Another gem of Rajasthan, Bikaner is among the state's prized possessions. Located in the heart of the Thar Desert, Bikaner is known for its royal heritage, with an exquisite fort, numerous palaces, and havelis to show for it. With research centers dedicated to them, camels are beloved to Bikaner, and is known for being a safe haven for the different varieties of them. An abundance of knowledgeable museums, architecturally rich palaces, and unique temples, Rajasthan's Bikaner has many popular places of interest for tourists to explore and things to do during your stay.
Established in 1488 AD by Rao Bika Ji, Bikaner marks its share of Rajputana territory with its havelis, palaces, temples and museums that bring to one’s mind the magnificence of a bygone era. The region is adorned with the finest specimens of Rajput civilization, some of which are now its popular tourist attractions, like the Junagarh Fort, Gajner Palace, Karni Mata Temple, and the National Research Centre on Camels, among others.
Among the tourist places in Bikaner, the one that deserves special attention is Junagarh Fort. One of the best places to see in Bikaner, the fort was built in 1478 by Maharaja Rao Bika, inside which one can see numerous temples and palaces, with the Karan Mahal, Phool Mahal, Anup Mahal, and Chandra Mahal, being some of its popular palaces. Once the royal residence of Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh of Bikaner, the Gajner Palace turned heritage hotel is also one of the places you must see during your visit to the city, where you can experience the rich culture and hospitality of the city with a stay.
In Bikaner, it's not only places that offer a perfect window to the past but the museums too. One of the best things to do in Bikaner would then be to visit the Prachina Museum, Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum, Sadul Singh Museum, and Lalgarh Palace and Museum, where artifacts as old as Harappan civilization, Kushan and Gupta Age are well preserved even today.
Other popular places of interest in Bikaner also include the Bhandasar Jain Temple, Shiv Bari Temple, Kodamdesar Temple, Shri Laxminath Temple, and Bhandeshwar Jain Temple., with the Karni Mata Temple being the one that attracts maximum tourists. Built in the 15th century, the temple is sacred to Karni Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The temple is most known for the number of rats that reside in its premises, and are considered the most blessed.
The Junagarh Fort of Bikaner is located within the area of the Thar Desert and covers a land of 5.28 hectares. The fort premises include temples, palaces and pavilions and the fort was built in the year 1594 by Raja Rai Singh. The fort structure is made up of red sandstone and marbles which highlights the grand lifestyle of the Kings.
The cultural centre of Bikaner is the Prachina Museum situated close to the Junagarh Fort. The museum was established in the year 2000 by Siddhi Kumar, daughter of the Late Maharaja Narendra Singhji. The museum houses royal costumes, ancient portraits, contemporary art, religious accessories and many other expensive relics.
The Gajner Palace of Bikaner is built on the banks of Gajner which was constructed by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Bird watching is one of the top things to do in and around the palace. The palace covers an area of 6000 acres and its architecture showcases the Rajasthani culture.
The artificial lake of Bikaner city is the Gajner Lake which once was a great summer holiday home for the royals but currently is a part of a luxury hotel. The greatest attraction of the lake is boating in solar powered boats and the place gets alluring as a wide variety of migratory birds come to this lake region.
The Mughal style temple was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Popularly known as the “Temple of Rats”, the Karni Mata Temple is situated at Deshnoke, Bikaner where more than 20,000 black rats live within the vicinity of the temple. The rats are considered holy and are known by the name “Kabbas”.
Camels are the pride symbol of Rajasthan and a National Research Centre on Camels is situated in the Bikaner city to learn about the various breeds of camels. The research centre helps to understand the development aspects of camels and also provides camel riding and desert safari options for tourists. The centre is also known as a Camel Breeding Farm.
One of the popular activities to enjoy in the dry lands of Bikaner is the Sand dunes safari which should be experienced once in a lifetime. People get to explore different desert species and the lifestyle of the local tribes. During the bumpy sand dunes safari, tourists can even enjoy live music and folk in the dry lands of Bikaner.
Known to be one of the oldest and most popular Jain temples in the nation which was built in the 15th century. The temple structure is adorned with mirror work, frescoes and leaf paintings and it is built using red sandstone. The temple is dedicated to the fifth Tirthankar and its grandeur highlights the Rajputana architecture of Rajasthan.
The Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum of Bikaner built in 1937 displays the ancient relics, caricatures and artworks of the land of Rajasthan and it is also known by the name of Government Museum. The rich legacy and traditions of the entire India are displayed at the museum where people of every age group can visit to witness the historical items
The Royal Cenotaphs of Bikaner City serve as a great example to showcase Rajasthani art and architecture in its best form. The various Cenotaphs will depict the cremation land of different kings and queens of royal families of Bikaner city. The marble structures are creatively carved as they display the legends of Lord Krishna.
The Kote Gate is said to be the entrance Gate to enter the city. The architecture of the gate showcases the talent of the historic craftsmen and their craftsmanship. The gate also separates the old city and the new city of Bikaner and tourists visit the area to shop for amazing items from the Kote Gate market.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva is the Shiv Bari Temple of Bikaner which was built in the 19th century from red sandstone. The temple structure was constructed by Maharaja Doongar Singh in 1880 CE in remembrance of his father. The temple’s main attraction is the four-faced Shiva linga which is also called Laleshwar Mahadev by the locals of the area.
A popular Hindu sacred site dedicated to Lord Shiva is the Kodamdesar Temple which stands testament to the culture and religious heritage of Bikaner. The architecture of the temple highlights the perfect blend of Mughal and Rajput styles. The white marble structure was built by Rao Bikaji. Bhadrapad Fair is also celebrated in the temple complex with great grandeur.
Known to be one of the oldest temples of Bikaner is Shri Laxminath Temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi. Festivities such as Janmashtami, Nirjala Ekadashi, Ramnavmi, Diwali and other important events are celebrated with full enthusiasm and deep faith. The temple structure was built by Maharaja Rao Lunkaran between 1504-1526 CE.
Lalgarh Museum was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh and the grand structure was built by using red sandstones. The palace is a classic example to showcase the beauty of different architectural forms including Indian, European and Mughal. The palace is now a heritage hotel and it also houses the famous museum and the fourth largest library in the world.
Sadul Singh Museum lies on the second floor of the Lalgarh Palace which was established in the year 1972. The museum displays ancient Georgian paintings, weapons, hunting trophies and unique artefacts collected over the years. The museum of Bikaner is dedicated to great kings which includes Maharaja Ganga Singh, Sadul Singh and Karni Singh.
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