The Desert Capital Of Rajasthan Called Bikaner

By Author: Sanyukta Jain
Total Articles: 134
Comment this article

Bikaner is a desert town situated in the middle of the Thar Desert in the northwestern part of Rajasthan in India, a state known for its royal grandeur. Bikaner is well known for its rich Rajput culture and heritage, along with its magnificent palaces and intricately sculpted temples of red and yellow stones. The city is a vibrant testimonial of Rajasthani culture and lifestyle and is a tourist destination renowned for its majestic palaces and forts.

The history of Bikaner dates back to 1488 when a Rathore prince, Rao Bikaji founded his kingdom. Bikaji was one the five sons of Rao Jodhaji, the founder of Jodhpur. It is said that an insensitive remark from his father about his whispering in the royal court provoked Bikaji to set up his own kingdom. The barren wilderness called Jangladesh became the focus point and transformed it to an impressive city by Rao Bika. He constructed this city with the help of 100 cavalry horses and 500 soldiers. The Bikaner kingdom was established with 84 abandoned villages that were flourished with over 3000 villages in 1504 at the time of death of its promoter Rao Bikaji.

The Junagarh ...
... Fort is a major attraction of Bikaner tour. The fort was built by Raja Raj Singh in the period between 1588 -1593 AD. The magnificent fort has 37 bastions and two different entrances and 986 long walls. The Suraj Pole also known as the Sun Gate is the main entrance of the fort. There are many different palaces lying on the southern side of the fort and make a picturesque ensemble of balconies, courtyards, windows and kiosks.

Karni Mata Temple or Deshnok temple is another prime attraction of the city. This is the unique temple which is known throughout the world for its 20,000 rats that are fed, protected and worshipped here. This 600 year old temple was constructed in honor of a local deity Karni Mata who used to take care of the Rajputana family. In the temple premises one can see thousands of rats moving across the marble floors or dining together in the huge metals bowls of milk, sweet and grains. The glimpse of white rat at this place is considered as a blessing from the Goddess which fulfils wishes of devotees.

Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum is also a must visit place during a trip to Bikaner. The museum is renowned for its fabulous collection of antiques and artilleries. Tourists come here to see the fabulous collection of antiques like jewelry, stone vessels, royal dresses and ornaments. This museum is also known for its rare and royal articles like daggers, safety shields and revolvers belonging to the erstwhile rulers.

The Gajner Palace is an incomparable jewel in the Thar Desert. Listed as a summer resort of the Maharajas of Bikaner, the palace is an addition to the beauty of the city by Maharaja Ganga Singh Ji. The palace is situated on the embankment of a beautiful lake and was used by the Maharaja for lavish entertainment and grand shoots.

The havelis were the residence of wealthy merchants who had a fancy for beauty and art. They used to live far off lands to earn money and then return to the haveli to rest and enjoy. The oldest haveli is 400 years old but most of them are 100 years old approximately. These are known for opulent life style, intricate carvings, craftsmanship and sprawling courtyards. Bikaner has number of such havelis. The most famous cluster of havelies is the Rampuria Group of Havelies. The most beautiful carvings with unparallel artistic exteriors are Rikhji Bagri ki Haveli that is situated near mohta chowk. Other notable havelies are the great patwa havelies and Daga chowk havelies etc.
Camel Festival is a major attraction of Bikaner tourism. It is a lively and colorful event which is organized by the Department of Tourism, Art and Culture, Rajasthan every year. January is just the right month for a desert spree, and Bikaner just the right place to see the Ships of the Desert.

The city is also famous all over the world for Bikaneri Bhujia, a spicy savory. The city is also known for various sweets.

Bikaner is well connected to the rest of the country. There are good train connections from Delhi to Bikaner. There are also direct train connections to other major cities like Mumbai, Kolkata and Agra. The distance from Delhi to Bikaner can also be covered by road.

Visit Rajasthan travel agency for booking Rajasthan Packages and Jaisalmer camel safari