About Bikaner

Country: India | State: Rajasthan

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Bikaner: Jodhpur (245 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Bikaner: October to March

Peak Season: December to February

At a distance of 245 km from Jodhpur, 262 km from Ajmer, 329 km from Jaisalmer, 333 km from Jaipur, 435 km from Delhi, 502 km from Udaipur, 539 km from Chandigarh, and 577 km from Agra, Bikaner is a vibrant desert town in the middle of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India. Bikaner city is the administrative headquarters of Bikaner district and also one of the Rajasthan tourist places.

Bikaner is one of the popular heritage destinations in India, and among the famous places to visit near Delhi. Formerly the capital of the princely state of Bikaner, the city was founded by Rao Bika in 1486 CE when his father Rao Jodha, the illustrious founder of Jodhpur challenged him to establish his own kingdom. Rao Bika travelled far and when he came upon the wilderness called Jangladesh, he decided to set up his own kingdom and transformed it into an impressive city. Modern Bikaner is the result of the foresight of its most eminent ruler, Maharaja Ganga Singh (1887-1943), whose reformative zeal set the pace for Bikaner's transformation from a principality to a premier princely state. The strategic location of Bikaner on the ancient caravan routes headed to Central Asia made it a prime trade center in medieval times.

Bikaner is one of the most frequented desert cities of the state of Rajasthan along with Jodhpur and Jaisalmer tour packages. Bikaner stands on a slightly raised ground and is circumscribed by a seven km long embattled wall with five gates. The town is known for its rich Rajput culture and has some of the most beautiful forts, and palaces. The Junagarh Fort, built during the reign of Raja Rai Singh, is the most famous fort in Bikaner and is one of the must include places in Bikaner tour packages. The Laxmi Niwas Palace, Lalgarh Palace, Gajner Palace are some of the other palaces in Bikaner which add to the beauty of the town and gives it a feel of the Rajput heritage. Karni Mata Temple, Bhandasar Jain Temple, Ganga Singh Museum, Rampuria Haveli, National Research Centre on Camel, Shri Laxminath Temple, Prachina Museum, Kodamdesar Temple, and Shiv Bari Temple are the other popular places to visit in Bikaner.

Bikaner is famous for its savory Bikaneri Bhujia. It is also known for its handicrafts, leather articles, and for having the biggest camel farm in Asia. Bikaner is also a center for usta art. Usta art is characterized by miniature paintings and gold embossing done on ceilings, pillars, walls, marble, wooden and glasswares, and ivory. Also known as camel country as Bikaner is extremely popular for its camel rides. Many of the holiday resorts and luxury hotels in Bikaner organize camel safaris, jeep safaris, night safaris, and desert camps which allows tourists to get a taste of life in the desert.

There are many fairs and festivals are celebrated in Bikaner. One of the most famous festivals of Bikaner is the Camel Festival held in January which is organized by the Rajasthan Department of Tourism, Art and Culture. During this festival, hordes of camels are brought out and are decorated in the most colorful way possible. Thousands of people throng this place to be a part of the festivities which include camel racing, dances by camels, and bumpy camel rides.

Jodhpur Airport is the nearest airport which is about 248 km from Bikaner. The airport is served by flights from Delhi and Mumbai. Bikaner Junction is well connected by rail with Ahmedabad, Jammu Tawi, Jaipur, New Delhi, Mumbai, Jodhpur, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Trichy, Guwahati, Bangalore, Haridwar, Coimbatore, Sri Ganganagar, Chennai, Jaisalmer, and Puri. There are also many bus services from Bikaner to major cities like Jodhpur, Udaipur, Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, and Kota.

Being a desert town, the city experiences extreme weather with very hot summers and chilly winters. October to March is the best time while December to February is the peak season to visit Bikaner.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Good
STD Code: 0151
Languages Spoken: Rajasthani, Hindi, Mewari, and English
Major Festivals: Bikaner Camel Festival
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Bikaner

By Air

Nearest Airport: Jodhpur - Jodhpur Airport (248 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Bikaner Junction (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: BIkaner Bus Stand (6.5 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Bikaner

Heritage

#1 of 15 Places to Visit in Bikaner

At a distance of 2 km from Bikaner Junction Railway Station, Junagarh Fort is a historical fort situated in the Bikaner town of Rajasthan, India. It is one of the well-preserved forts in India and among famous historical places near Delhi.

Junagarh Fort is one of the famous monuments of Bikaner that draws the attention of tourists as part of Bikaner holiday packages. Originally called Chintamani, the fort was renamed Junagarh or 'Old Fort' in the early 20th century when the ruling family moved to Lalgarh Palace outside the fort limits. The modern city of Bikaner has developed around the fort. Junagarh Fort was originally built by Raja Rai Singh, the 6th ruler of Bikaner, between 1589 & 1593 AD. Several additions were done by many kings, which have resulted in many palaces, museums, temples, and gardens. This fort is attacked several times but never been conquered. .....

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Heritage | Museum

#2 of 15 Places to Visit in Bikaner

At a distance of 5 km from Bikaner Fort and 4 km from Bikaner Junction Railway Station, Lalgarh Palace is a royal palace situated in Bikaner. It is one of the few palaces commissioned by the British for the Indian kings and also one of the top Bikaner places to visit.

Standing amidst the regal grandeur and conveying the glorious tales of royalty, the Lalgarh Palace in Bikaner is one of the most imposing palaces in the history of Rajasthan. The palace was built for Maharaja Ganga Singh by the British architect Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob between 1902 and 1926 CE.

The Lalgarh Palace is a classic example of Indian, European, and Mughal architecture. The three-storey complex is built with red sandstone extracted from the Thar Desert. The royal family of Bikaner still lives in the palace and has one part for themselves. The palace has a beautiful portico and features many overhanging balconies and latticework. .....

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Heritage | Pilgrimage

#3 of 15 Places to Visit in Bikaner

At a distance of 2.5 km from Bikaner Junction, Bhandasar Jain Temple is an ancient temple situated in Bikaner town of Rajasthan. It is one of the top places of pilgrimage in Bikaner and also one among the most enchanting Bikaner tourist attractions.

Bhandasar Jain Temple was constructed by Bhandasa Oswal, a Jain merchant in the year 1468 AD and was completed after his death in 1514 AD. The temple is dedicated to Sumatinath, the fifth Tirthankar. It is believed that the temple was made with 40,000 kilograms of ghee instead of mortar, which locals insist oozes through the walls on hot days.

Bhandasar Jain Temple reflects the grandeur of Rajputana architecture. This three storeyed temple is built of red sandstone and is mainly famous for wall paintings and usta art. The temple is known for its gold-leaf work and artistically sculpted pillars. The pillars of the temple have floral designs. The Bhandasar Jain Temple is decorated with beautiful frescoes that narrate the story of .....

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Heritage

#4 of 15 Places to Visit in Bikaner

At a distance of 5 km from Bikaner Junction Railway Station, Laxmi Niwas Palace is a heritage building situated in the Lalgarh Palace complex of Bikaner, Rajasthan. It is one of the beautiful royal palaces of Rajasthan and also one of the top heritage places to visit in Bikaner.

The Laxmi Niwas Palace was the former residential palace of the king of Bikaner, Maharaja Ganga Singh. Built between 1898 and 1902 CE, Laxmi Niwas Palace was commissioned by Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh and was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. The Maharaja of Bikaner was also motivated to build the palace as a means to stimulate employment in the region. Upon its completion, plans were made to expand the estate into the much larger Lalgarh Palace which was constructed between 1902 and 1926 CE.

Laxmi Niwas Palace is constructed in Indo-Saracenic style, an architectural movement popularized in the 19th century in British India. The palace was constructed using pink sandstone, brought from the stone .....

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Museum

#5 of 15 Places to Visit in Bikaner

At a distance of 1.5 km from Junagarh Fort and 3 km from Bikaner Junction Railway Station, the Ganga Singh Museum is one of the most significant museums situated in Bikaner. This is the best museum in the state of Rajasthan and also one of the must visit places of sightseeing in Bikaner.

Established in 1937 AD by Maharaja Ganga Singh, the Ganga Singh Museum showcases an extensive array of articles, hunting trophies and archaeological specimens. These specimens are belonged to the Harappan age and the early part of the Gupta period. According to the archaeologists, these articles throw light on a number of dark areas of the history of India. Ganga Singh Museum is housed close to the Lalgarh Palace since 1937 but later transferred to Civil Lines in 1954 and administered by the Rajasthan Government.

The first level of the museum is adorned with portraits of the Maharajas of Bikaner and several English dignitaries. The second level of the museum houses artifacts and crafts of .....

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Heritage

#6 of 15 Places to Visit in Bikaner

At a distance of 2 km from Bikaner Junction Railway Station, Rampuria Havelis are a group of havelis situated in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Rampuria Group of Havelis is one of the famous heritage sites in Bikaner and also one among the top Bikaner tourist places.

The Rampuria Group of Havelis is among the well-known Havelis of Bikaner and is known for more than 400 years old architectural splendor. These havelis were constructed by Balujee Chalva under the orders of a rich merchant Rampuria family. The construction of the havelis is said to be initiated from 15th century onwards. The Rampuria merchants are said to go in foreign lands for 9 months of a year and spend rest of the months in cherishing their wealth by decorating their mansions and enjoying at home.

The Rampuria Group of Havelis is constructed of Dulmera red sandstone as the crucial base material. This popular tourist place is adorned with excellent and exquisite handiwork prevalent during the 15th century. Most of the .....

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Adventure

#7 of 15 Places to Visit in Bikaner

Desert Safari in Bikaner is a bumpy ride which one should experience at least once in a lifetime. Safari on Thar Desert is diversified with many species of lizards, snakes, dears, Great Indian Bustard, Blackbuck, and Indian Gazelle.

There are many operators to organise Desert Camel Safari and Jeep Safari in Bikaner. One can encounter the lifestyles, culture, forts, castles, cuisine, desert safaris, customs, mysteries, stories, etc. Camel Safari takes the travellers to a different world where the landscape is not green, but stunning and it is an adventure of a different kind altogether. The sunset is beautiful and words will not be enough to describe its picturesque setting. Tourist can enjoy live music and folk dance amidst the huge dessert.

Camel Safari for 2 Hours: Rs. 1200 per person without Transport, Rs. 1500 per person with transport, Rs. 2000 per person with transport & dinner

Camel Safari for Full Day: Rs. 3100 per person with sunset, transport & all meals, Rs. .....

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Heritage

#8 of 15 Places to Visit in Bikaner

At a distance of 34 km from Bikaner, Gajner Palace is a hunting lodge of Bikaner rulers situated on the banks of Gajner Lake, Bikaner. Situated in the middle of Thar Desert, Gajner Palace is among the top tourist places in Rajasthan and also one of the top places to visit in Bikaner.

The Gajner Palace was primarily built as a hunting resort during the days of the British Raj by erstwhile ruler of the Bikaner, Maharaja Ganga Singh Ji. The royal mansion has hosted several dignitaries, including the Prince of Wales in 1905, Governor General Lord Elgin, Lord Erwin in 1927 and also Lord Mountbatten when he was Viceroy of India. The Imperial Sand Grouse shooting at the Palace during the Christmas season was the most sought after invitation in the Indian social calendar.

Sprawls over 6000 acres, Gajner Palace is a heritage property which features a lush green garden. It was built in red sandstone and is a perfect illustration of craftsmanship. .....

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Wildlife

#9 of 15 Places to Visit in Bikaner

At a distance of 37 km from Bikaner, Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary in Bikaner is a natural haven on the shores of a Gajner Lake, near Gajner Palace. It is one of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan and among the must include places in Bikaner trip.

Nestled atop a small hill, Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary is an oasis and reserve enriched in flora and fauna with dense green forest cover. The sanctuary was earlier used as a hunting ground by Maharaja Sri Ganga Singh of Bikaner. There is a beautiful lake in the sanctuary, which apart from complementing the beauty is used by the animals living here to quench their thirst. This is one of the proposed forests for Cheetah reintroduction in India.

A trip to this wildlife heaven is one of the top things to do in Bikaner. The lake at Gajner attracts water .....

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Pilgrimage

#10 of 15 Places to Visit in Bikaner

At a distance of 30 km from Bikaner Junction Railway Station, Karni Mata Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Deshnok town in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan. It is one of the top places of pilgrimage in Rajasthan, and also one of the top Bikaner tourist places.

Karni Mata Temple at Deshnok is dedicated to Karni Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Also known as the Rat Temple, the temple is a renowned center for rat worship and draws many visitors every day as part of Bikaner sightseeing packages. This 600 years old temple is home to thousands of black, grey, and white rats or Kaba. As per folklore, feeding rats at this temple brings good fortune. According to the local belief, the rats would reincarnate as holy men.

The temple is carved from stones and marble, which features silver gates .....

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