GENERAL INFORMATION

 If you thrill to the inexorable forces of Nature, do not miss Bikaner. This is true desert country. You must dismiss any picture post card ideas of the desert, however. There are few sand dunes here. The Thar Desert is hard, rocky soil, solid as brick, it is scrub country, not cactus land. Gorse, thorn, milkweed sprout precariously and the earth is alive with brazen insects and bolder birds. This is camel country. They transport grain, pull heavy carts, work on the wells. Water lies sometimes 122 meters below the surface. Wells are important, almost sacred. Built on high plaiths with slender minareted towers on each of the four corners, these wells proclaim their existence from afar, like a shout of welcome.

The approach to Bikaner is bleak. The wonder is that men have chosen to live here or have thought it worthwhile to risk their lives to win such a kingdom. Rao Jodha Rathore of Marwar retrieved the fortunes of his clan and founded the city of Jodhpur in 1459. He had five sons of whom Bikaji was the most lively and enterprising. Bikaner is situated directly on the ancient caravan routes that come from West/Central Asia. It was therefore a great centre of trade I the ancient world. This gave rise to a curious phenomenon. The fortified city of Bikaner is encircled by imposing battlements and stands on a slight eminence. Its roads undulate through colourful bazaars and the predominant hue of the buildings is the strong reddish-pink of local sandstone. It is the fourth largest city of Rajasthan.

WHAT TO SEE

JUNAGARH

Raja Rai Singh (1571-1611 AD), an outstanding general of Mughal emperor, Akbar, built this imposing fort. It is encircled by a moat and contains palaces made of red sandstone and marble with kiosks and balconies embellishing the structure of intervals.

Suraj Pol, or the Sun Gate is the main entrance to the fort. Har Mandir is the majestic chapel where the royal weddings and births were celebrated.

The palaces worth visiting are Anup Mahal, Karan Mahal, Dungar Niwas, Ganga Niwas and Rang Mahal or Palace of Pleasure. And some of the most beautiful palaces are Chandra Mahal or the Mood Palace, which has exquisite paintings on lime plaster walls, and Phool Mahal, or the Flower Palace is more elaborately decorated with inset mirror-work. These palaces were built by Maharaja Gaj Singh (1746-87). The palaces withy in, are adomed with gigantic columns, arches and graceful screens. The façade of the monuments visible above the high invincible walls, offer a splendid view of pavilions protruding out, a row of balconies, kiosks and towers of intervals from a distance.

LAL GARH PALACE

It was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh to commemorate his father Maharaja Lal Singh. A spellbinding piece of dexterous carving in red sandstone marked brilliantly by intricate filigree work.  It was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh to commemorate his father Maharaja Lal Singh. A spellbinding piece of dexterous carving in red sandstone marked brilliantly by intricate filigree work. There is a marvelous collection of old photographs and trophies of wildlife, well preserved and exhibited in the Old banquet hall. Nature too has enhanced with beauty of this monument. The sprawling lawns are dotted with dancing peacocks and blooming bougainvillea.

Part of the palace today has been renovated to serve as a hotel and the remaining parts are open to the visitors.

GANGA GOLDEN JUBILEE MUSEUM

A museum that has an amazing collection. In fact, it is one of the best museums in Rajasthan. There are brilliant examples of Harappan civilization, the Gupta and Kushan era and sculptures of the late classical time. It houses a rich collection of terracotta, pottery, carpets, paintings, armory and coins. There is a separate section for arts and crafts of this region.

GARDENS AND PARKS

There are many pretty parks in city: Ganga Mahal Public Park, Ratan Bihari Temple Park, Laxmi Park, and Nathji Park. There is a zoo in the Ganga Niwas Public Park.

EXCURSION

BHANDASAR JAIN TEMPLES

5 km. Beautiful 16^th century Jain temple, dedicated to the 23^rd Tvithankara Parsvanathji.

CAMEL BREEDING FARM

8 km. This farm, perhaps the only one of its kind in of Asia, is managed by the Central Government. Bikaner’s Camel Corps (former Ganga Risala) was a famous fighting force and still maintains the importance in desert warfare and defense through the Border Security Force (B.S.F.)

DEVI KUND

9 km. it is a royal crematorium with several cenotaphs. Many decorated Chhatris have been built in memory of the rulers of the Bika dynasty. Maharaja Suraj Singh’s Chhatri is built entirely of white marble with spectacular Rajput paintings on its ceiling.

GAJNER WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

32 km. it is located on Jaisalmer road. The lush foliage of the woods have a number of nilgai or the blue bull. Chinkara, black buck, wild boar and flocks of imperial sand grouse living here.

The Gajner Palace, a summer resort of the kings, on the banks of a lake, has now been converted into a hotel.

DESHNOK’S KARNI MATA TEMPLE

30 km. it is a famous temple devoted to karni Mata, an incamation of Durga, situated on Jodhpur road.

The temple offers a haven to rats as they are believed to be incarnated as future bards. Thus, the rats, considered to be sacred, roam freely in the temple precincts.

Maharaja Ganga Singh donated intricately carved and elegantly designed massive silver doors to this temple.

KOLAYATJI

50 km. This pilgrim centre lies on the highway leading to Jaisalmer. The temple here- dedicated to Kapil Muni (Saint) – is the site of a fair in the month of Kartik (October/November). Thousands descend upon this ancient town to bath in the holy waters of Kolayat Lake on the full moon day. A cattle auction and sports involving the camel are major draw of this annual festivity.

KALIBANGAN (205 KMS.)

The extensive remains of the pre-Harappan and Harappan civilizations have been found at this place in Ganganagar district. This makes it an area of immense interest to archaeology enthusiasts.

SHOPPING

Bikaner has its own peculiar items, typical to this region. It articles made of camel-hide, camel and sheep wool carpets and woolen items, wood and leather products. The Bikaneri Bhujia, Rasgulla and sweets are popular all over India.

HOW TO GET THERE

AIR

Jodhpur 243 km is the nearest airport.

RAIL

Bikaner is connected with Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and all the major cities of India.

ROAD

Bikaner is well connected by road from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Delhi.