Places to visit in Bikaner
Known as ‘Camel Country’ Bikaner was the capital of the former royal province in Rajasthan. Counted among the must-visit tourist places in Rajasthan, Bikaner tours is essentially a part of the travel plans on the royal state. The old-world charm of the olden kingdoms of Rajputana is unmissable in the city. There are heritage sites, forts, temples, museums and many more. Settled on the edge of the Thar Desert, the city is dotted with scores of sand dunes. Step into a tale of the Arabian Nights once you arrive to Bikaner.
The history of Bikaner dates back to 1488 when a Rathore prince, Rao Bikaji founded his kingdom. 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 transformation from a principality to a premier princely state. The olden days have been lovingly treasured and the glory of the greatest kingdoms of the Rajputana is still visible in the city.
On your visit do not miss out some of the most popular places to visit in Bikaner. The list includes Junagarh Fort dating back to the 16th century yet still as grand and impressive till date. The impregnable fortress houses magnificent palaces constructed in red sandstone and marble, attractive courtyards, balconies, kisoks, windows and other architectural specimens. Also, amazing is the Lalgarh Palace and Museum, built entirely of red sandstone in the early 20th century. The Laxmi Niwas Palace, Gajner Palace and the Rampuria Havelis are magnificent specimens of architecture. The other excitements of Bikaner tourism are the Camel breeding Farm, few kilometers away from the city; Ganga Government Museum, Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan State Archives, Devi Kund, Jain temples and many more.
Beyond the grandeur of the olden days and the royal tourist attractions, the rustic ambiance of the charming desert town is a major lure. The Thar Desert surrounds the city. With the golden desert comes their favourite inhabitants, camels ‘ship of the desert’. More readily called the camel country, the city is distinguished for the best riding camels in the world and hence boasts of having one of the largest Camel research and breeding farm in the world. The town celebrates their favourites and there is also a dedicated Camel fair that brings visitors from all over the world. Additionally, the palace turned heritage hotels offer a pampering stay for guests. The food, shopping, the camel rides, fetsivals in addition of the sights make for an interesting stay.
Junagarh Fort
The Junagarh Fort of Bikaner is a magnificent structure around which the city of Bikaner grew up. The fort was initially called Chintamani and was then renamed as the Junagarh or Old fort in the 20th century. The foundations of the Junagarh fort was built in 1478 by Rao Bika. However, it existed just as a stone fort then. The present grand structure was inaugurated on 17th February 1589. Besides having a rich history, the Junagarh Fort is a feat of architecture. The palaces inside the fort, the gardens, balconies, kiosks, etc. depict a composite architectural style which is influenced by the cultural differences of the different rulers and also foreign inspirations. The impressive Junagarh Fort stands with all its regal glory as an epitome of architectural brilliance. The dazzling and exquisite structures of this fort attract thousands of tourists from all over every year.
National Research Centre on Came
National Research Centre on Camel was established in 1984 by the Central Government under Indian Council of Agricultural Research at the outskirts of Bikaner city to promote research and development on camels. It is located about 8 km from Bikaner city in the state of Rajasthan in Indi
Seth Bhandasar Jain
Bhandasar Jain Temple or Banda Shah Jain temple, is located in Bikaner, Rajasthan. This temple is famous for wall painting and art work. This temple is protected by Archaeological Survey of India
Prachina Museum
Showcase for Bikaner cultural heritage
