Bikaner

Bikaner lies in the Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert. Sand dunes shape the landscape in the district, especially from the northeast to the southern area. At the same time, temples, havelis and museums offer a variety of cultural points of interest. When looking for a holiday rental, you can consider whether Bikaner’s architecture, the desert landscape or wildlife observation is the main focus of your trip.

Temples, Havelis and Royal Collections

The Bhandasar Jain Temple is a 15th-century temple dedicated to Sumatinathji, the fifth Tirthankar. Mirror work, murals and gold-leaf paintings define its interior. The temple is also listed among the centrally protected monuments and sites, with Bikaner named as both its location and district. Those interested in religious architecture and ornate interiors will find here a distinctive part of Bikaner’s cultural identity.

The Rampuria Group of Havelis showcases another architectural side of the city. The havelis are made of red Dulmera sandstone; their features include jharokhas, latticed windows and elaborate gold work. Their design also shows a distinct Victorian influence. The contrast between regional building materials and this design influence makes the buildings a particularly interesting subject for culturally curious visitors.

At Junagarh Fort, the Prachina Museum displays royal clothing, textiles and accessories belonging to the royal families of Rajasthan. The Shri Laxminath Temple is made of marble and red stone. It was built to house Lord Laxminath, whose throne is located there. Together, these different places offer insights into religious traditions, courtly clothing and architectural styles, without needing to be combined into a single sightseeing itinerary.

Desert, Wildlife Observation and Regional Traditions

Beyond the city, there are different themes to consider when planning your trip. At Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary in Bikaner district, visitors can go on wildlife safaris and observe blackbuck, chinkara, nilgai and various bird species. Jorbeed is about 12 km from Bikaner City and is an observation area for steppe eagles, Eurasian griffon vultures and Egyptian vultures. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore weigh whether you want to focus your trip more on Bikaner’s cultural sights or on wildlife observation.

Another cultural point of interest is Kolayat Lake in the town of Kolayat. It is considered a historical and religious site; its religious association is traced to the sage Kapil Muni, who, according to tradition, meditated here in ancient times. The Kapil Muni Fair is held near the lake every year on Kartik Purnima. The festival includes cultural performances as well as displays of local art and crafts. The Bikaner Camel Festival, in turn, is an annual festival in honour of camels.

Gajner Palace is a lakeside palace complex in Bikaner district, built by HH Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh of Bikaner. Its architecture brings together elements from Rajasthan, the Jain tradition, the Mughal era and Europe. The National Camel Research Centre in Bikaner has a focus of its own: it was established in 1984 by the Government of India and is dedicated to research, protection and the promotion of the camel.

Getting There and Locality Pages

Naal Airport is 10 km from Bikaner and has direct connections to Delhi and Jaipur. Bikaner’s bus station is north of the city centre. Frequent express buses run from there to Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Barmer, Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Kota and Udaipur. This information can help you consider your journey as a separate part of planning your accommodation and trip.

For further orientation, you can also visit the pages for Chaukunti Mohalla, Bikaner, Udasar, Norangdesar, Khodala and Lunkaransar.

For the broader travel overview: Rajasthan.

More Destinations

More places in the same destination:

Banswara, Karauli.