Bikaner: Camel Country
Bikaner, often referred to with such romanticized terms as Desert City and Camel Country, is one of Rajasthan’s most beautiful desert cities. Bikaner has long been a favourite haunt of the tourists and is particularly revered for its stark yet beautiful setting, which has also given it the nickname “Desert City.” Bikaner is also revered for its significant Hindu and Mughal art traditions. Much like Jaisalmer, another popular tourist destination that Bikaner is often compared with, Bikaner is a walled city and was once a strategically important fort. The 16th century Junagarh fort (also referred to as Bikaner Fort) still stands tall and is very well preserved. This historically significant fort contains many intricately carved palaces and temples. An interesting aspect is that though the fort has been caught many times, it has never been conquered. Bikaner is also often referred to as Camel Country because of the popular camel races that are held here. This geographically not-so-large city (with an area of only 38.10 sq kms) has plenty of attractions to offer.
Places to visit in Bikaner
- Without doubt, the most popular attraction is the iconic 16th century fort of Junagarh. Built by Raja Rai Singh, one of the most distinguished generals in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, the fort is noteworthy for its well-thought out design that makes it unconquerable. The inside of the fort contains such magnificent palaces as Anup Mahal, Ganga Niwas and Rang Mahal, and Har Mandir, the temple frequented by the royalty. The Junagarh Fort also contains the Prachina Museum, which is almost entirely dedicated to Bikaner royalty. The museum houses many portraits, costumes, textiles, etc of former rulers and depicts the changes in the fashion sense of Bikaner’s royalty.
- The Lal Garh Palace is perhaps Bikaner’s second-most prolific architectural masterpiece. A fusion of Rajput, Mughal and European styles, Lal Garh Palace features beautiful latticework and filigree work. This architectural wonder was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh, and was designed by Sir Swinton Jacob.
- The Camel Research Farm, located 8 Kms away from the city, is a slightly unconventional yet apt place to visit.
- The desert dunes (more correctly, sand dunes) of the Thar desert are also an excellent tourist attraction.
- The Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan State Archives and the Bhandeswari Jain temple are some of the other places of interest.
Bikaner- Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine
- Languages: Hindi and English are widely spoken, and as such communication should not be a problem.
- Cuisine: Due to the upmarket-ness and maturity of the hospitality industry of the region, cuisine catering to all tastes is available here. However, it is recommended that one stick to local Rajasthani food.
- Climate: If visiting during the summer, it is advisable that one wear white clothing, as temperatures can often touch 40°C.
Bikaner is found in the itinerary of the desert tours of many tour operators.
Best time to visit Bikaner
Bikaner experiences extreme desert weather with hot summers and cold winters. In summer, the temperatures often reach as high as 40–45°C. The winters (October to March) are much cooler with temperatures largely remaining bellow mid-20s. In winter, minimum night temperatures often drop to 8–9°C. Consequently, most tourists prefer to visit Bikaner during the winter months of October to March.
Best way to reach Bikaner
- By Air: Jodhpur, located approximately 200 kms away, is the nearest airport.
- By Rail: Bikaner is an important railway junction and is well connected to most cities in the region. Bikaner is also well-connected to the metros of Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, etc.
- By Road: Bikaner is well-connected to all major tourist destinations in Rajasthan.
Accommodation in Bikaner
Hotels, inspection bungalows, private cottages, etc. are available to suit all budgets. One can obtain excellent discounts on accommodation via Rajasthan tour packages. Many Bikaner hotels have some connections to the erstwhile royalty of the region. This unique Rajasthan desert destination is home to many desert resorts, desert hotels, desert castles, desert forts and desert palaces.