Bikaner
Population
: 461,500
Main Languages
: Rajasthani, Hindi.
Telephone area code
: 0151
Best time to visit
: October to March
Bikaner’s history dates back to 1488 A.D., when a Rathore price
Rao Bikaii – a descendant of the founder of Jodhpur (1459 A.D.),
Rao Jodhaji, established his kingdom here. More popularly called
the camel country, the city is renowned for the best riding
camels in the world. The ship of the desert is an inseparable
part of life here.
A strategic location of Bikaner on the ancient caravan routes
that came from West/Central Asia, made it a prime trade centre
in the time of the yore. The city stands on a slighly raised
ground and is circumscribed by a seven km long embattled wall
with five gates. The magnificent forts and palaces, created
with delicacy in reddish pink sandstone, bear testimony to its
rich historical and architectural legacy.
Places of Interest
Junagarh
Built
in 1593 A.A by Raja Rai Singh, a general in the army of Emperor
Akbar, the fort is a formidable structure encircled by a moat
and has beautiful palaces within. The Suraj Pol or the Sun gate, is the main entrance to the fort. Among
the most notable of the palaces are the exquisitely beautiful
Chandra Mahal or the Moon palace with marvellous paintings,
mirrors and carved marble and the Phool Mahal or the Flower
Place ornate with glass and mirror work. The
Har Mandir is the majestic chapel for the royal family for
worshipping their gods and goddesses.
Lal Garh
Palace
The palace was built
by Maharaja Gaja Singh in the memory of his father Maharaja
Lal Singh. The palace has beautiful latticework and filigree
work. Part of the palace has been converted into a luxury hotel
and a museum which covers the entire first floor of the place
and houses well preserved old photographs and trophies of wildlife.
Ganga
Golden Jubilee Museum
It is the best Rajasthan museum, having one of the richest
collections of terracota ware, weapons, miniature paintings
of Bikaner school and coins. The exhibits are splendid masterpieces
of Harappan civilisation, Gupta and Kushan era and sculptures
of later classical times.
Camel
research farm
8 kms from Bikaner is the camel
research and breeding centre – one of its kind in Asia. The
farm extends over 2000 acres of semi arid land.
Deshnoke
Karni Mata Temple
30 kms from Bikaner
is the famous 600 year old temple dedicated to Karni Mata, an
incarnation of Goddess Durga. The temple has huge intricately
carved silver gates which were donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh.
The most interesting thing about the temple are the rats
who scamper freely withing the temple. They are regarded as
sacred and fed and priest and devotees owing to the belief that
they will be reincarnated as holy men.
HOW
TO REACH
By Air
Nearest airport is Jodhpur (253 kms).
By
Train
Well
connected by trains from Delhi.
By Road
253 kms from Jodhpur and 321 kms from Jaipur.
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| Suggested
Itineraries |
| Grand
Tour of Rajasthan Delhi/Mandawa/Bikaner/Jaisalmer/Jodhpur/
Mt.Abu/Ranakpur/Udaipur/Chittorgarh/ Pushkar/ Jaipur/Fatehpur
Sikri/Agra/Delhi |
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The
Royal Rajasthan
Delhi-Mandawa-Bikaner-Jaisalmer-Rohet-Deogarh- Udaipur-
Bundi-Jaipur- Neemrana-Delhi |
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A
Princely Experience
Delhi-Samode-Mandawa-Bikaner-Khimsar- Jodhpur-Pushkar-Jaipur-Bharatpur-Agra-Delhi |
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