Bikaner Attractions

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.

Junagarh Fort
Junagarh 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.

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.

Museums in Bikaner

Ganga Government Museum
Ganga Government Museum is 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
Prachin Museum has been added recently to the basket of city attractions. It is 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.

Excursion from Bikaner

Karni Mata Temple
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. More...

Camel Breeding Farm
Camel Breeding Farm is situated only 8 km 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."

Gajner Palace
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. 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. More...