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Bikaner

Bikaner

city · Rajasthan

Bikaner gets a fraction of Jaisalmer's and Jodhpur's visitors and is a better city for it.

State
Rajasthan
Type
City
Best season
Winter
Things to do
4+

Bikaner gets a fraction of Jaisalmer's and Jodhpur's visitors and is a better city for it. Nothing here is queued. Junagarh, begun in 1589, is unusual among Rajasthan's forts in standing on flat ground rather than a hill, and it was never taken — which is why the painted interiors survived intact. The lacquer ceilings and the gold-leaf Anup Mahal are the reason to come, and the museum has a First World War biplane in it. Inside the old walls the city is a grid of red Dulmera sandstone havelis, the Rampuria cluster being the best of them and most still lived in. Bhujia was invented here. The Karni Mata temple at Deshnoke, thirty kilometres south, is the one with the rats — you go barefoot or you do not go. October to March. April to June sits well over 40°C.

When to go

The ideal window to explore Bikaner is from October to March when the dry winter air keeps desert touring highly pleasant.

Why visit

Bikaner gets a fraction of Jaisalmer's visitors and has the better-preserved fort. Junagarh was never taken, so its painted interiors survive intact. Go for those, and for the bhujia the town invented.

Cultural notes

Founded in 1488 CE by Rao Bika of the Rathore clan, the city successfully capitalized on strategic trade vectors across the desert plains. It holds a geographical indication tag for Bikaneri Bhujia, a unique crispy savory snack made from moth lentils that has spawned a massive local economy. It is also a prominent base for Usta art, a rare gold-embossing craft.

How to reach

Served directly by Bikaner Airport with domestic flights, and connected reliably via the broad-gauge Bikaner Junction Railway Station. It is accessible by road via the 4-lane National Highway 11 corridor from Jaipur within 5 hours.

2 days in Bikaner

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Junagarh FortDay 1

Day 1

Junagarh Fort

Begun in 1589 and never taken, which is why the painted and gold-leaf interiors survive as well as they do. The walls and moat went up between 1589 and 1594 under Karan Chand, prime minister to Rai Singh of Bikaner. It was called Chintamani until the early twentieth century, when the ruling family moved out to Lalgarh Palace and this became simply the old fort. Unusually for Rajasthan it stands on flat ground rather than a hill, so the city grew around it instead of below it. The museum holds a First World War biplane, which is not what anyone expects in a desert fort.

Day 1

Lalgarh Palace

Lalgarh Palace

Day 1

Rampuria havelis walk

Rampuria havelis walk

Day 1

Bhujia & sweets tasting

Bhujia & sweets tasting

Day 2

Day 2

Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke

Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke

Day 2

National Research Centre on Camel

National Research Centre on Camel

Day 2

Desert sunset

Desert sunset

Food & cuisine

Signature dishes and local flavours to look for in Bikaner.

7 dishes

Bikaneri Bhujia

The town's world-famous spicy snack

Samosa

Samosa

Spicy fried snacks

Kachori

Kachori

Spicy fried snacks

Dal Baati Churma

Dal Baati Churma

The classic Rajasthani plate

Bikaneri Rasgulla

Famous local sweets

Ghevar

Ghevar

Famous local sweets

Ker Sangri

Desert bean-and-berry curry

Bikaner guide & itineraries

Bikaner is perfect for

heritagefamilyfood

Nearby getaways

Deshnoke (Karni Mata)

~30 min

Frequently asked questions

What is Bikaner famous for?
Junagarh Fort, the Karni Mata (rat) temple, camels and its namesake Bikaneri bhujia and sweets.
What is the Karni Mata Temple?
A temple in Deshnoke where thousands of rats are revered; spotting a white rat is considered auspicious.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Bikaner.

Camel farm & sunset ride

National Research Centre on Camel and desert rides

Lalgarh Palace & museums

Red-sandstone palace and galleries

Hidden gems

Rampuria havelis

Ornate old-city merchant mansions

Popular attractions

The places in Bikaner most people come for.

Rampuria Haveli Cluster

Rampuria Haveli Cluster

Hidden Gem

National Camel Research Farm

National Camel Research Farm

Experience

See all attractions

Reviews & ratings

What travellers say about Bikaner

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