In the heart of the scorching Thar Desert, lies Bikaner of Rajasthan in India. The captivating desert scenery with all the majesty of its sand dunes, hard, rocky soil and thorny shrubs growing here and there, makes Bikaner endearing to nature lovers. The forts and red sandstone construction are the chief attractions of the city. It is a royal city surrounded by a mammoth fortification wall, more than 5 km in circumference and about 5 to 9m high.
Lying on the northern tip of the desert tourist triangle, Bikaner was a one of the significant staging post of the silk route in the days when businessmen used to travel mostly on camel caravans. Bikaner was founded in 1486 A.D. and was named after its founder, Rao Bikaji.
The Camel Breeding Farm in Bikaner is only one of its kinds in whole Asia and so is the illustrious Camel Festival. Bikaner is bright and alive and colorful with its traditional costumes, vivacious fairs and festivals, paintings and murals and electrifying wares and hoards of artistic skills that have been there for centuries.
CLIMATE
Typically a desert climate, the days in Bikaner are hot and nights are chilly. In summers the temperatures range between 41.8ºC to 28ºC while, in winters, temperatures range from 23.2ºC to 5ºC.
HOW TO REACH
By Air: Bikaner does not have an official airport. Nal Airport, 17 kms from the city, which normally serves as India Air Force airfield, remains open to civilian flights to and from Bikaner from November to March. The nearest international airports to Bikaner are Jodhpur and Jaipur.
By Train: Bikaner is well connected with all the major cities by the network of trains such as New Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Agra, Churu and many more. From New Delhi, there are day and night trains that take about 12 hours to make the km trip to Bikaner. The Railway Station is situated in the heart of the city.
By Road: Rajasthan tourism and private operators run luxury coaches, which include Rajasthan Roadway Deluxe, Super deluxe and air-conditioned buses, linking Bikaner to all the major cities such as New Delhi, Udaipur, Ajmer and Agra. The intercity bus station is centrally located opposite the Lalgarh Palace.
WHERE TO EAT
To treat the guests with new and unusual dishes are considered a matter of prestige in Bikaner and Rajasthan in general, not to mention the delicacies like stuffed camels, goats, and peacocks. The imperial kitchens of all the major hotels will offer you highly decked dishes in which dried lentils, beans from indigenous plants like sangri are ker liberally used. Bikaneri namkeen (salties) are famous and spicy. Lalgarh Palace Hotel is said to have the best cooks in the city.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Camel Festival is much like Elephant Festival of Jaipur. Dedicated to the ship of the desert or the main mode of the transport for the desert people, it is held on the full moon night, every year in January. A lot of events featuring camel races and camel dances are held. You can enjoy camel rides and experience the buoyancy and colorful environment typical to Rajasthan.
Gangaur Fair is held in March/ April every year in the honor of Goddess Gauri. Maidens and married women enact processions throughout the city. They wear their best dresses and jewellery, sing folk songs and perform rituals to please the goddess and get her blessings for conjugal and marital bliss.
Kite Festival or the Teej Festival is generally held April/ May annually and as the name suggests the major event on this occasion is to fly kites. This cultural tradition bears special significance in Bikaner as it serves to venerate the historical fact that on this day the foundations of the city were laid. The hot climate and the sandstorms are unable to hinder the enthusiasm and fervor with which people of all ages celebrate it.
Karni Mata Fair is held twice a year on the ninth day of the Navratra (the nine-day festival) in March/ April and September/ October, in the honor of Goddess Karni Mata, worshipped by the royal family of Bikaner. All the devotees gather in the little desert citadel of Deshnok and offer their prayers and chant hymns and prayers.
Kapil Muni Fair is held in November on the sacred lake of Kolayat, which is about 55 Km from Bikaner, during the full moon of ‘Kartik’ (according to the Hindu calendar), in the honor of Kapil Muni who founded ‘Sankhya’ (statistics, which was one of the six major philosophical schools of ancient India). Not only the devotees who come here to take a holy dip in the lake, several other people and tourists visit the place only to see the renowned cattle fair held here during this occasion.
SHOPPING ATTRACTIONS
Shop in Bikaner for items made out of camel hide such as belts, wallets, bags, and jootis (footwear) and many more. Carpets made of camel and sheep wool are a specialty. These days colorful carpets with intricate designs made with a blend of Bikaner wool and New Zealand wool are gaining popularity. Unique Kundan jewellery and setting uncut stones, usually diamonds, into gold to decorate the swords to sweet boxes, and using enamel ornamentation to enhance their splendor in the “raised field” technique are quite a craze. ‘Nokha Quilts’, known for lightweight and good insulation, cotton fabrics with sanganeri prints, tie and dyes, paintings, embroidered shoes also attract attention of the tourists. In Bikaner, Kote Gate (King Edward Memorial Road) and Junagarh Fort are the main shopping areas.
WHAT TO WEAR
The most appropriate outfits to wear in Bikaner include loose cotton clothes in summer and light woolen clothes to keep you warm in winter. Use a hat or a scarf as a head covering to avoid heat strokes. It will be advisable to wear comfortable footwear, as you will have to walk a lot here while sightseeing. Sunscreens are not to be forgotten if you are not used to the scorching hot desert sun in summers.
