Bikaner Travel Guide, Bikaner Tour Guide, Bikaner Tour, Bikaner Tour Operator

Bikaner Travel Guide

Bikaner is a city in north-western Rajasthan state in western India. If beauty has bloomed in the desert, it has been at Bikaner. The city stores a few attractive legacies of the royal period. The attractions include huge forts, revered temples and colourful camel safaris of the place. Tourists also get a chance to see the desert sand dunes on the outskirts. Bikaner is also famous for its traditional handicrafts. Unlike other cities of Rajasthan, Bikaner has been able to preserve its traditional aura of the medieval era, which makes a visitor come here year after year.

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Bikaner Introduction :

Bikaner was founded in 1486 AD. Bikaner is a desert situated on an elevated ground, surrounded by a seven-kilometer-long embattled wall marked by five gates. Bikaner covers area of about 38.10 sq. km. It was a major trade centre as it stood on the ancient caravan route which linked central Asia and North India with the Gujarat seaports. Bikaner is now a trade centre for wool, hides, building stone, salt, and grain. Bikaneri woolen shawls, blankets, carpets, and sugar candy are famous, and there are also ivory and lacquerware handicrafts. The city has electrical and mechanical engineering works, railway workshops, and factories that manufacture glass, pottery, felts, chemicals, shoes, and cigarettes.

The old part of the city is overlooked by a fort and has numerous buildings of bright red and yellow sandstone. Within the fort are several palaces of different periods, a museum housing Rajput miniature paintings, and a library of Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts. The lofty houses with excellent carvings still survive averring to the craftsmanship and prosperity of the people. Bajra (pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), and pulses are the chief crops grown in the locality. The Camel Corps is strong here, its caparisoned camels proudly participating in the colourful pageantry of the Republic Day celebrations each year as part of the paramilitary Border Security Force that guards India’s western frontier with Pakistan.

Bikaner History :

In the late 15th century, Rao Bikaji, the son of Rao Jodhaji, founder of Jodhpur, took offence at one of his father’s comments and left home to set up his own kingdom in the deserts of the north. Encouraged by the prophecy of a mystic woman, Karni Mata, Bika Ji chose a barren land called "Jungladesh" and shaped it into an impressive city, called Bikaner after the founder's name. Bikaner has played a notable role in the history of the country.

Though initially victorious against Mughal armies in the early 16th century, the Maharajas of Bikaner were later won over by Akbar’s diplomacy and remained Mughal allies till the advent of the British in the 18th century. The kingdom then went into decline but made a remarkable recovery in mid 19th century as a direct consequence of British involvement in the Afghan wars. The Maharaja of Bikaner raised, trained and sent up a steady supply of Bikaner camels, renowned for their load carrying capacity, for the British campaigns. Bikaner state has produced several able Generals and warriors and distinguished Rulers and just to name of few Raja Rai Singh Ji-One of Akbar's most distinguished Generals. And in the 20th century its visionary ruler, Maharaja Ganga Singh, brought it economic prosperity by establishing the legendary Bikaner Camel Corps and promoting the Ganga Canal, which helped to green vast tracts of the desert.

Bikaner Fair & Festival :

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. 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 is added by desert region's folk dances and music.

Karni Mata Fair is held twice in a year, during -April/ May and October/ November, the Karni Mata Fair is celebrated on the ninth day of the Navratri. Devotees from all over come in large numbers to the temple to worship Goddess Durga and her incarnations on this day.

Bikaner Cuisines :

Rajasthani food is the combination of dal, bati and churma but for the adventurous traveler, willing to experiment, there is a lot of variety available. Bikaner is famous for delicacies like Rasgullas, Bhujias and Papads.

Shopping in Bikaner :

Bikaner's main shopping area lies around Kote Gate and Junagarh Fort which has interesting bazaars. A flourishing world of camel leather shoes, camel leather chairs, camel fur rugs, camel leather belts, bags, miniature paintings on camel hides, beaded and sequined gorbandhs, lac bangles etc. envelops you in a glorious desert aura. Khadi Emporium at Mahatma Gandhi Road for local blankets, rugs, carpets, wood carvings and lacquer work.

Bikaner is also rich in jewellery designs, an enameled form of jewellery known as Kundan is one of the popular buys too. Uncut stones, usually diamonds, are set into gold, often backed by enamel ornamentation in the "raised field" technique so that figures and floral designs can be set within hollows created by gold lines within which rich patinas of enamel are painted. Enjoy shopping for local goodies like the traditional Bikaneri bhujia and Bikaner sweetmeats prepared with thick and delicious camel milk. Stop by at a local desert stall and sip camel milk tea before resuming your shopping.

How to reach Bikaner :

By Air : The nearest airport is Jodhpur 235km
By Rail : The city is well-connected with Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur & all major cities of India.
By Road : There are many express buses to/from Udaipur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Agra & Delhi.