15 Top Tourist Places to Visit in Bikaner

At a distance of 2 km from Bikaner Junction Railway Station, Junagarh Fort is a historical fort situated in Bikaner town of Rajasthan, India. It is one of the few major forts in Rajasthan which is not built on a hilltop and one among the well preserved forts in India that can be visit as part of Rajasthan tour packages.

Originally called as 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. Only Kamaran Mirza, who was the son of Babur was able to capture the fort but couldn't even retain his hold for .....

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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 places to experience Rajasthan Tourism.

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 lattice work. The intricate framework and network are the main attractions .....

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 also one of the prime places to visit in Bikaner.

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.

The interesting part of this sanctuary is the beautiful Gajner Palace which has been converted into a heritage and luxury hotel now. The Gajner Palace hotel earlier used to house the Maharaja and his revered guests including Viceroys and other prominent figures who were invited for annual .....

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

Karni Mata Temple at Deshnok is dedicated to Karni Mata, an incarnations of Goddess Durga. Also known as the Rat Temple, the temple is a renowned center for rat worship and draws many visitors every day. 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 built by Maharaja Ganga Singh and an overhead mesh that protect rats from birds. The silver doors depict the various legends associated with the goddess. An image of Karni Mata is depicted holding trident in her hand in the sanctum .....

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At a distance of 8 km from Bikaner Junction, National Research Centre on Camel is a camel breeding farm situated at Jorbeer area of Bikaner. Popularly known as Government Camel Breeding Farm, it is one of the largest camel breeding farms of Asia.

The National Research Center was established in 1984 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Spread over an area of 2,000 acres of semi-arid land, the center is engaged in breeding and training of camels. Along with breeding and training, the centre also conducts research and experiment on various breeds of camels as they are very important for the fragile eco-system of the desert. It also helps locals in earning more from their camel and giving them a helping hand in maintaining this highly useful animal in desert area.

The farm is a complex of camel stables, enclosures and buildings. There are around 400 camels at the National Research Centre on Camel. There is a museum in this research centre which depicts the research and .....

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At a distance of 3 km from Bikaner Junction Railway Station, Shri Laxminath Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated just beside Bhandasar Jain Temple in Bikaner Town of Rajasthan. It is one of the oldest temples in Bikaner and also one of the top places to visit in Bikaner.

Shri Laxminath Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his consort, Goddess Laxmi. It was constructed by Maharaja Rao Lunakaran, between 1504 and 1526 CE. Later the temple was developed by Maharaja Ganga Singh with more elaborate art work inside the temple and highlighting architectural skills. The temple was constructed as a seat of Laxminathji as the rulers of Bikaner territory regarded Lord Laxminath as the King of Bikaner and themselves as his ministers,

The temple is made of marble and red stone. Particularly for this temple the red stone was imported from Jaisalmer. The silver artwork on the doorway is extremely beautiful and is noteworthy. The throne of Lord Laxminath is situated in the temple .....

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At a distance of 26 km from Bikaner, Kodamdesar Bhairu Ji Temple is a revered Hindu temple situated at Kodamdesar village in Bikaner district of Rajasthan.

Kodamdesar Bhairu Ji Temple was built by Rao Bika Ji, the founder and ruler of Bikaner (1472-1504 AD), who belonged to the royal family of Jodhpur. He left Jodhpur in 1465 AD to establish Bikaner State and built this temple during the first three years of his arrival from Jodhpur. This place of worship was initially chosen as the site to lay the foundation of Bikaner, but was later shifted to its present location.

Kodamdesar Temple is dedicated to Lord Bhairon Ji, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Born out of Bhruguti (the place in between the two eyebrows), Lord Bhairon Ji was the fierce form of Lord Shiva. One of the first establishments by Rao Bika, the Kodamdesar Temple is a unique place to visit. The Temple is completely open, having no rooms and doors. There is only a huge idol of Bhairon Ji at the centre. The entire .....

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At a distance of 5 km from Bikaner Junction Railway Station, Shiv Bari Temple is a holy shrine situated in Bikaner town of Rajasthan. It is one of the revered shrines of Bikaner and also one of the must visit tourist places in Bikaner.

Shiv Bari Mandir is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was constructed by Maharaja Doongar Singh in 1880 CE to commemorate his father Maharaja Lal Singh. Also known as Laleshwar Mahadev by the locals, Shiv Bari Temple is a virtual museum of miniature paintings that are delicate yet colorful representations of ethnic Bikaner traditions and patterns.

Built of red sand stone, the Shiv Bari Temple of Bikaner is an architectural delight. The main features of the Shiv Bari Temple are the pavilions, domes, and well decorated columns. The temple is fortified by a huge embattlement wall. The main attraction of the Shiv Bari Temple is an idol of four-faced Lord Shiva carved out of black marble. The temple also houses a bronze statue of Nandi, the sacred vehicle .....

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At a distance of 9 km from Bikaner Junction Railway Station, Devi Kund Sagar is the cremation ground of Bikaner Royal family situated in the outskirts of Bikaner. It is one of the famous places to visit during Bikaner Trip.

Devi Kund consists of several royal cenotaphs or chhatris of brave rulers of Bika dynasty. It has two groups of cenotaphs built in the memory of kings, queens and members of the Bikaner royal family. The earliest cenotaph is of Rao Kalyanmal, the 5th ruler of Bikaner (1542 - 71 AD) and the last cenotaph is of Maharaja Karni Singh (1950 - 88 AD).

The chhatris are flanked on two sides along a reservoir and is indeed one of the best examples of Rajputana architectural style. The cenotaphs of the earlier rulers of Bikaner are in Dulmera red stone and the later ones are made of marble. The chhatris for women, men and children of the royal family are different. The chhatri of a male has a vertical memorial slab where as that of a female has foot marks engraved .....

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