Bikaner Tour : Jewel of the Thar Desert
Bikaner
The city of Bikaner is located in the Thar Desert in the Indian state of Rajasthan. With its beautiful, magnificent palaces, monuments, temples and colorful bazaars, Bikaner is well worth a visit. The city was founded in 1488 by Rao Bika, the son of the then king of Jodhpur and also named after him: City of Bikaner. Situated on the then caravan route, the desert city quickly became rich. The huge, beautiful complexes still indicate the wealth today. Due to the caravan route, Bikaner was a melting pot of cultures and arts. This can be seen in the decorations of the palaces. During Bikaner Tour you can visit the great Junagarh Fort with its spectacular palaces and ancient royal monuments, visit a camel breeding farm or take part in the hustle and bustle of the narrow streets of the old town. The city will surely bring you many unforgettable impressions.
Top Tourist Attractions in Bikaner Junagarh Fort & Palaces
Bikaner Tour highlight is visit to the Junagarh Fort, founded in the 16th century, which was inhabited by the royal family until the beginning of the 20th century. After the family moved to the new palace LalGarh, the complex was restored and rebuilt. The fortress has a high defensive wall and many high entrance gates. At the second gate you can see hands carved in stone of former queens who were burned alive on the funeral pyre together with their husbands who died or were killed in the war. This was done to prevent them from becoming war booty and thus slaves of the Islamic enemies. In front of the third gate there are two large statues of elves with two warriors. This is a monument to the two brave warriors. In the gate there are also two small temples of the god Ganesha and the family goddess. The museum has various historical chambers which are finely crafted and decorated with wall paintings, stucco work and wood carvings. Additional luxury is provided by gold leaf, silver leaf and semi-precious stones. Balconies and niches are finely hewn from marble and sandstone. Other large halls display weapons, clothing and even an old fighter plane. Inside the halls, finely carved stone lattice balconies are located on the lateral facades. The women of the royal family could thus observe everything without being seen.
Lalgarh Palace: The Heritage Hotel I
n the 20th century, the Junagarh complex was no longer suitable for the modern life of the king. Therefore, the modern Lalgarh Palace was founded in 1902 and completed in 1926. The builder MaharajaGanga Singh dedicated this palace to his father Maharaja Lall Singh and named it after him. The palace is one of the best palaces in India. Today it is divided into four complexes: two luxurious palace hotels “Hotel Lalgarh Palace” and “Hotel Laxmi Niwas Palace”, a museum and the residence of the royal family.The complex was decorated with the best materials and even furnished with European furniture.
Camel breeding farm: The biggest camel reproduction farms in Asia
In 1984, the ” National Research Centre on Camel” was established near Bikaner. The breeding farm is the largest of its kind in Asia. In the desert, dromedaries are very useful and valuable animals. On this farm several breeds are carefully bred so that people can buy good dromedaries for their work. Many animals are also bought by the Indian army, because in the desert they have to secure the border with Pakistan. The farm has several hundred mares and some strong stallions for breeding. It is touching to see the newborn offspring and it is a joy to watch the lively young animals. Camels are fondly called the “Ships of the Desert” because of their utility in arid climate The farm has its own dairy where guests can taste camel milk and even ice cream. Camel milk is salty and is used as an effective remedy for diabetes. Filming at the farm is prohibited, but photography for a fee is allowed.
Heritage Hotels in Bikaner