Bikaner retains a flavour of medieval splendour that pervades the city's lifestyle. More popularly called the camel country, the city is renowned for the best riding camels in the world. Bikaner's history dates back to 1488 AD, when a Rathore Prince, Rao Bikaji - a descendent of the founder of Jodhpur - established his kingdom here.  Bikaji chose a barren wilderness called 'Jangladesh' and transformed it to an impressive city, called Bikaner after the founder's name. The strategic location of Bikaner on the ancient caravan routes that came from West and Central Asia made it an important trading centre in these times. Bikaner stands on 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. Undulating lanes, colourful bazaars and bright and cheerful folk make Bikaner an interesting experience.
 

PLACES OF INTEREST ARE:
Junagarh:  The fort of Bikaner, Junagarh, was built in 1593 by Raja Rai Singh, who also served as a general in the army of Emperor Akbar. Made from red sandstone and encircled by a moat around which the modern city of Bikaner has spread in a somewhat erratic fashion, Junagarh consists of several palaces and apartments in a remarkable state of preservation. The art of mason and sculptor is most obvious in the recreation of delicate stone screens, kiosks, pavilions and series of arched entrances reaching from the corridors that have windows overlooking the city beyond.

Some of the palaces are among the most richly decorated in Rajasthan, and include Anup Mahal, Chandra Mahal and Phool Mahal. They give the impression of rich inlay of pietra dura, though in fact the apartments are merely richly painted. The paintings have been preserved as good as new because of the extremely dry heat conditions of the desert town. Another palace, Badal Mahal, recreated painting of clouds on its walls, a reminder of the monsoon that often ignored the settlement. The Anup Mahal courtyard has a throne set in a pool of water, bringing alive the sensitivity the rulers showed in their building environment.

Lallgarh Palace: An architectural masterpiece in red sandstone, the palace was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh. The beautiful latticework and filigree work, and the sprawling lawns with blooming bougainvillea and dancing peacocks make it an unmissable visual treat. Part of the palace has been converted into a luxury hotel and a museum known as Shri Sadul Museum.
 

MUSEUMS & ART GALLERIES:
Fort Museum, Junagarh Fort: Ganga Mahal, the imposing halls added by Maharaja Ganga Singh, now house the Fort Museum. It contains a fine collection of antique Rajput weaponry, jade handled daggers, camel hide dhals (shields) and inlaid handguns and camel guns. Other important objects include a pair of drums belonging to Jambhoji, who predicted the foundation of the dynasty by Rao Bika 450 years earlier. Items of personal use by Maharaja Ganga Singh and miniatures are also on view.

Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum: Established near the Lallgarh Palace in 1937, on the eve of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Maharaja Ganga Singh, this museum is now run by the Government of Rajasthan. Some principal exhibits of this museum are the  Maharaja Ganga Singh Memorial, local arts and crafts, sculpture, terracotta and bronzes, armoury, miniature paintings, folk arts and lithoprints of the British Interpretation of the Was of Independence 1857.

Shri Sardul Museum and Anup Library, Lallgarh Palace: A fort of the early 20th century, Lallgarh Palace has been converted into a museum containing a large number of items used and collected by Maharaja Ganga Singh and his successors. Old photographs, trophies, shikar objects, early cameras and movie projectors abound,whilst  weapons used by Maharaja Karni Singh are on show as well as the manuscripts brought back from the Deccan by Raja Anup Singh in the 17th century.

EXCURSIONS:
Bhandeshwar & Sandeshwar Temples: The oldest surviving monuments of aesthetic heritage, the 14th century Jain temples of Bhandeshwar and Sandeshwar were built by two brothers and named after them. The rich mirror work, décor and frescoes of the Bhandeshwar and Sandeshwar; and their intricate gold-leaf paintings, are particularly memorable.

The old Jain havelis are popular tourist spots. Other important temples of Bikaner include the Lakshminathji, Ratan Bihariji, and Nagnechiji temples. Also worth seeing are the Bhaironji Temples at Kodamdesar, about 40 kms from Bikaner.

Camel Research Farm (8 km): Spend a day with the indispensable ships of the desert at their camel research and breeding centre - one of its kind in Asia. The farm spreads over 2000 acres of semi arid land and is managed by the Central Governments. The Camel Corps of Bikaner were a famous fighting force during the the time of the British Raj and are still an important part of desert warfare and defence, now with the Border Security Force.

Devi Kund (8 km): A royal crematorium with several ornamented cenotaphs or 'chhatris' built in the memory of the Bika dynasty rulers. Maharaja Suruj Singh's Chhatri is the most impressive of all, created entirely in white marble with spectacular Rajput paintings on the ceiling.

Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary (32 km): The lush foliage of woods on the Jaisalmer road are a haven to nilgai, chinkara, black bucks, wild boar and groups of imperial sand grouse. The Gajner Palace, a summer retreat of the kings, stands on the bank of the lake and has been converted into a hotel.

Shiv Bari Temple (6 km): Built by Doongar Singhji in the late 19th century, the temple is surrounded by an embattlement wall and has beautiful paintings and a bronze Nandi facing the Shiva Lingam.

Kalibanga (205 km): These extensive remains of pre-Harappan and Harappan civilizations, found at Kalibanga in the Hanumangarh district, are of immense interest to archeology enthusiasts.

Deshnok: A visit to the fascinating temple of Karni Mata, an incarnation of Durga, at this village, 30 km south of Bikaner along the Jodhpur Road, is not for the squeamish. Here rats are considered to be incarnations of storytellers and the holy rodents run riot all over the temple complex. The rats are known as Kabas, and it considered highly auspicious to have one run across your feet - a likely blessing indeed considering their numbers.

Kolayat: The Kapil Muni Fair is the largest fair in the Bikaner district, and is held on Kartik Poornima at Kolayat. Originally Kapilayata - named after the sage Kapil who is believed to have done tapasya (meditation) here for the redemption of mankind, Kolayat is situated in an arid area with a lake and 52 ghats shaded by banyan trees. A temple dedicated to Kapil Muni is situated on the Kapil Muni Ghat, and has a marble statue of the saint.

A large number of people come to Kolayat to redeem themselves by taking holy dips in the Kolayat Lake throughout the year, but it is considered very auspicious to take a dip on Kartik Poornima. The lakeside is dotted with temples. Ghats named after these temples allow privacy to the pilgrims, with some ghats meant only for women. Visiting Kolayat is considered to be a tritha or pilgrimage of great importance and it is believed that a single day's stay at Kolayat benefits as much as 10 years spent at any other sacred place. The legendary Maharishi Kapil and the Kapilayatan Lake are mentioned in the Puranas, and Kapil Muni himself is believed to have descended from Lord Brahma. A cattle fair is held in conjunction with the Kapil Muni Fair, in whicn buffaloes, camels, horses and cattle are sold. The experience is one of a massive frenzy of mixed activity and hubbub that has to be seen up close.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS:
Camel Festival: A lively and colourful event, the Camel Festival is held in Bikaner every year. January is just the right month for a desert spree, and Bikaner just the right place to see the ships of the desert. In the camel country these desert leviathans pull heavy cart loads, transport grain and work at the wells. The Camel Festival begins with a colourful procession of bedecked camels against the red sandstone backdrop of Junagarh Fort, and the festivity advances to the open sand-spreads of the grounds. Contests include breeding, the tug-of-war contest, camel dance and acrobatics.

The camels display amazing nimbleness on their flat feet, dancing gracefully to the slightest direction of the trainers. Shimmering bridles, bejeweled necks, jingling anklets and long, lanky camel shadows on dusky sands cast a magical spell. Hundred of tourists and thousands of locals and dignitaries revel in this man-and-animal affair. The evenings close with a different tenor and tempo altogether, with a traditional rendezvous of renowned artists of Rajasthan and the local folk performers. The jubilant skirt-swirling dancers, the awe-inspiring fire dance, and the dazzling fireworks light up the fortified desert city of Bikaner like the sun.

Gangaur Festival (April): Dedicated to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, this festival is a grand procession of the deity, accompanied by dancing women. In all, the celebrations carry on for eighteen days..

Jambheswar Fair: The Jambheswar Fair is held in the village of Mukam twice a year on Phalguni Budi Amavasya and Ashvin Budi Amavasya, in memory of the founder of the Bishnoi sect, Jambheshwarji. His teachings are condensed into 120 sabdas (sayings) which propagate the cardinal virtues of self-control, truth and non-violence. He taught 29 articles of religion, hence the term Bishnoi from Bees (twenty) and Nau (Nine).