About the City
The royal city Bikaner has a timeless charm like no other. Located in the northwest of Rajasthan and the city is bounded by 7 km long wall, which has five entrances and dotted by several sand dunes. This desert city of Rajasthan is famous for its attractions which include - forts, temples & Camel Festival. Known as the camle country, Bikaner is has also made a mark in industrial sector.
Today, this Rajasthan city is home to several large & medium scale production houses, which produces - textiles, wooden products, etc. Best known to the world for its Bikaneri sweets & snacks, Bikaner's developing tourism industry also plays an important role in Raajsthan's economy.
Bikaner is also one major hub for the tourists looking for an adventurous Camel ride, which gives an insight into the exquisite lifestyle of remote Rajasthan.
A Date with the Past
Bikaner was founded by the Rathore prince Rao Bhikaji who fought many wars with Mughals and British & his descendants ruled Bikaner till India achieved independence. The city was an important trade centre between Gujarat sea port and West Asian countries during the medieval period. Its magnificent buildings, historic monuments, temples shows its rich culture & heritage.
Must See in Bikaner
Junagarh Fort : The fort was built by Raja Rai Singh between
1588 to 1593 and was bounded by a 986 metre long wall with two entrances.
The Suraj Pol is the main entrance to the fort. There are several palaces
inside the palace and some beautiful ones are Chandra Mahal, Phool Mahal,
Rang Mahal, Ganga Mahal etc. Paintings, mirrors, marble carvings are the major
attractions of these palaces. There is also a museum inside the palace which
has collections of valuable antique objects.
The Lalgarh Palace : This was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh
and is situated 3 km north of Bikaner city. This was designed by Sir Swinton
Jacob and shows a mixture of Oriental & European style architecture. There
is also a library inside the palace which has a large collection of sanskrit
manuscripts. The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) has converted
a portion of this palace into a hotel.
Other Attractions
The Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary : The Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary
is 32 kms away from the Bikaner city and is home to several species of animals
& birds. The animal and bird population of Gajner includes - blue bull, black
buck, chittal, sambar, partridges, Indian bustards, etc.
Bhandeshwar & Sandeshwar Temple : Both Bhandeshwar & Sandeshwar
Temple were built by two brother and are dedicated to Jain Teerthankar, Parsvanathji.
The mirror work and the gold leaf paintings are the major attractions of the
temples.
The Ganga Golden Jublee Museum : The museum has a large collection
of pottery, paintings, carpets, coins, armoury. It also has objects of local
art & crafts which make this an interesting place to visit.
Festivals in Bikaner
The Camel Festival is held in the month of January every year and is organised by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture, Rajasthan. Camel races, camel rides, local folk dances & music are the major attractions of the festivals.
Shopping in Bikaner
The King Edward Memorial road & the Kote Gate are the place from where one can buy local carpets, purses, lethers items, slippers and some wooden products. Also the famous Bikaneri Bhujias & sweets are some of the best items to purches in Bikaner.
Best Month to Visit October to March is the best period to visit the
city.
Travelling in the City Local bus services, taxies, auto rikshaws are the major transporting devices for travelling in the city.
How to Get There
Air : Jodhpur airport at a distance of 240 kms is the nearest
airport from Bikaner.
Rail : Indian Railway connects Bikaner with all the major
destinations of Rajasthan & other parts of north India. Also the luxury heritage
train “Palace on Wheels” covers the city.
Road : Bikaner is well connected by road. Several local &
inter-state bus services operates from several major cities of Rajasthan and
north India. Some important distance are : Delhi 456km Jaipur 334km, Jaisalmer
333 km.
More Rajasthan Destinations :