Introduction :

Bikaner better known as the Desert City , Bikaner is stark yet beautiful — great Hindu and Mughal art is preserved there. Similar in setting to Jaisalmer, Bikaner is a walled city with an important 16th-century fort containing many intricately carved palaces and temples. The fort is remarkably well preserved. It was attacked many times but never conquered. Bikaner is popularly known as the Camel Country and famous for the camel races that are held here. The Camel Research Farm is just 8 Kms from the city and is a place to visit and a good place to go.The city covers only an area of just 38.10 Sq. Kms and has more interesting sights to offer, for example, the Har Mandir, Lalgarh Palace and the nearby Gajner Wild Life Sanctuary.

Climate :
Bikaner has got an extreme desert type of climate with high temperatures during the day and cool to chilly nights. The best season to visit Bikaner is between October and March/April when it's at its coolest.

Places To See :
Junagarh
It is an unassailable fortress, which has never been conquered. Built in A.D. by Raja Rai Singh, one of the most distinguished generals in the army of Emperor Akbar, the fort is a formidable structure encircled by a moat.The fort situates in it some very magnificent palaces like Anup Mahal, Ganga Niwas and Rang Mahal or palace of pleasure. The Har Mandir is the majestic chapel for the royal family for worshipping their gods and goddesses.

Prachina Museum
It's a museum located in the great Junagarh Fort. The mus

eum is dedicated to royal costumes, textiles and accessories. 'Poshaks' or the ladies ensemble displayed are perhaps the last remnants of the traditional designing styles and workmanship. The museum also reveals a study of changing cultural settings in its display of family portraits of the former rulers. Changes embarked by the western influences appear strikingly. The vivid glimpses of legacy that survived in the contemporary Bikaner are also visible.

Lal Garh Palace This grand palace is an architectural masterwork in red sandstone, and was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh Ji in the memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh Ji in . Sir Swinton Jacob designed this oriental fantasy. This architecture is a fusion of Rajput, Mughal and European architecture. The exterior contrasts dramatically with the oriental interiors and amenities. The palace has beautiful latticework and filigree work, which are hallmarks of a great craftsmanship.

The Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary
Experience the best of wildlife tours of Rajasthan at Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary. Located on the Jodhpur Road, the sanctuary is a haven to a variety of wild and feathered species. The major attractions of the park include Bluebull, Chinkara and Blackbuck. In addition to this, flocks of imperial sand grouse can also be found here.

Rajasthan State Archives
This Directorate is located in Bikaner. The archives have in their custody some very precious administrative record of Mughal period like Persian Farmans, Nishans, Manshurs, Akbarat, Vakil Report, Arzdasht, Khatoot and the record created during administration of the Princely states of Rajasthan such as Bahiat, Pattas, Parwanas, Rukkas, Chithiat etc.

Bhandeswari Jain
Bhandeswari Jain Temple is a fifteenth century temple and is the oldest monument of Bikaner. The temple is decorated with rich mirror work, frescoes and gold leaf paintings.

Travel Information :

Air : The nearest airport is Jodhpur which is kms away.

Train : Bikaner has railway connections to several destinations including Jaipur, Churu, Jodhpur and Delhi. The tourist reception centre has a useful chart with details of timing and cost.

Road : The bus stand is north of the city centre, almost opposite the road leading to the lalgarh palace hotel. There are frequent express buses to the following destinations: Agra, Ahemdabad, Ajmer, Delhi, Jaipur, Barmer, Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Kota and Udaipur.