivals which are associated with Radha and Krishna are celebrated here. Tourists can take part in all these festivities which include Janmashtami, Radha Ashtami, Gopashtami and Hindola. Additionally, a fair is also organised here on every Amavasya, for the local people as well as tourists.

Ramathra Fort, located at Sapotra in the Karauli district of Rajasthan, lies between Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur and Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Sawai Madhopur. Kela Devi Wildlife Sanctuary is the closest wilderness to the fort and is located at a distance of 15 km. This fort is famous for offering lakeside and countryside views to travellers.

The fort, in 1645, was granted as jagir (fiefdom) to Thakur Bhoj Pal by his father, who was the maharaja of Karauli. Thakur Brijendra Raj Pal and his family manage the fort these days.

The fort has two temples inside it; one of them is dedicated to Lord Ganesha while the other is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Shiva temple has a marble idol of Lord Shiva which displays the craftsmanship of the early 18th century.

While on a visit to the fort, the tourists can enjoy the beautiful views of the farmlands, rugged scrubs of the Daang Plateau, Kalisil Lake and its irrigation canal. It is a delight to watch a large number of birds at the lake which flock from the nearby Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

Amargarh Fort is a 250-year-old fort which stands loftily atop a hill in the Amargarh village in Rajasthan. The fort is named after Raja Amar Mal, who built it. Paddy fields and abundant greenery surrounds the fort. Being surrounded by forests and mountains from all sides, the fort provides a beautiful view to visitors.

Shri Mahavir Ji Temple is located in Chandangaon village in the Karauli district of Rajasthan. A 78 cm high statue of Lord Mahavir was excavated from this village several years ago. The copper-coloured idol is in Padmasana posture.

Shopping is a delightful activity in the local bazaar (market) of Karauli after you've explored the local tourist attractions. Travellers can buy some of the best Rajasthani handicrafts including brightly hued tie and dye fabrics, garments, bangles, rugs and decorative showpieces to carry the memory of Karauli.

Women in large numbers throng the bangle market attracted by the beautiful collection of bangles. Simply choose a product, quote the price and bargain - the three main tips for an easy shopping experience in the local bazaar of Karauli.