Deeg is a city as well as a municipality in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. The city falls under the Big Parikrama Marg of Lord Krishna beginning from Govardhan. Deeg is located only at a distance of 1 2 kilometers from Goverdhan. The city of Deeg finds its mention in Skanda Purana as Dirgha or Dirghapur. Deeg is among the ancient towns of India. Deeg is primarily known for its palaces, gardens, forts and the many fountains which run throughout the city.

LOCATION OF DEEG
Deeg is located to the north of Bharatpur and is situated towards the northern part of Agra. The geographical position of Deeg is 27.47 degrees north and 77.33 degrees east. Being situated to the south west of Delhi, Deeg has a well developed communication network. Even with Agra Deeg is well connected by road.

HISTORY OF DEEG
The city of Deeg, during the reign of Badan Singh, in 1722, had been the initial capital of the new Jat state of Bharatpur. During the period of Maharaja Suraj Mai the capital was shifted from Deeg to Bharatpur and as a result Deeg became the second capital city of Bharatpur. Before the eighteenth century Deeg was one of the unknown villages of Eastern Rajasthan and was also a part of the Mughal territory in the Agra province. Traditionally Deeg could be related to Braj Bhumi or the land of Lord Krishna, the great mythological figure.

History says that being distressed by the Mughal tyranny the Jats from the neighbouring villages of Sinsini and Thun rose to power and gradually with the passage of time the whole of Bharatpur came under the control of Jat rulers. Thakur Badan Singh, the founder of the Jat kingdom in Bharatpur can be credited for the urbanization of Deeg. Badan Singh and his son Suraj Mai were the ones who converted the dead land of Deeg into a city of life and activity. Among the Jat rulers, Suraj Mai was the most successful one and during his reign, Deeg was in its best form.

Gradually the glory of the Jat rulers declined amidst discord. In 1786 Deeg was taken over by the Mughal general, Mirza Najaf Khan, but again in 1787 Deeg was given back to the Jat ruler Ranjit Singh by Scindia. In 1804, the Jats lost Deeg to the British but in 1805 Deeg was returned. After this historical turmoil which Deeg underwent there were not much notable incidents.

PEOPLE OF DEEG
Deeg has a population of 40,826 according to the census of 2001. 54 percent of them are males and the rest are females. Deeg has a literacy rate as high as 61 percent. Within the literate population of Deeg 71 percent are males and the literate female population amount to 49 percent. Around 17 percent of the population in Deeg is below the age of 6 years. The population of Deeg is mostly traditional in nature.

CULTURE OF DEEG
The people of Deeg strictly adhere to Hindu religion. As they are traditional in nature they are more closely associated with religion. They try to follow all the rules and regulations of the Hindu Dharma. The fairs held during the month of September occupy an important place for the people of Deeg and during this time the city becomes lively.

ARCHITECTURE OF DEEG
The architectural styles of Deeg are reflected through the numerous Bhawans and Puran Mahals that are present in the city. The style of architecture that is followed is generally the Jat style. In fact there is not much spontaneity or originality in the architectural forms of Deeg. At the same time it may be noted that the Bhawans and the Puran Mahals of the city are well known for their beautiful presentation. Unlike other parts of the country the architecture of Deeg cannot be divided into different stages but a close reflection shows that the architecture of Deeg was closely influenced by the Mughal style and equally by the Rajput style. A specific characteristic of the buildings of Deeg is a combination of simplicity as well as grandeur. For instance the Puran Mahals were simpler form of structures with less attractiveness and massiveness. The Bhawans on the other hand were grander in structure. They were sophisticated in nature and reflected a particular order and delicacy in their architectural patterns. Mostly the materials which have been used for constructing the great architectural forms were stone, bricks and mortar.

TOURISM IN DEEG
Apart from the beautiful gardens that encircle the magnanimous Bhawans of Deeg there are many other architectural heritages which attract tourists in large numbers. One such form of architecture is the Gopal Bhawan. The Gopal Bhawan till date is one of the most brilliant palaces of the world. The reflection of the Gopal Bhawan in the Gopal Sagar is absolutely spellbound. All the structures present in the Gopal Bhawan are spectacular. It combines the elegance of Shah Jahan as well as the traditionalism of Rajasthan. The Suraj Mahal made of marble is also an important attraction for the tourists. The other Bhawans which make people throng the city of Deeg are the Hardev Bhawan, the Kishan Bhawan, the Keshav Bhawan, the Nand Bhawan and a lot more. Along with the Gopal Sagar, the Roop Sagar is also one of the earliest Talabs in the city of Deeg. It can be said that Deeg does not disappoint a tourist. It has a plenty of structures which talk about the past and closely reflect the historical influences which the city had undergone in the past. A tourist can easily reach Deeg from Agra, Bharatpur district and Delhi by road within a couple of hours. To travel inside the town the best option is a cycle rickshaw because that gives the traveller the scope to look at the place more closely.

Deeg, thus, is a city which had experienced both Hindu and Muslim influences and the traces of it can be seen in the forms of architecture that stand in the city today. Although Deeg is not a very popular tourist spot but it has a huge potential to develop into one. The romanticism that fills the atmosphere of the place adds to its historical aura and makes the Bhawans and the Puran Mahals more vibrant in nature.