In 1488 AD, an enterprising Rathore prince named Rao Bikaji found a barren piece of land named Jangladesh, which he transformed into a magnificent city called Bikaner. Strategically located on the ancient caravan routes linking west/central Asia to the seaports in Gujrat, Bikaner was a prosperous trading town in the medieval period. Popularly known as the 'Camel Country', this desert city is mainly famous for its camels. In fact, camels form an integral part of the life and culture of Bikaner. January is one of the busiest months when thousands of tourists travel to Bikaner to be a part of the famous annual camel festival.

The sights and sounds of this historic city create a harmony and music of their own which will leave you mesmerized and make it an experience you will cherish forever. The best time to travel to Bikaner is during the winters when the weather is cool and tolerable.

Junagarh Fort the spacious and strategic fort of Junagarh has never once been conquered in all its history. It was built in 1593 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 and contains within some magnificent palaces like Anup Mahal, Ganga Niwas and Rang Mahal or Palace of Pleasure. The Har Mandir was the royalties' chapel of choice at which to worship gods and godesses. The fort complex also houses a museum with a diverse collection of artefacts.

Lalgarh Palace at a distance of about 3kms from the city this palace is a remarkable red sandstone structure. It was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh. Its architecture draws inspiration from Rajput, Mughal and European styles of construction thereby creating a dramatic contrast between its foreign exterior and oriental interior. The fort is embilleshed with overhanging balconies and delicate lattice work. The palace museum allows you a peep into the personal lives of all those who lived here, it displays well preserved hunting trophies and old photographs. The library of the Lalgarh Palace is said to have the largest collection of original Sanskrit manuscripts on parchments, copper and gold or silver plaques.

Camel Research Farm Managed by the government this farm is unique for it houses over 200 camels and extends over 2000 acres of desert soil. Spend a day looking at baby camels, wander through the museum situated within and finish off with a camel ride.

Camel Safari To enjoy the inexorable beauty of the desert landscape one has to experience it on camel back. Make it as long or short as you want, watch the flaming orange sunset as you ride a camel or take a trip lasting a few days, whichever you choose when in camel country definitely try the safari.

Camel Festival The Camel Festival , usually held in the month of January makes the city come alive with music and dance. Handicrafts, local delicacies and camel races are to watch out for.

Bhandaser Jain Temple this temple dedicated to Sumati Nath Ji, the 5th Tirthankar of the Jain Religion was built in the 15 century and is the oldest monument of Bikaner. Carved in red sandstone and white marble it is decorated with rich mirror work, frescoes and gold leaf paintings.

Deshnok Temple A visit to Deshnok's fascinating temple of Karni Mata, an incarnation of Durga, is an experience of its own. Here the rats roam around freely in huge numbers and are considered to be reincarnation of the members of Karni Mata's family. Legend has it that Karni Mata decreed that her family members would be incarnated as rats. The temple is an important place of pilgrimage and an image of the goddess is enshrined in the sanctum. There are special arrangements in the temple courtyard to help and protect the rats and their movement.

How To Get There??
Air : The nearest airport is Jodhpur 240 kms.
Rail :The Indian Railways connects Bikaner with cities like Delhi, Calcutta, Agra, Jaipur, Allahabad etc. The gorgeous 'Palace on wheels' also covers Bikaner in its eight-day tour of Rajasthan.
Road :Though the unfriendly desert sands surround Bikaner but the city is well connected by roads. There are local and inter-state bus services for Bikaner.