Bikaner is a beautiful city located on the edge of Thar desert, in the Northern Rajasthan. It is famous for the old Havelies and world's largest
Camel Research Farm. The city was founded by Bika in 1486 AD, he was the son of Rao Jodha. It is also know as camel country and famous for the best riding camels in the world. The exotic camel safaris, its gorgeous forts and the worship of thousands of holy rats at Karni Mata temple are some of the most interesting aspects of Bikaner. The camel festival at Bikaner held in the month of January is also an event worth witnessing if one wants to get the actual color of the place.
You can witness here a rare Hindu and Mughal art is safely preserved. The old city is walled and consists of many intricately carved palaces and temples. The fort is remarkably well preserved. It was attacked many times but never conquered. Bikaner is popularly known as the Camel Country and famous for the camel races that are held here. The Camel Research Farm is just 8 Kms from the city and is a place to visit and a good place to go to if you still have a few hours to kill. The city covers only an area of just 38.10 Sq. Kms and has more interesting sights to offer, for example, the Har Mandir, Lalgarh Palace and the nearby Gajner Wild Life Sanctuary.
Attractions in Bikaner
- Junagarh Fort
Jungadh Fort is located in Bikaner. One of the most imposing forts of Northern India and one of the finest of Rajput monuments. Raja
Rai Singh, Akbar's contemporary started building Junagadh Fort
in 1587. Often attacked, Junagadh is one of the few forts in
India, which was never conquered. It consists of 37 palaces,
pavilions and temples built by different Kings stand protected
by massive ramparts and round towers.
- Lalgarh Palace
Situated 3km north of the city center this palace which built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the memory of his
father, Maharaja Lal Singh The Shri Sadul museum covers entire
first floor of the palace. The museum was established in 1076
and there's a reasonable collection of artifacts and personal
possessions of the Bikaner Maharajas and a brass vessel known as
a Tokan used to collect revenue which was transported by camel
to the Bikaner state treasury.
- Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum
Ganga Mahal, the imposing halls added by Maharaja Ganga Singh, now houses the Fort Museum. It contains a fine collection of antique Rajput
weaponry, jade handle daggers, camel hide dhals (shiedls) and
inliad handguns and camel guns.Gold and siliver howdahs, jhulas,
palkis and a first world war biplane are on view.
Fairs and Festivals
- The Camel Festival
A lively and colourful event, the Camel Festival is organised by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture, Rajasthan in Bikaner every year. January is
just the right month for a desert spree, and Bikaner just the
right place to see the Ships of the Desert. In the camel country
Bikaner, these desert leviathans pull heavy cartloads, transport
grain and even work at the wells.
- Kolayat Fair
The Kapil Muni Fair is the largest fair of Bikaner district held on Kartik Poornima at Kolayat-originally Kapilayatan-named after the sage Kapil who is believed to have done tapasya (meditation) here for the redemption of mankind. Kolayat is situated in an arid area. Ther is a lake with 52 ghats shaded by banyan trees around the lake.
A temple dedicated to Kapil Muni is situated on the Kapil Muni
ghat and it has a marble statue of the saint.
- Gangaur Festival
Gangaur Festivals holds a special significance for the Rajasthanis and is observed throughout the state with great fervour and devotion by women folk who worship Gauri.This festival is celebrated in honour of Gauri, the goddess of abundance. Young girls adorned
in their best clothes pray for a spouse of their choice. The
married ladies pray for the welfare of their husbands. This
spring festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal all
over Rajasthan.
How to Reach
- Air
The nearest airport is Jodhpur (252 km)
- Rail
Bikaner is well connected with regular train services from Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bhatinda, Kalka and Howrah.
- Road
Regular bus services are available for Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Ajmer, Jaipur, Udaipur, Agra, Delhi etc.
