ABOUT BIKANER:

• A beacon of rich culture and heritage amidst harsh desert surroundings.
• Founded in 1488, by the Rathore Prince, Bika, the son of Rao Jodha of Marwar.
• Located directly on the ancient caravan routes, which linked West/ Central Asia.
• City studded with forts, palaces.
• Mansion was once surrounded by a 7 kms embattled wall with five gateways.
• Today, Bikaner is also famous for its delicacies like bhujias, papads and rasgillas.

 

MODE OF COMMUNICATION:

• Airport: Jodhpur Airport (JDH), Jodhpur, 243 kms away from Bikaner city.
• Rail: Bikaner Railway Station, Bikaner, 1 km away from Bikaner city centre.
• Road: Well connected by road.

 

SIGHTSEEING AT A GLANCE:

FORT & MONUMENTS	Junagarh Fort   Lalgarh Palace   Havelis   Gajner Palace
PILGRIM CENTRE	Bhandeshwar Jain Temple   Raj Ratan Bihari & Rasik Siromani Temple   Shiv Bari Temple   Deshnok   Kolyat
MUSEUM & AUDITORIUM	Rajasthan State Archives   Ganga Government Museum
WILD LIFE	Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary
OTHERS	Devi Kund   Camel Research Farm   Katariasar Village
FAIRS & FESTIVALS	Camel Fair Kapil Munni Karni Mata Fair Gangaur Festival

For more information visit https://bikaner.rajasthan.gov.in/

 

ATTRACTIONS OF BIKANER

 

Junagarh Fort:

• Impregnable fort built by Raja Rai Singh in 1593.
• Encircled by a moat and have many palaces, pavilions and temples.
• Suraj Pol or ‘Sun Gate’ is the main entrance to the fort.
• Within the ramparts are fine monuments like, Anup Mahal, Ganga Niwas, Rang Mahal, Har Mandir, Chandra Mahal, Durbar Hall, Gaj Mandir and Sheesh Mahal etc.
• Fort has an excellent museum.

 

Lalgarh Palace:

• Magnificent red sandstone palace.
• Built by Maharaja Ganga Singh, in memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh.
• It has been converted into a luxury hotel.
• Sri Sadul Museum is housed in one part of the palace.

 

Rajasthan State Archives:

• Department is internationally acclaimed for its rich collection of administrative records of the Mughal period.
• Created during the administration of the princely States of Rajasthan.

 

Ganga Government Museum:

• One of the best museums in the state.
• Rich treasure of antiquities from Harappan civilisation, Gupta and Kushan era etc.

 

Bhandeshwar Jain Temple:

• 15^th century shrine is the oldest existing monument of Bikaner.
• It is adorned with rich mirror work, décor, frescoes, and gold leaf paintings.

 

Raj Ratan Bihari & Rasik Siromani Temple:

• 19^th century palatial shrine within Ratan Bihari Park.
• Built by Ratan Singhji and Sardar Singhji.

 

Havelis:

• Bikaner is also known for its ornately carved red sandstone havelis.
• Mansions belonging to reputed business houses of the region.

 

Shiv Bari Temple:

• 6 kms away from Bikaner city centre.
• 19^th century Shiva temple was built by Maharaja Doongar Singhji.
• Fortified with high walls and has beautiful paintings.

 

Devi Kund:

• 8 kms away from Bikaner city centre.
• It is the crematorium of the royal family.
• Graceful white marble Chhatri (cenotaph) of Maharaja Surat Singh is a fine piece of architecture.

 

Camel Research Farm:

• 8 kms away from Bikaner city centre.
• The farm is only one of its kinds in entire Asia.

 

ATTRACTIONS  AROUND BIKANER

 

Deshnok:

• Small town on the road to Jodhpur, 30 kms from Bikaner city.
• Known for the unique shrine of Goddess Karni Mata.
• Shrine is famous for the rats, which are venerated over here.

 

Gajner Palace:

• Built by the great Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner on the embankment of a lake.
• Hunting and relaxing lodge, the maharaja and the family.
• Around the palace is a thick forestation.
• Has been converted into the hotel.

 

Kolyat:

• Located 50 kms away from Bikaner city.
• Temple complex of Kolyat and a holy place of pilgrimage for Hindus.
• Complex has several temples, pavilions and bathing ghats.
• Dip in the holy waters of the lake especially on Kartik Poornima (November).

 

Katariasar Village:

• Located on the Jaipur Road, 45 kms away from Bikaner city.
• Rich in ethnic rural and cultural life of the village.
• Walk on the sand dunes is enjoyable.
• Viewing the sun set with a desert landscape is heavenly.

 

Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary:

• On the Jaisalmer road, 32 kms from Bikaner city.
• Inhabited animals like nilgai, chinkara, black buck, wild boar, flocks etc.
• Many more migratory birds can find here.
• It can be visited by jeeps.