Bikaner

Founded in 1488, Bikaner is a desert built on an elevation and surrounded by a long embattled wall pierced by five gates. A magnificient fort built betwen 1588 & 1593 by Raja Raj Singh dominates the city.

Sheer beauty in the desert is the royal fortified city of Bikaner. Lying at the northern tip of the famous triangle of the desert cities, Bikaner stands on a slightly raised ground and is circumscribed by a long embattled wall having five entrance gates If you thrill to the inexorable forces of nature, do not miss Bikaner. This is a 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 milk weed sprout precariously and the earth is alive with brazen insects and bolder birds.

This is a camel country. They transport grain, pull heavy carts, work on the wells. Water lies sometimes 122 metres below the surface. Wells are important, almost sacred. Built on high plinths, the 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 who founded the city of Bikaner. Bikaner is situated directly on 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 road undulate through colourful bazars and the predominant hue of the buildings in the strong reddish pink of local sandstone. It is the fourth largest city of Rajasthan.

Places to see

Junagarh : Built in 1593 A.D. by Raja Rai Singh, a general in the army of Emperor Akbar, the fort is a formidable structure encircled by a moat and has some beautiful palaces within. These palaces, made in red sandstone and marble, make a picturesque ensemble of courtyards, balconies, kiosks and windows dotted all over the structure

Lal Garh Palace : The architectural masterpiece in red sandstone, the palace was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh. The palace has beautiful latticework and filigree work. Sprawling lawns with blooming bougainvillea and dancing peacocks make it a not-to-be missed visual treat. Part of the palace has been converted into a luxury hotel and a museum known as Shri Sadul Museum. The museum covers the entire first floor of the palace and houses well preserved old photographs and trophies of wildlife. Timings 10.00 hr. to 16.30 hr. Entry fee Rs.5.00(closed on Wednesday)..

Bhandeshwar & Sandeshwar Temples : Located in the heart of the old city this Jain temple is the oldest serving monument of aesthetic heritage. Built in 14th century, the beautifully carved wooden columns, marvelous mirror work, gold paintings and frescos are noteworthy. The temples are dedicated to 23rd Jain teerthankar, Parsvanathji.

The Camel breeding farm : Bikaner houses, the only of its kind, breeding farm for the camel, an inseparable part of life in the desert. The farm offers a great opportunity to get familiar with this seemingly arrogant species. Sunset at the farm amongst hundreds of camels is a memorable experience.

Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum : This Museum has one of the richest collection of pottery, carpets, paintings, armoury and coins make this museum one of the best in Rajasthan.

Phool Mahal: The Phool Mahal (Flower Palace) was commissioned by Maharaja Gaj Singh (1745-1787) of Bikaner. Inside, there is a statue of Surya, the Sun God, and there are paintings on the upper parts of the wall depicting scenes from the Hindu epic, Ramayana.

Diwan-i-Khas : This private audience hall was built in 1631 and still contains the silver gaddi (throne) used by the Maharajas. Also on display in this hall, which seems to be made of wood but is actually made of stone, is a pair of golden gates that have been removed from their hinges and placed behind iron bars for safe keeping.

Anup Mahal :This palace is approached through a beautiful courtyard paved with Italian tiles. There is an interesting story that relates how Maharaja Karan Singh came to build this palace. In his capacity as a general in the Mughal army, he was camping at Golconda in southern India when he met an artist who had made fine works of art in gold. The artist explained to the Maharaja that he was from Jaisalmer and had moved south when his homeland was struck by famine. Overwhelmed by the artist's skills, the Maharaja invited him to Bikaner, where he was to enjoy royal patronage. It is this work that is evident in this palace, as well as the Karan Mahal. Three styles of work are exhibited here: the sonakin style with plaster adorned with patterns and painted in gold leaf, the jangali sunthari style, which has plaster with a green background and floral motifs and the manovati style, which has a pillar of clay on white plaster with the entire thing being painted in gold leaf.

Badal Mahal: The Badal Mahal (Cloud Palace) was built about 400 years ago and has walls painted like clouds in the sky. It took elephants to erect and install the massive pillars and inside, there is a statue of Lord Vishnu and the Goddess Laxmi.

Gaj Mandir: The Gaj Mandir was Maharaja Gaj Singh's (1745-1787) private chambers. The Maharaja's chamber has painted wooden ceilings and ivory doors. The Maharani's chambers had mirrored tiles and gold painting and the wooden ceiling is covered in lac painting.

Hawa Mahal: The Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) was the summer palace of Maharaja Dunga Singh. It is said that the mirror over the bed of the Maharaja was for defence purposes, in that he could see anyone walking across the courtyard and approaching this palace. The ceiling has paintings of Lord Krishna dancing and the blue tiles in the palace were imported from China as well as Europe.

Daulatpol : This gate has handprints next to it to commemorate the wives of those Rajput warriors who died in battle. The wives would perform the sacrificial rites of sati by throwing themselves on their husbands' funeral pyres.

Karni Mata Fair : Devotees of the Mata throng Deshnoke, and worship Goddess Durga and her incarnations, offer prayers to the Mata herself, on this occasion, which falls on the 9th day of Navratra. The fair is held twice a year - April / May, October / November

Camel Festival : A once-in-a-lifetime experience. A spectacle of unusual camel performances - camel races, camel dances, and the unforgettable camel rides. The festival is held in the month of January every year on the full moon night.

Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum : This Museum has one of the richest collection of pottery, carpets, paintings, armoury and coins make this museum one of the best in Rajasthan.

Kapil Muni Fair: The sacred lake of Kolayat 55 Km from Bikaner is the venue of this fair .Its held during the full moon of kartik (Nov). The devotees come to take a holy dip in the lake. At this time ,all the fifty ghats bordering the lake are crowded. In addition to the worship of saint Kapil Muni , the propounder of Sankhya, one of the six major philosophical schools, thousands of people also visit the cattle fair held here at this time.

Excursions from Bikaner
Devi Kund (8 km): A royal crematorium with several ornamented cenotaphs or 'chhatris' built in the memory of the Bika dynasty rulers. Maharaja Suraj Singh's chhatri is the most impressive of all, created entirely in white marble with spectacular Rajput paintings on the ceiling. These offer splendid example of the Rajput architecture.

Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary (32 km): Watch flocks of imperial sand grouse, as you wander through the lush foliage of woods located on the Jaisalmer road. Gajner Palace, a summer resort of kings built on the beautiful lake along the sanctuary, is a spot worth visiting. The lush foliage of the woods is home to a number of Nilgai or the Blue Bull, Chinkara and Black Bucks. Migratory birds like the Imperial Sand Grouse make the Gajner Lake their home during the winters

Deshnok: A much revered holy shrine of the Hindus, is very rightly, also called the Rat temple. Exquisitely carved white marble exterior and the silver gate will amaze you... as would the sight of thousands of rats, considered sacred here, running all over the temple complex and often over your feet too

Kolayatji (50 km): A sacred spot, dedicated to Kapil Muni. The temple here is the venue for a fair in the month of Kartik (Oct.- Nov.), attracting thousands of pilgrims. Kolayat is an idyllic picnic spot as well.
Kalibangan (205 km): The extensive remains of the pre-Harappan and Harappan civilizations, found at this place in the Hanumangarh district, are of immense interest to archaeology enthusiasts.

Shopping:
Bikener has its own peculiar items, typical to this region; its articles made of camel and sheep, wool carpets and woolen items, wood and leather products. The Bikaneri Bhujia, Rasgulla and sweets are popular all over India. Shopping areas include inside Kot Gate, King Edwaed Memorial Road, Khadi Industries Institute, Station Road, urmil Trust at Junagarh Fort

Accessing Bikaner
Air: The nearest airport is Jodhpur 235km

Rail: Bikaner is connected with Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bhatinda, kalka and Howarh (Culcutta) all the majorcities in India.

Road: Bikaner is connected by road with the major cities of India.

Some important distance are : Delhi 456km Jaipur 334km, Jaisalmer 333 km