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DESTINATIONS
BIKANER
About
the City
The royal city Bikaner has a timeless charm
like no other. Located in the northwest of Rajasthan and the city is
bounded by 7 km long wall, which has five entrances and dotted by several
sand dunes. This desert city of Rajasthan is famous for its attractions
which include -
forts,
temples &
Camel Festival. Known as the
camel
country, Bikaner is has also made a mark in industrial sector. Today, this
Rajasthan city is home to several large & medium scale production houses,
which produces - textiles,
wooden products, etc. Best known to the world
for its
Bikaneri sweets & snacks, Bikaner's developing tourism industry
also plays an important role in Rajasthan's economy.
Bikaner
is also one major hub for the
tourists looking for an adventurous Camel ride, which gives an insight
into the
exquisite lifestyle of remote Rajasthan.
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History
of City
Bikaner was founded by the
Rathore prince
Rao Bhikaji
who fought many wars with Mughals and British & his
descendants ruled Bikaner till India achieved independence. The city was
an important trade centre between Gujarat sea port and West Asian
countries during the medieval period. Its magnificent buildings,
historic
monuments, temples shows its rich culture & heritage.
Must See in Bikaner
Junagarh
Fort : The fort was built
by
Raja Rai Singh
between 1588 to 1593 and was bounded by a 986 metre long
wall with two entrances. The Suraj Pol is the main entrance to the fort.
There are several palaces inside the palace and some beautiful ones are
Chandra Mahal, Phool Mahal, Rang Mahal, Ganga Mahal etc. Paintings,
mirrors, marble carvings are the major attractions of these palaces. There
is also a museum inside the palace which has collections of valuable
antique objects.
The Lalgarh
Palace : This was built by
Maharaja Ganga Singh and is situated 3 km north of Bikaner city. This was
designed by Sir Swinton Jacob and shows a mixture of Oriental & European
style architecture. There is also a library inside the palace which has a
large collection of sanskrit manuscripts. The Rajasthan Tourism
Development Corporation (RTDC) has converted a portion of this palace into
a hotel.
Other Attractions
The Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary :
The
Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary
is 32 kms away from the Bikaner city and is
home to several species of animals & birds. The animal and bird population
of Gajner includes - blue bull, black buck, chittal, sambar, partridges,
Indian bustards, etc.
Bhandeshwar & Sandeshwar Temple :
Both Bhandeshwar & Sandeshwar Temple were built by two brother and are
dedicated to Jain Teerthankar, Parsvanathji. The mirror work and the gold
leaf paintings are the major attractions of the temples.
The Ganga Golden Jublee Museum :
The museum has a large collection of pottery, paintings, carpets, coins,
armoury. It also has objects of local art & crafts which make this an
interesting place to visit.
Festivals in Bikaner
The Camel Festival is held in the
month of
January
every year and is organised by the Department of Tourism, Art &
Culture, Rajasthan. Camel races, camel rides, local folk dances & music
are the major attractions of the festivals.
Best Month to Visit October to March is the best
period to visit the city.
Travelling in the City Local bus services, taxies, auto rikshaws are the
major transporting devices for travelling in the city.
How to Get There
Air : Jodhpur airport at a
distance of 240 kms is the nearest airport from Bikaner.
Rail :
Indian Railway
connects Bikaner with all the major destinations of Rajasthan & other
parts of north India. Also the luxury heritage train “Palace on Wheels”
covers the city.
Road : Bikaner is well
connected by road. Several local & inter-state bus services operates from
several major cities of Rajasthan and north India. Some important distance
are : Delhi 456km Jaipur 334km, Jaisalmer 333 km.
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