Bikaner is one of the centres of mediaeval Indian art and industry. It is another desert region, lying in the Thar. It is said that in the past the Saraswati river used to flow through it but today there i£ no trace remains of it. However civilization" and de­velopment in this region is said to have started since then. Even the Ramayana men­tions Bikaner by the name Jangaladesh.

Caravans of camels, the ships of the desert, used to set out from Bikaner in the past. The town derives its name from Raja-Rao Bikaji, the Bhati Rajput ruler of Jodhpur descended from the Jodhaji dynasty, who founded it in 1488. Rulers of this dynasty, reigned in Bikaner, formed an alliance with the British in the 19th century.

The alliance enabled the British to get asylum at Bikaner during the struggle for independence in 1857. In the past, the town was encircled by a wall 7 km long with 5 gates. The bus std is 1 km from the stn. Next to the bus std lies the fort, the chief attraction of Bikaner. In front of the fort is a public park and at its end the Gandhi Maidan. There is a zoological garden in the park and the Tulsi Jain temple. The Tourist Office is at the fort. KEM Rd is popular with shoppers.

Another attraction of Bikaner is its sweets-which can be sampled at Chotu-mutu Joshi's shop. Rajasthani bhujias fried snacks originated in Bikaner and Haldiram, famous for bhujias, offers a tempting fare.

The history of Bikaner dates back to 1488 when a Rathore prince, Rao Bikaji founded his kingdom. Bikaji was one the five sons of Rao Jodhaji the illustrious founder of Jodhpur. But Rao Bikaji was the most adventurous of them. It is said that an insensitive remark from his father about his whispering in the Durbar provoked Bikaji to set up his own kingdom towards the north of Jodhpur. The barren wilderness called Jangladesh became his focus point and he transformed it to an impressive city. He accomplished his task with 100 cavalry horses and 500 soldiers, and established his kingdom on 84 villages abandoned by the 'Shankhlas'. When Bikaji died in 1504 his rule had extended to over 3000 villages.

Modern Bikaner is the result of the foresight of its most eminent ruler Maharaja Ganga Singh (1887 1943) whose reformative zeal set the pace for Bikaner transformation from a principality to a premier princely state. The strategic location of Bikaner on the ancient caravan routes that came from West/Central Asia made it a prime trade centre in those times. Bikaner stands on a slightly raised ground and is circumscribed by a seven km long embattled wall with five gates. The magnificent forts and palaces, created with delicacy in reddish-pink sandstone, bear testimony to its rich historical and architectural legacy. Surging lanes, colourful bazaars with bright and cheerful folks make Bikaner an interesting experience to explore.

Camel Festival
A once-in-a-lifetime experience. A spectacle of unusual camel performances - camel races, camel dances, and the unforgettable camel rides. The festival is held in the month of January every year on the full moon night.

Attractions

• Junagarh Fort
  Built between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Raj Singh, a general in the army of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, the fort has a 96 metre -long wall, with 37 bastions and two entrances. The Suraj Pol, or Sun Gate, is the main entrance to the fort. The distinctive feature of this fort and its palaces, is the unparalleled quality of the stone carving. Amongst the palaces, housed within the structure,( located at the southern end), the ones worth a visit are the Chandra Mahal or Moon Palace, the Phool Mahal or Flower Palace (both decorated with mirrors and carved panels) and the Karan Mahal, which was built to commemorate a grand victory over the Mughal despot, Aurangzeb. Other places of interest, include the Durga Niwas, which is a handsomely painted courtyard, and the Ganga Niwas, another large courtyard, which sports a finely carved red sandstone front.
• Ganga Golden Museum
  Across Gandhi Park opp the fort, near the RTDC Tourist Bungalow is the Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum enriched by collections of terra cot-ta of the Gupta Age and artefacts of the Kushan and pre-Harappa civilization. The silk apparel given to Raja Raj Sing by emperor Jehangir as royalty forms part of the collection as does the Saraswati statue in white marble-a unique sculptural feat that enhances the prestige of the Museum; open from 10-00-17-00 on all days except Friday. Ticket Rs 2.
• Lalgarh Palace
  About 3 km north of the city centre, is the Lalgarh Palace or Red Fort, built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh. Designed by Sir Swinton Jacob, the palace is made of red sandstone (hence, its name), and has exquisite latticework. The palace is a successful blend of oriental facade and occidental interiors. The Bikaner royal family still resides in part of the palace.The rest of the palace, has been turned into a luxury hotel, and a museum called the Shri Sadul Museum. The museum houses an immense range of photographs, and an incredible collection of the former maharaja's personal possessions. There's also an exhibition of Indian ildlife, stuffed and photographed. A billiards room, a library, a cards room and a smoking room are some of the highlights of the Lalgarh Palace.
• Karanjji Temple
  26 km south of the town, on the Jodhpur highway is Karani Mata's temple where Karaniji, said to be an incarna­tion of Durga, is worshipped. The deity is famed for her oracular powers. This two-storeyed temple has a canopy of gold, carv­ings in marble and a lovely silver gate built by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Innumerable rats flock in the temple yard and if one of them climbs over you, it is said to confer merit on you whereas killing them is said to be a sinful act. Buses ply from the town to the temple every hour.

How to reach

• Air
  The nearest airport is Jodhpur (243 km).
• Rail
  Bikaner is well connected with Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur.
• Road
  Regular bus services link Bikaner to Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Ajmer and Kolayat.