British troops under Lord Combermere initially surrounded the state's capital until on 18 January 1826 its fortress was stormed and captured.

[3] Before his death Baldeo Singh had entrusted his son to the protection of distinguished General Sir David Ochterlony who, acting on his own initiative as Civil Commissioner, advanced on Bharatpore with an army from the British garrison at Delhi.

By the time Combermere arrived it was 8 miles (13 km) in circumference and surrounded by 35 clay and horse dung semi-circular bastions, which had been baked rock-hard by the sun.

The fortress was considered impervious to artillery while its defences were enhanced by a 150-foot (46 m) wide and 59-foot (18 m) deep dry moat, which could be filled by diverting water from a nearby lake.

On arrival, troops were despatched to capture the reservoir to the north west of the fort to prevent the enemy flooding the area as they had done during the 1805 siege.