Bikaner Rajasthan
Bikaner, situated in the northern part of Rajasthan, was founded in 1488 by a descendant of the founder of Jodhpur named Rao Bhikaji. Bikaner was an important city on the great caravan trade route during the medieval period. The city is surrounded by high fortifications comprising a seven-kilometre long wall which encircles the old city and has five entrances-all constructed in the 18th century.Bikaner offers several attractions to the tourists besides, of course, the exotic camel safaris. You can visit the majestic forts or go to the Mata Karni temple where rats are considered sacred and worshipped. The camel festival held in the month of January is also an event worth witnessing. Some of the major attractions around the city are Junagarh Fort, Lalgarh Palace, Camel Breeding Farm, Gajner Palace, Deshnoke Temple and Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum.
Area 38.1 sq km Population
415,000 (approx.)
Language Hindi, English, Rajasthani Religion Hindu, Muslim.
Places To See Bikaner 
1. Junagarh Fort
Celebrate royal Bikaner as you walk along lavishly carved stone corridors, pavilions, stunning royal quarters, minarets, archways and ornamented courtyards at the Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. Raja Rai Singh, a general in Emperor Akbar's army built the Junagarh Fort that entices you into its network of hallways, frescoed rooms and steep staircases.A thick, crenellated stone wall, which is about 986 meters long surrounds the Junagarh Fort and gives you a fair idea of the kind of military preparedness during the medieval ages in Rajasthan, India.
There are two entrances to the Junagarh Fort and the main gate is known as the Suraj Pol.See picture pretty kiosks, palatial mansions, Jharoka windows, spacious courtyards and architectural friezes that adorn the magnificent Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.Bikaner tourist attraction tours with Indian Horizons gives you a unique opportunity to feel the splendor of Rajasthan that definitely cannot be expressed in mere words. Historic Junagarh Fort entrances you with its Anoop Mahal, Karan Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Phool Mahal, Dungar Niwas, Bijai Mahal, Gaj Mandir, Ganga Niwas and the Rang Mahal.
The Phool Mahal is quite special with its walls adorned with flower patterns made of tiny colored glass pieces and mica shreds. The gold leaf work on the walls of the lovely Anoop Mahal will mesmerize you into a luxury trance.
The spectacular Lalgarh Palace in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India is an outstanding architectural marvel that enchants you with a magical fusion Rajputana, European and Mughal building styles
2. Lalgarh Palace
Stone crafted pillars, Italian colonnades, spacious lounges, regal halls and profusely carved fire places at the imposing Lalgarh Palace in Bikaner transport you back in time to an incomparably lavish royal era. Thick walls covered with bougainvillea blossoms compliment the ethnic red sandstone palatial Lalgarh Palace in Bikaner.wildpeacocks enliven the massive Lalgarh Palace lawns adorned with marble pavilions and carved water fountains.
Built in 1902 the Lalgarh Palace was constructed by Maharaja Ganga Singhji who christened the palatial mansion after his father Maharaja Lal Singhji. The walls of the grand Lalgarh Palace are adorned with royal portraits, hunting trophies, artifacts and carved motifs. Tour the Lalgarh Palace museum and relax at the library. The Lalgarh Palace library is unique as in it is a storehouse of ancient Sanskrit manuscripts on parchments.
The Lalgarh Palace is divided into three parts, the Sadul Museum, heritage hotel and the section still occupied by the descendants of the Royal family. Designed by Swinton Jacob, a famed architect of those times, the Lalgarh Palace is a lavish royal home that exudes Bikaner regalia.
3. Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum
This museum house the collection of best teracottaware, weapons, miniature paintings & coins.
4. Prachina Museum
Located in the wonderful Junagarh Fort, the museum houses regal costumes and antiques. Its a must visit spot to vitness the royal lifestyle of the royal family of Bikaner.
5. Bhandeswari Jain Temple It is the most oldest temple of Bikaner, it has wonderful rich mirror work, frescoes and gold leaf paintings.
6. Camel Research Farm The farm is just 8 kms away from Bikaner. It covers an area of 2000 acres & is the world's largest Camel research & Breeding center.
7. Shopping in Bikaner
Bikaner is famous for leather products made from camel hide, including delicately embroidered ‘mojris’ (slip-on shoes), lacquer work, camel and sheep wool carpets and other handicrafts. Given its long history of trade, its markets brim with bargains! The city is well known through India for its spicy savouries and ‘rasgullas’ - spongy cottage cheese balls soaked in syrup. The rulers of Bikaner follow a policy of not allowing their heritage to be used for commercial activity, and so no shops are allowed in the Fort. However, they have relaxed this policy for 'Abhivyakti', an interesting shop at the entrance of the Junagarh Fort run by the Urmul Trust, which has done sterling work for the empowerment and uplift of rural communities. It sells high quality ethnic furniture (stools, chairs etc), cotton and woollen handlooms - cushion covers, durries, shawls, carpets, clothes, and knick-knacks made by the people from 70 neighbouring villages. The commendable thing is that no middlemen lap up any profits and the proceeds go directly to the villagers for funding education and health programmes. Its the perfect place to shop with a clear conscience.
Getting Around
Transport inside the city can be a big problem as buses are few and far between and the ones that are, aren't too good. For sightseeing, rental vehicles, tourist taxis and Rajasthan Tourist Development Corporation conducted tours are available Contact a good travel agent or tour operator.
Getting There
By Air
Travellers who wish to fly in to Bikaner will have to use the nearest airport at Jodhpur (253 km). Taxis, tourist buses and state roadways buses available outside the airport provide transportation from Jodhpur to Bikaner - approximately 7 hrs driving time. You could rent a car or jeep through a reliable travel agent or tour operator.
By Train
Bikaner is well connected to Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh), Bhatinda (Punjab), Kalka (Himachal Pradesh) and Calcutta (West Bengal) by regular train services in both fast and mail train categories after the Western Railway’s conversion to broad gauge rail.
By Road
Bikaner is linked by good, all weather roads that are part of the state and national highways linking the major cities of north India like Delhi (458km), Jaipur (354 km), Jodhpur (249km) and Jaisalmer (312 km). State Roadways and private bus owners operate air-conditioned and ordinary bus services from Bikaner to all parts of Rajasthan as well as to destinations in the neighbouring states of Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. Rented cars and jeeps and conducted tours are available from Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur for Bikaner.
