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Bikaner, situated in the northern part of Rajasthan, was founded in 1486 AD by the Rathore prince, Rao Bikaji, hence the name Bikaner. Bikaji was son of Rao Jodhaji who had asked his son to establish a kingdom of his own. The challenge was accepted and Bikaji choose the wild country 'Jangaldesh' as his territory and thus the city of Bikaner came into existence. A seven-kilometres wall with five entrances was built to protect the city from vagaries of the desert and any external aggression. The city flourished as an important trade centre between Gujarat seaports and West Asian countries. The unbroken line of descendants of Bikaji ruled Bikaner till India got Independence. Bikaner is also called the camel country, being renowned for the best riding camels in the world. It is also the birthplace of the world famous Bikaneri bhujia and namkeen (a salted snack made of lentils). The Camel Festival held every year is famous all over the globe. Bikaner has many magnificent buildings made of Reddish Pink sandstone that transcends the surrounding barren wilderness.
Shopping
A stroll down the King Edward Memorial road and inside Kote Gate will reveal the shopping pleasure in Bikaner. The purses, slippers made from the camel hide are worth a bargain. The camel skin also ends up as cushions and lacquered lampshades. The local carpets and the woodwork are very popular among the tourists. And who can forget the world famous Bikaneri Bhujias and sweets. Its main bazaars around Kote-gate seem busy forever. The railway line cuts its bazaar at several points and the movement in the bazaar comes to a complete halt when a train is passing through.
Climate
Being a desertscape, the summers are very hot in Bikaner. Bikaner has high temperature difference and low rainfall. The best season to visit Bikaner between October and March when the weather remains cool and tolerable.
How to reach
By Air
The nearest airport is Jodhpur 240 kms.
By Train
The Indian Railways connects Bikaner with cities like Delhi, Calcutta, Agra, Jaipur, Allahabad etc. The gorgeous 'Palace on wheels' also covers Bikaner in its eight-day tour of Rajasthan.
By Road
Though the unfriendly desert sands surround Bikaner but the city is well connected by roads. There are local and inter-state bus services for Bikaner.
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Places of Interest
Junagarh Fort
Lalgarh Palace
Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum
Shri Sadul Museum
Fort Museum
Places of Interest around Bikaner
Devi Kund
Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary
Deshnoke Temple
Kolayat
Camel Breeding Farms
Kalibanga
Bhandeshwar & Sandeshwar Temples
Churu (185km from Bikaner)
Hanumangarh (232km north of Bikaner)
Junagarh Fort
The Junagarh Fort, built by Rai Singh between 1588 and 1593, has a 986-metre-long wall with 37 bastions, a moat and two entrances. Situated at a height of above seven hundred feet above sea level, it towers over the city and can be seen from a distance. The fort and its palaces are profusely decorated with magnificent stone carvings. The major buildings within the fort include the Anup Mahal, Diwan-e-Khas, Hawa Mahal, Badal Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Phool Mahal, Rang Mahal, Dungar Mahal, and Ganga Mahal. The Chandra Mahal has remarkable frescoes. Beautiful mirror work adorns the walls of Phool Mahal while golden pen work decorates the Anup Mahal.
Lalgarh Palace
Built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in memory of his father, the Lalgarh Palace is situated 3 km north of Bikaner city. Designed by Sir Swinton Jacob, the palace is quite imposing with overhanging balconies and delicate latticework. Peacocks and blooming bougainvillea in the garden welcome the visitor to the palace. The palace houses a museum now and three different heritage hotels.
Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum
Established near the Lalgarh Palace in 1937 on the eve of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Maharaja Ganga Singh this Museum now run by the Government of Rajasthan, was shifted to a new building in the Civil Lines in 1954. Some principal sections of the museum are Maharaja Ganga Singh Memorial, local Arts and Crafts, History· Sculpture, Terracotta and Bronzes Armoury, Miniature Paintings and Folk-Arts, Dr. L.P. Tessitori Memorial Section, Lithoprints of the British Interpretation of the war of Independence 1857.
Shri Sadul Museum
To preserve the glory of the yesteryears of Rajasthan in general and Bikaner in particular, a part of the Lalgarh Palace has been converted into a museum. Known as the Sadul Museum, it covers the entire first floor of the palace. Some of the well-preserved old photographs and trophies of wildlife collected by the royalty have been housed here.
Fort Museum
The Ganga Mahal was Maharaja Ganga Singh's contribution to Junagarh Fort in the early 20th century. This pink sandstone hall, having walls carved with delicate tracery and scrollwork, today houses part of the fort museum. From jade-handled daggers to ivory-inlaid muskets, an exotic array of antique Rajput weaponry is on display here. Other important objects include a pair of drums belonging to Jambhoji - the saint who predicted the foundation of the dynasty by Rao Bika for 450 years. Photographs and items of personal use by Maharaja Ganga Singh and miniatures are also on view.
Places of Interest around Bikaner
Devi Kund
Eight kilometres east of Bikaner lies Devi Kund, the site of a royal crematorium with several ornamented cenotaphs or chhatris built in the memory of the Bika dynasty rulers. The white marble chhatri of Maharaja Surat Singh is very imposing.
Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary
Just 32 kilometres from Bikaner, the Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a variety of wild animals. The animals commonly found here are desert foxes, wild boars and antelopes. Imperial sand grouse migrate here during the winter. By the lake is the beautiful hotel Gajner Palace, which was once the winter palace of the Bikaner royal family.
Deshnoke Temple
Thirty kilometres south of Bikaner is the village of Deshnoke, where the famous Mata Karni Temple is situated. The 600-year-old temple is dedicated to Karni Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Legend has it that before embarking on his campaign, Rao Bhikaji sought the blessings of mystic Goddess Karni at Deshnoke. Since then the Karni Mata temple in Deshnoke continued to be patronized by the ruling family. Today hundreds of pilgrims flock the temple everyday to invoke the blessings of the Goddess, who is revered as an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The temple has huge intricately carved silver gates donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh. The temple plays host to thousands of rats that form the major attraction here. The rats are considered sacred and worshipped accordingly. One has to be very careful while entering the inner sanctum, because it is believed that if anyone accidentally step on a rat, a gold replica has to be made to compensate for the lost life.
Kolayat
Kolayat is 54 Km from Bikaner is the holy temple town by a holy lake hosts the annual pilgrimage fair around the Kartika Purnima days (November).
Bhandeshwar & Sandeshwar Temples
Five kms from the city, these temples are the oldest surviving monuments of aesthetic heritage. These were built by two brothers and the temples carry their names. The mirror work and the gold leaf paintings in the temple are noteworthy. The temples are dedicated to 23rd Jain teerthankar, Parsvanathji.
Kalibanga
One of the major archaeology sites of the Harappan civilisation. This place houses immense treasure of our past and is of particular interest to archaeology enthusiasts.
Camel Breeding Farms
Eight kilometres from Bikaner, the government-managed Camel Research and Breeding Farm is only one of its kinds in Asia. The farm carries out breeding and training of camels.
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