Bikaner has a vibrant culture, dance, and music, and annual festivals are part of the culture. Moreover, the city is famous for paintings, and the use of hues and colors in paintings makes them attractive and unique. Due to having camels in abundance, the city is also known as Camel County. Camel races are a popular attraction for tourists. From historical forts to sacred temples, serene palaces, landscapes, and vibrant markets are enough to captivate tourists globally. The world’s largest camel research and breeding farm is also located in this city. Junagarh Fort, Karni Mata Temple, Rampuria Havelis, Lalgarh Palace, Gajner Palace, and Parchina Museum are the 6 best tourist places in Bikaner for people who come to visit the city.
About Bikaner
Bikaner is a city in the North Indian state of Rajasthan, India, and is surrounded by the Thad desert. Rajput Prince Rao Bika Ji was a descendant of the founder of Jodhpur. He chose a barren land for his residence called Jungladesh and turned it into an impressive city. This city was named Bikaner after the name of its founder. Due to the alkaline soil, only cacti and some thorny bushes are grown in the desert. The city witnesses extremely hot weather in summer, and the unbearable temperature goes up to 48°C in summer, but in winter, it decreases to 4°C.
Also read: Jodhpur in 48 Hours – Adventure in the Blue City of Rajasthan
1. Junagarh Fort
Junagarh Fort is a great attraction in Bikaner that was built in 1589. Different rulers came to Bikaner and ruled over the city, and they constructed many structures inside the fort. Therefore, the architecture of the fort is a mixture of different cultures and traditions. It is among the top 10 famous forts in Rajasthan. This fort is built on plain land, unlike the other forts in Rajasthan, which are built on a hilltop. The fort played a significant role in protecting its residents from attacks from enemies. This fort is built in a rectangular pattern and stretches over an area of 5.28 hectares. Red sandstones are used in the construction of palaces. The fort also has temples and pavilions on its premises, and the rooms of palaces are decorated with classical paintings and artwork.
The attractions and monuments inside the fort complex
This massive fort has a lot of attractions in its complex, such as 36 palaces built inside the fort, including Badal Mahal, Anup Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Gaj Mandir Palace, and many others. The blue walls of Badal Mahal are beautifully painted with white clouds, and Hawa Mahal is built on the top floor to enjoy the cool wind in the summer. The fort also has lush green gardens, which depict the aesthetic taste of royal families. A historical museum named Parchina Museum is also in the Fort, which showcases the grandeur of Indian rulers through jewelry, weapons, carpets, and other collections. Hindu and Jain temples are also inside the fort, which was used by the royal family to worship.
The timings and entry fees of the fort
The entry fee for the Fort is INR 50 for Indians and INR 300 for foreigners, and you can get access to the Fort from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a whole week.
Visiting time, location, distance, and nearby places
- The best time to visit the fort is in the winter season, from November to February.
- The fort is located 1.7km away from Bikaner railway station.
- The nearby places to visit around the fort are Gajner Palace Bikaner, Rampuria Havelis, the Laxmi Niwas Palace, and Lalgarh Palace.
2. Karni Mata Temple
This historical temple is also known as being home to thousands of rats. According to a famous folklore, Karni Mata, the legend of the temple, they turned into a rat after she died. Now, from the Charin Clan, the followers of Mata, when anyone dies, turn into a rat and start to live in the temple until they die again and are incarnated into human beings. The rats are considered sacred, as spotting a rat in the temple is considered lucky. Around 25,000 rats live in the temple and are considered sons of Karni Mata. These rats are called kaabas by people.
The attractions and rituals inside the temple
Charan priests perform Mangla Arti in the temple and offer bhog to visitors. Pilgrims and visitors also perform several other rituals for kaabas. They feed the rats, worship them, and take half-eaten sweets from kababs home as prasad.
The timing and entry fees of the temple
Temple remains open from Monday to Sunday from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and has no entry fee.
Visiting time, location, distance, and nearby places
- The best time to visit this temple is from October to March.
- The temple is located on the road to the Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, and it is 30 km from the Bikaner junction in Deshnok town.
- The places to visit around the temple are Bikaner Camel Research Farm, Ganga Singh Museum, and Shivbari Temple, which are some nearby attractions.
3. Lalgarh Palace
Lalgarh Palace was constructed between 1902 and 1926 in an Indo-Saracenic style. The construction style of this palace is different from other monuments in Bikaner. The building stones are brought from the Thar desert, and most of the granite stones are brought from the Aravalli mountains. The palace was constructed for Maharaja Ganga Singh. The corridors and rooms of the palace are decorated with paintings and other artwork, which makes this palace a place to visit.
The attractions and monuments inside the palace
The palace has large rooms, pavilions, halls, and domes. A large swimming pool is also constructed inside the palace, and this palace is surrounded by green gardens, which enhance the beauty of the palace.
The timings and entry fees of the palace
The administration of the palace charges INR 10 for Indians and INR 20 for foreigners; the palace remains open on all days of the week except Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visiting time, location, distance, and nearby places
- Due to the hot weather in the summer, winter months are preferable to visit this palace because the weather is quite pleasant from November to February.
- Lalgarh Palace is situated in NH15, Samta Nagar, Bikaner. This palace is 2 km from Lalgarh junction.
- The nearby places to visit around the palace are Kate Gate, Ganga Theatre, Ratan Behari Temple, and Soo Sagar.
4. Gajner Palace
Gajner Palace was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh, and due to its fabulous setting and grandeur, the palace is known as a jewel in the Thar desert. This palace was constructed on the shores of Gajner Lake and was used as a hunting resort by the royal family, and they came to this palace to spend other holidays. But in 1976, this historical building was converted into a heritage hotel, and currently, it’s run by the HRH group of hotels. This palace is divided into four wings, and its stunning terraces and picturesque balconies make this palace an attractive destination for tourists.
The attractions and activities inside the palace complex
Due to its location on the Bank of Lake, tourists can enjoy a lot of activities, such as boat rides, nature walks on the lake, a wildlife sanctuary, and a delicious dining facility in the palace. The palace has 13 suits, and each suit is equipped with modern facilities. Furniture and artwork in these suits depict the royal aesthetic taste of the past.
The timings and entry fees of the palace
To explore the beauty of Gajner Palace, you have to pay INR 100 per person, and access to the palace is possible from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Visiting time, location, distance, and nearby places
- Due to the extra heat in the summer season, the ideal months to visit this palace are from late October to early February.
- The palace is situated about 2.5km from Gajner railway station and from Bikaner. It has a distance of 33km and takes 45 minutes to reach the palace from Bikaner city.
- The nearby places to visit around the palace are Bikaner Fort, Rampuria Havelis, Seth Bhandasar Jain Temple, and the National Research Centre on Camel, which are the top nearby attractions to visit around the palace.
5. Rampuria Haveli
Balujee Chalva built Rampuria Haveli in the 15th century, after the order of influential merchants of that time. Due to its magnetic beauty and unbeatable architectural beauty, the monument is called the pride of Bikaner. Dulmer red sandstones are used in construction. Now, these Havelis are open to the public to enjoy their artistic beauty. Bhanwar Niwas is a splendid addition that has twenty guest rooms and has been established as a popular hotel for tourists.
The attractions and features inside the Haveli
One can enjoy the mesmerizing artistic beauty and capture the photographs of Haveli. The most striking feature of the haveli is its elaborate facade, which is decorated with carvings and stonework. These are extravagant houses to visit for outsiders.
The timings and entry fees of the haveli
It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and no entry fee is charged to visit the Haveli.
Visiting time, location, distance, and nearby places
- As Bikaner is situated at the right end of the Thar desert, the winter season is best to visit here as compared to the hot summer.
- As the Havelis are situated in the old town of Bikaner and well connected with roads, you can travel by bus or taxi to get here.
- The nearby places to visit around the haveli are Seth Bhandasar Jain Temple, Gajner Palace, Laxmi Niwas Palace, and Lalgarh Palace, which are the nearest attractions around the haveli.
6. National Research Centre on Camel
The camels have played a great role in civil law and order, defense, and battles since ancient times; therefore, they are called the ships of the desert. This National Research Centre on Camel was established by the government of India in 1984, and the main purpose of this establishment is to help the locals improve the camel breeds to uplift their socio-economic growth. The government runs it, and they offer better ideas and opportunities to locals to maintain the health of their camels.
The attractions and activities inside the center
There is a museum inside the farm where visitors can learn about the history of the farm and its camels. A safari trip is also a good option to enjoy; souvenir and handicraft shops are also developed in a museum where you can buy things made of camel skin.
Timings and entry fees for the center
The farm opens at 1 p.m. and closes at 7 p.m. during the whole week. INR 30 charges are for Indians and INR 100 for foreigners.
Visiting time, location and distance, and nearby places
- The best time to visit the farm is around 3 p.m. because around 300 camels come to the farm from their daily safari tour. Also, visit the place during the week because, on the weekends, you have to face a crowd of tourists.
- The farm is located in Shivbari Jorbeer, Jodhpur bypass, Bikaner, Rajasthan, about 8km from the main city of Bikaner.
- The nearby places to visit around the center are Bikaner Camel Safari, Shri Ganesh Restaurant, Ambarwalla, and Gajner Palace. Bikaner is a famous tourist attraction near this place.
Final Analysis
The article covers the 6 best tourist places in Bikaner and their surroundings. Rajasthan is a hot region and receives hot temperatures in the summer, so if you are going in the summer, keep an extra water bottle with you to prevent dehydration. Otherwise, the winter months are ideal for visiting Bikaner. The weather becomes pleasant, and a cool breeze in the winter will give you more chances to enjoy the scenic beauty of the city, so you can enjoy your trip effectively. To reach Bikaner, the train is an easy mode of transport, as the Bikaner railway station is 1.2km from the main city. There are several public restaurants and heritage hotels to stay at for tourists, and you can also enjoy the local foods in the cuisine of Bikaner. So, plan your trip and get ready to explore the history of Bikaner.
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