Introduction
of Bikaner
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Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur forms the desert triangle in the
state of Rajasthan. Bikaner was founded in the year 1488 by Rao
bika, a descendant of Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur. It lies in
the north of Rajasthan at an altitude of 237 mtrs above sea
level. It covers an area of 38.10 square km. Earlier, it was a
major trade centre as it lies on the ancient caravan route which
linked central Asia and North India with the Gujarat seaports.
While other cities of Rajasthan are rich in lakes and havellis,
Bikaner seems quite bare in that respect. Bikaner is famous for
its superb fort, camel safaris and Karni Mata temple. In this
temple thousands of holy rats are worshipped. Hindi, Rajasthani,
Marwari and English are the common languages which are spoken
here. The climate in Bikaner is temperate. In Summers the
temperature is not too hot. It is around 41.8º Celsius and in
winters it is around 5º Celsius. |
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History
of Bikaner
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A Rajput prince Rao Bika ji who was the descendent of Rao Jodha
Ji, the founder of Jodhpur established his kingdom in Bikaner in
1459 AD. Bika Ji chose a barren land called "Jungladesh" and
shaped it into an impressive city called Bikaner. Ever since the
foundation of Bikaner till its accession into Indian Union in
1947 A.D. and after it's integration in Rajasthan state in 1949
AD, Bikaner has played a notable role in the history of
Rajasthan. Bikaner has produced several able Generals and
warriors and distinguished rulers like Raja Rai Singh and Raja
Anup Singh. Bikaner has many magnificent buildings made of
reddish pink sandstone that transcends the surrounding barren
wilderness. |
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Tourist
Attraction in Bikaner |
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The
main tourist attraction in Bikaner are Junagarh fort and Lal
Gadh Palace. Junagarh Fort was built between 1571 to 1611 AD.
This fort was constructed of red sandstone and marble with
kiosks and balconies embellishing the structure at intervals. |
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How
to get here |
By
Air:
The
nearest airport to Bikaner is Jodhpur which is about
247 kms away.
By
Rail:
Bikaner
is on the meter gauge network of the western Railways.
It has convenient connections from Delhi and Jodhpur.
Air-conditioned coaches are attached to Delhi trains.
By
Road:
Bikaner
is well connected by road to the various cities in
Rajasthan. Regular bus service operates between
Bikaner and major cities like Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur,
Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Ajmer. Rajasthan Roadways run
daily deluxe coaches between Jaipur and Bikaner. |
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Map
of Bikaner |
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Bikaner Horse Safari Tour |
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12 Days / 11 Nights
(Delhi
- Nawalgarh - Barwasi – Naharsinghani - Churiajitgarh -
Nabipura - Fatehpura Beed (Khuri) - Shynan mata - Tal
Chappar - Bikaner - Delhi) |
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Day
1: Flight to India (Delhi)
Around midnight arrival in Delhi.
The cosmopolitan city and capital New Delhi is the main
gateway for the travelers to India. Upon arrival, you
will be met by an rajasthan-Tour-Package representative and
transferred to the hotel.
Day
2: Delhi - Nawalgarh
In the morning drive from Delhi to
Nawalgarh in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. Nawalgarh
is known for the havelis of its wealthy merchant class,
the Marwaris. The drive to Shekhawati is through
picturesque village and farms. Nawalgarh was founded in
1737 AD by Thakur Nawal Singh, a warrior statesman. The
town exudes an old world charm and the colorful bazaar
has the largest number of painted Havelis in Shekhawati.
In the late afternoon meet up at the stables, where the
riders will be introduced to the safari team and the
lovely ‘Marwari’ horses and can also have a ride. The
riding leader Shri Devendra singh will advise about the
horses and give the details about the tour and
introduction talk on the arid region ecology.
Day 3: Nawalgarh
In the morning you will ride on the horses to the country
side. In the afternoon you will visit the havelies.
Day 4: Nawalgarh
In the morning you will ride around Nawalgarh. During the
ride visit farmhouses and village homes of people who keep
the Marwari horses. In the afternoon you will have talk on
Marwari horses followed by interactive discussion. In the
evening there will be traditional folk entertainment.
Day 5: Nawalgarh -
Barwasi – Naharsinghani (about 26 kms.)
In the morning you will ride through semi desert areas
with small farms and countryside dotted with Khejri trees
to Naharsighani. On the way have lunch and visit Farms
where Women farmers are supported by NGO to encourage
natural resources management and use of eco friendly
farming technique to increase yield. Overnight stay in the
camp. Day 6: Naharsinghani
- Churiajitgarh - Nabipura (about 26 kms.)
Today you will ride through semi desert farm countryside
to reach a small woodlot and dry waterhole, surrounded by
ker bushes. Overnight stay in the camp.
Day 7:
Nabipura - Fatehpura Beed (Khuri) (about 30 kms.)
In the morning you will ride through semi desert region to
Fatehpur Beed or Khuri. The Nawab of Fatehpur had declared
that he would leave as a charity, grazing ground as much
area, which could be encircled by a rider from sunrise to
sunset and declared it protected. Today Fatehpur beed is
an amazing 70 square kms. area with all species of desert
plants. While camping, one will be able to see Desert Fox,
Jackal, Blue Bull and Deer.
Day 8: Khuri - Shynan
mata (about 34 kms.)
Today you will enter territory of the erstwhile Bikaner
state. There will be a sudden change in terrain to large
sand dunes. After lunch, the ride will be slow. Overnight
stay in the camp.
Day 9: Shynan mata -
Tal Chappar (about 31 kms.)
Today you will leave the sand dunes and come to flat loam
soil ground. Most of the ride will be through around the
peripheries of Tal Chappar, the famous black buck game
sanctuary. During the ride, you will be able to see the
black buck deer and also other deer species. Overnight
Camp will be set up on the peripheries of the sanctuary.
Day 10: Tal Chappar
Today you will have full day ride and explore the area
around the Talchappar Wildlife Sanctuary. Tal Chappar
wildlife Sanctuary covers 71 square kms. of desert
scrubland. It has largest herds of blackbuck antelope in
India. Besides this, chinkara gazelle, desert cat, desert
fox and other dry land wildlife, flocks of demoiselle and
common cranes can be seen at nearby lakes and wet lands.
Birds includes sand grouse, quails, and cream colored
desert courser. In the evening return to camp.
Day 11: Tal Chappar -
Bikaner - Delhi (by rail)
After breakfast drive to Bikaner. After having lunch in
Bikaner visit the Junagarh fort and if time permits then
the camel breeding farm and royal cenotaphs. In the
evening transfer to the railway station for overnight
train to Delhi.
Day
12: Delhi
Early morning arrive in Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be
met by an Rajasthan-Tour-Package representative and transferred to
the Hotel. In the evening transfer to the airport for the
flight to home destination. |
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Major
Tourist Attractions in Bikaner |
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Junagarh
Fort |
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Junagrah Fort, a historic fort is one of the most
impressive fort in Bikaner in Rajasthan. Junagarh fort and it's
palaces were built between 1588-1593 by Raja Raj Singh, a general in
the army of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Junagarh Fort has remained
unconquered till date. This fort has a 96 meter long wall to protect
37 palaces, temples and pavilions within it. The 37 bastions guard
the fort and only two gates provide the access inside the fort. The
main entrance of the fort is Suraj Pol or Sun Gate. The palaces,
exquisitely built in red sandstone and marble are ornate with mirror
work, carvings and paintings.
There are about 37 palaces, temples and pavilions
built inside the fort which are made up of red
sandstone. The palaces have exquisitely carved
windows, balconies, towers and kiosks. The interiors
of palaces is done by lacquered furniture, mirror
work, murals, gold polish, enamel work, shell finish
and lime plaster. |
| Inside the fort you will be able
to see the low bed of the Maharajas decorated with
mirrors, Durbar and coronation halls, medieval Mughal
swords, Second World War plane, miniature paintings of the
Bikaner school and an oil painting of the Versailles
treaty. The fort museum has an extensive collection of
illuminated manuscripts, jewellery, jars, carpets, arms
and weapons, treaties and rare antiques. The fort
encompasses many palaces among which the most spectacular
ones are the Chandra Mahal or Moon palace, the Phool Mahal
or Flower palace, the Anup Mahal, Gaj Mandir and Har
Mandir. The mirrors, paintings and carved marble panels in
the Moon Palace or Chandra Mahal are splendid. It has
paintings on lime plaster walls. The Phool Mahal or Flower
Palace is more elaborately decorated with mirror and glass
work. The victory over Aurangzeb was celebrated by
building the Karan Mahal. The Har Mandir is the place
where marriages, births and Gangaur festivals were
celebrated. The Gaj Mandir has an ivory inlaid bed,
beautiful swing seat, silver chairs and polished wooden
chests and cupboards. The Anup Mahal houses the gorgeous
and opulent coronation room in rich glowing red and gold.
Magnificent doors with beautiful raised lacquer work,
ornamented with opaque glass inlay work, impart a
jewel-like opulence to this royal chamber. The Anup Mahal
was the governance chambers for the rulers. The
beautifully maintained rooms now display the treasures of
the Royal family. |
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Lalgarh palace |
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Built
by Maharaja Ganga Singh and designed by Sir Swinton Jacob
it is an outstanding architectural marvel of magical
fusion of Rajputana, European and Mughal building styles.
Stone crafted pillars, Italian colonnades, spacious
lounges, regal halls and profusely carved fire places at
the imposing Lalgarh Palace in Bikaner transport you back
in time to an incomparably lavish royal era. The walls of
the grand Lalgarh Palace are adorned with royal portraits,
hunting trophies, artifacts and carved motifs. Tour the
Lalgarh Palace museum and relax at the library. The
Lalgarh Palace library is unique as in it is a storehouse
of ancient Sanskrit manuscripts on parchments.
The Lalgarh Palace is divided
into three parts, the Sadul Museum, heritage hotel and the
section still occupied by the descendants of the Royal
family. Designed by Swinton Jacob, a famed architect of
those times, the Lalgarh Palace is a lavish royal home
that exudes Bikaner regalia. The Sadul Museum is a
repository of historic exhibits. See a World War I plane,
regal weaponry, delicately designed miniature paintings,
black and white pictures and more at the Lalgarh Palace
museum on your tours to Bikaner tourist attractions. |
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Museums in Bikaner |
Ganga Government Museum - Also
known as the Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum. Initially the museum was
established in a red sandstone building near the Lalgarh Palace by
Maharaja Ganga Singhji to celebrate his golden jubilee reign in
Bikaner. Later Maharaja Karni Singhji constructed a larger
building and the Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum was shifted to it in
the year 1954.
The museum houses brilliant specimens of Harappan civilisation,
the Gupta and Kushan era and sculptures of the late classical
time. It also has a rich collection of terracotta pottery,
carpets, paintings, armory, and coins.
Prachin Museum - Added
recently to
the basket of city attractions it essentially a craft museum.
Inaugurated in October 2000, the Prachina Museum is an
interesting cultural center that was established by an initiative
taken by the daughter of Maharaja Narendra Singhji of Bikaner,
Rajasthan, India. The Prachina Museum in Bikaner showcases the
long lost courtly traditions and glorious royal ways of the
Bikaner royalty in a very realistic manner. It shows you ethnic
Bikaner in a very special way. The basic idea behind the
establishment of the Prachina Museum is to create a platform for
local artists to showcase their traditional crafts that have been
an integral part of the splendid Bikaner culture. |
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Excursion from Bikaner |
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Karni
Mata Temple |
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Karni
Mata temple is situated in Deshnoke, a small town near Nokha in
Bikaner district. Karni Mata Temple is dedicated to Karni Mata, a
famous mystic of her times, believed to be an incarnation of goddess
Durga. Legend goes that she foretold the victory and success of Rao
Bika and the prophecy came true. Today along with her, thousands of
rats are revered here. This strange mode of worship owes to the
belief, that the souls of her devotees are housed in these rats, and
consequently they must be protected and well fed. The main entrance
of the temple is intricately carved in marble. Karni Mata laid the
foundation of Deshnoke and her principal followers, Charans as well
as the rulers of Bikaner worshipped her as a goddess.
The story of the
temple is that a woman brought the body of her recently dead son to
Karni Mata and asked her to restore the boy to life. Karni Mata fell
into a deep trance and encountered Yamaraja, the lord of death. But
he told her that the boy had already accepted another body and could
not be recalled. Karni refused to accept this and said that Yamaraja
would no longer govern her tribe of Charans. At death they would
enter the bodies of kabas, or sacred rats, and when the rats died
they would be reborn as Charans.
Karni Mata Fair
Karni Mata fair is held twice a year at Deshnoke in the month of
Vaishakha (April to May) and Kartika (October to November).
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The devotees came to Deshnoke to worship goddess Durga and her
incarnations. The Rajputs also bring their children on jadula (their
first hair cut) and place them at the deity's feet for blessing. |
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Camel
Breeding Farm |
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Situated only 8km from Bikaner,
it is the only of its kind farm. Popularly referred
to as the Government Camel Breeding Farm, the
National Research Center on Camel breeds the best
camels in Bikaner and conducts research work related
to "the ship of the desert." |
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Gajner
Palace |
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Gajner Palace, a unit of
HRH Group of Hotels is an incomparable jewel in the
Thar Desert. This palace is built on the embankment of
a lake by H.H. Maharaja Sir Ganga Singhji of Bikaner.
Gajner Palace is situated about 30 km from Bikaner in
Gajner and spread over 6000 acres of land. Gajner is
located near Kolayat, an old historic village with a
holy lake (Kapil Sarovar) and numerous temples. Gajner
attracts thousands of pilgrims especially during
Kartik Purnima on full moon day between October and
November Gajner Palace was earlier used by the former
Maharajas as a hunting lodge and various British
dignitaries also visited during the British Raj
System. |
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During the reign of
Maharaja Ganga Singhji, this palace was used for duck
and Imperial Sand Grouse shooting and lavish
entertainment.
Christmas season was often celebrated with great fun and frolic and
both, national and international kings and other dignatories were
invited on this grand occasion. Some dignitaries who have visited Gajner
Palace are the Governor General Lord Elgin, Lord Mountbatten of Burma,
Prince of Wales (1905) and Lord lrwin (1927).
Now, the Gajner Palace has a private wildlife sanctuary. This
sanctuary is home to endangered antelopes like the Chinkara, Black Buck,
Neelgai and other animals. During winter months, the lake also becomes
home to more than a hundred species of migratory birds, including
the Imperial Sand Grouse. The tourist can enjoy the jungle safari in
the wildlife sanctuary in the morning and evening. Gajner Palace is divided into five different wings which are Dungar
Niwas, Mandir Chowk, Gulab Niwas, Champa Niwas and Sardar Niwas. The
hotel offers 31 well appointed rooms and suites. Each suite has been
meticulously restored to its original grandeur. In Gajner Palace, one
can also view the photographs of the days of the British Raj System
which have been meticulously arranged in the corridors. The tourists can
also enjoy Camel Safari, Jeep Safari, Horse riding, billiards, tennis
and boating at Gajner Palace. |
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How to reach
Gajner Palace |
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The nearest city is Bikaner which is about 30 km. Bikaner is well
accessible by rail, air and road. The nearest railway station and
airport is situated at Jodhpur which is about 250 kms. |
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Festival in Bikaner |
Camel
Festival (January)
Camel festival is
celebrated in Bikaner, an enchanting desert city and the only camel
breeding farm in the country in the month of January. It is the most
popular festival of Rajasthan. During this festival there are camel
races and camel dances. Music and dance of Rajasthan also adds charm
to this festival. There are also several unusual folk performances,
and you may also experience the rare fire dance in the night. |
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Standard
Rooms on twin sharing basis.