Bikaner
is Founded in 1488 AD by Rao Bika Ji. it is located in
north west part of Rajasthan state in India. Bikaner is
famous for its Old Havelis. More popularly called the
camel country , Bikaner is renowned for the best riding
camels in the world. The exotic camel safaris, its
gorgeous forts and the worship of thousands of holy rats
at Karni Mata temple are some of the most interesting
aspects of Bikaner. The camel festival at Bikaner held
in the month of January is an amazing event.
Hotel Lallgarh Palace
Address: Bikaner, Rajasthan
Rooms:
571 Rooms
Location: 250 kms from Jodhpur
Airport, 3 kms from Bikaner Railway Station.
One of the most
formidable forts of India, Junagarh Fort has never been conquered by
its enemies. Built in 1593 AD by Raja Rai Singh, it houses
many beautiful palaces like Anup Mahal, Ganga Niwas and Rang Mahal
or palace of pleasure.
It was Built between
1902-1926 by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Lalgadh Palace is a beautiful red
palace, displaying a perfect blend of Rajput and European
architectural style. Designed by Sir Swinton Jacob, a British
architect, the palace has several grand halls, lounges, cupolas and
pavilions with overhanging balconies and latticework.
32 kms on the
Jaisalmer Road is located the Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary. Wooded
hills and lakes surround the lush green forest. One can easily spot
a nilgai, chinkara, black buck, wild boar , flocks of imperial sand
grouse and many more migratory birds that houses the sprawling
forest in the winters.
Deshnok's Karni Mata
Temple
Devi Kund
Bhandeshwar and Sandeshwar Jain Temples
The
famous 600 year old temple on the Jodhpur road dedicated to Karni
Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The temple has huge
intricately carved silver gates, which were donated by Maharaja
Ganga Singh.
It is situated 8
Kilometers east of Bikaner. This is the site of royal chatries of
many of the Bika dynasty rulers. The white marble chatri of Maharaja
Surat Singh is among the most imposing.
Located on the
outskirts of Bikaner, these 14th century temples are major tourist
attraction in Bikaner. Dedicated to 23rd Jain tirthankar, Parsvanath,
these temples are famous for their mirror work and the gold leaf
paintings.
How to reach
Bikaner
By Air
By Rail
By Bus
The nearest
airport is Jaipur which is 135kms away.
Ajmer is on the Delhi-Jaipur-Marwar-Ahmedabad-Mumbai line and
most trains stops at Ajmer.
Bikaner is connected by road with the major cities of India.
Events in
Bikaner
Camel Festival
Gangaur Festival
Kolayat Festival
The Camel Festival is
an event organized in Bikaner by the Department of Tourism, Art and
Culture, Government of Rajasthan, every year in the month of
January. A festival when the ships of the desert are seen at their
best. Camels fascinate tourists from all over the world with their
movements, charm and grace. A spectacle of unusual camel
performances: camel races, camel dances, and the bumpy, neck shaking
camel rides.
The famous and ethnic
Gangaur festival draws its name from the terms 'Gan' i.e. Lord Shiva
and 'Gauri' i.e. Godesses Parvati. Young girls, ladies and women
pray to Goddess Parvati with complete devotion and observe age-old
rituals. Single women and adolescent girls believe that if they fast
and observe traditional customs then they'll be blessed with good
husbands. Married women believe Gangaur is an auspicious occasion
when they can invoke the blessings of Goddess Gauri for a long and
prosperous life for their husbands.
This festival is
Celebrated on the banks of Kolayat Lake in Bikaner. Kolayat festival
is a significant Hindu festival that finds a mention in ancient
Hindu scriptures, including the Puranas. Tourists and pilgrims
gather on the banks of the sacred Kolayat Lake and take holy dips
before praying at the Kolayat Temple located close by. Pilgrims make
offerings of milk pudding, sugar drops and sweetmeats at the Kolayat
Temple, Bikaner.
Weather
Bikaner has got
extreme desert type of climate with high temperature difference
and low rainfall.The best time to visit Bikaner is during the
winter months from November to February. Winter months are
pleasant enough for long stays. The summer months are best
avoided for visiting Bikaner.
Last Minute Guide
Shopping At
Bikaner
Camel and sheep wool
woven carpets and woolen items can be purchased from here. Raw wool
produced in Bikaner is renown for its quality and has proved best
for making carpets . Bikaner is rich in jewellery and has a unique
style. Some of the traditional designs are Rikhari, Timaniya, Bala,
Bajuband,Gajara, Gokharu, Jod etc . It is famous for enameled form
of jeweller that is known as Kundan. Beautiful cotton fabrics
including sanganeri prints, tie & dies, paintings, embroidered shoes
etc. are the best buys for women. In Junagarh at the entrance is an
excellent craft shop run by Urmul Trust.
Cuisines of
Bikaner
The dining room at
the Lallgarh Palace heritage hotel offers an array of traditional
and continental cuisine.At Laxmi Niwas Palace, Swarna Mahal is a
luxurious speciality restaurant serving authentic Northwest Frontier
Cuisine, the Swarna Mahal is located in the erstwhile dining room of
Maharaja Ganga Singhji. Hari Mahal, located in the study room of
Maharaja Ganga Singhji, is a 24-hour coffee shop.
