Bikaner

About Bikaner — The Camel Country

Bikaner is the desert town that gave the world its iconic bhujia — and one of Rajasthan’s most under-visited royal cities. Founded in 1488 by Rao Bika, a son of Rao Jodha (the founder of Jodhpur), Bikaner sits in the heart of the Thar with a gloriously unconquered fort, eccentric temples, the world’s only Camel Research Centre, and a dazzling festival calendar. Add the famous Bikaner Camel Festival in January and the surreal Karni Mata “Rat Temple”, and Bikaner becomes one of Rajasthan’s most rewarding off-beat stops.

Best Time to Visit

• October – March — pleasant weather (12–28 °C). Best for sightseeing and the Camel Festival.
• January (Camel Festival) — 2-day spectacle of camel races, decorated camels, folk music. The single best time to visit.
• April – June — extremely hot (45+ °C). Avoid.

Top Attractions

Junagarh Fort

Built in 1593, Junagarh is one of the very few major Rajasthani forts never to have been conquered. Walk through 37 palaces, ornate balconies, the Anup Mahal with its mirror work, and the Phool Mahal painted with delicate floral murals. Don’t miss the Prachina Museum inside the fort — featuring royal costumes, jewellery and a small collection of vintage cars.

Karni Mata Temple (Rat Temple) — Deshnoke

30 km south of Bikaner — one of India’s most extraordinary temples. Home to ~25,000 sacred black rats believed to be reincarnations of devotees. Spotting a rare white rat is considered extremely auspicious. Note: visitors walk barefoot. Definitely not for the squeamish — but unforgettable.

National Camel Research Centre

The world’s only camel research and breeding farm. Watch hundreds of camels in different breeds (Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri, Mewari), enjoy a camel ride, and try fresh camel milk and camel-milk ice cream. Best visited at 3:00–5:00 PM when herds return for the night.

Lalgarh Palace

A red-sandstone Indo-Saracenic palace built for Maharaja Ganga Singh in 1902. Now a heritage hotel and museum (Sadul Singh Museum) with hunting trophies, royal photographs and a vintage car collection.

Bhandasar Jain Temple

A 15th-century Jain temple, supposedly built using 40,000 kg of ghee instead of water in the mortar — locals say the walls still ooze ghee on hot days. The painted interiors are some of the finest in Rajasthan.

Devi Kund Sagar & Old City Havelis

The royal cremation grounds with cenotaphs (chhatris) of Bikaner’s maharajas. Combine with a wander through the old city’s Rampuria Havelis — exquisite red-sandstone merchant mansions tucked into narrow lanes.

Things to Do

• Tour Junagarh Fort with audio guide (3 hrs)
• Visit Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke (half day)
• Camel ride and camel-milk lassi at the Camel Research Centre
• Sunset at Devi Kund Sagar cenotaphs
• Try Bikaneri bhujia at the original Haldiram & Bhujiawala shops
• Shop for usta art (gold-leaf miniatures on camel hide) and Kashida embroidery
• Attend the Bikaner Camel Festival (Jan) — book 4+ months ahead

Local Food

• Bikaneri Bhujia — the original spicy gram-flour snack, born here in 1877
• Kachori & Samosa at Chhotu Motu Joshi (the most famous in town)
• Rasgulla at Bhikha Ram Chhotu Ram Sweets
• Ghevar, Mawa Kachori — local sweets specialty
• Laal Maas & Ker Sangri — traditional Marwari thali at Gallops or Heritage Resort
• Camel-milk ice cream — try at the Research Centre

How to Reach

By Air

Bikaner Airport (BKB) — limited flights from Delhi and Jaipur. Most travellers fly to Jodhpur (JDH) 250 km away or Jaipur (JAI) 320 km away.

By Rail

Bikaner Junction (BKN) is well-connected to Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mumbai and Kolkata. The Palace on Wheels luxury train includes Bikaner on its Rajasthan route.

By Road

Jaipur 320 km (5 hr), Jodhpur 250 km (4 hr), Jaisalmer 320 km (5 hr), Delhi 460 km (8 hr). Perfect on the Jodhpur–Bikaner–Jaisalmer desert circuit. See our fleet.

Travel Tips

• 1–2 days is enough for Bikaner (3 days for Camel Festival)
• Book the Laxmi Niwas Palace or Narendra Bhawan for the heritage experience
• Karni Mata Temple — wear thick socks if rats unsettle you
• Combine Bikaner with Mandawa, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer for a 7-day desert circuit
• Buy bhujia from the original old-city shops, not roadside imitations
• Camel Festival accommodation must be booked 4+ months in advance

Ready for the camel country? Use the booking card or message Prithvi on WhatsApp — we’ll plan your Bikaner stay including a heritage palace night, Karni Mata day trip and front-row Camel Festival access.