Bikaner Travel Guide
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Bikaner is the second of six stops on Rajasthan Grand Journey 10 nights · with Jaipur and Jaisalmer and Jodhpur and Pushkar and Udaipur · from £525 per person See it →Bikaner is the fourth desert city, north of Jodhpur and east of Jaisalmer, and the one the standard circuit leaves out. That is its advantage: an unconquered fort with the best-preserved interiors in the state, a walled old town of red sandstone havelis with no crowds, the palaces of a Maharaja who built on a grand scale, and bhujia, which was invented here.
Quick facts
Founded: 1488, by Rao Bika, a son of Jodhpur's founder Rao Jodha Known for: Junagarh Fort, the rat temple at Deshnoke, camels and bhujia Region: the northern Thar Best time: October to March; the camel fair is in January Airport: Nal (BKB), limited flights; Jodhpur and Jaipur are the practical airports Rail: Bikaner Junction, on lines to Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur
Getting there
By train. Overnight trains from Delhi and daytime services from Jaipur and Jodhpur. This is the usual way in.
By road. Jaipur about six hours, Jodhpur about five, Jaisalmer about six. Bikaner sits between Jaipur and Jaisalmer on the northern route, so on our Rajasthan Grand Journey it is the night that breaks that long road. The same private car and driver takes you the whole way.
Getting around
The old city is for walking. Auto-rickshaws for the palaces and the station. A car for the day for Deshnoke, the camel farm and Gajner.
How many days
One night breaks the journey and covers the fort and the old town. Two lets you do the rat temple and the camels, or sleep at the lakeside palace at Gajner.
What to do
Things to do in Bikaner: Junagarh Fort, the old-city havelis, Lallgarh, the rat temple at Deshnoke, the camel research farm, Gajner and the painted Jain temple, with how long each takes.
Where to stay
Five stays: a haveli behind the fort, the Maharaja's two palaces, and two out of town. Boutique hotels in Bikaner, with what each is like.
Journeys through Bikaner
Bikaner is a stop on the ten-night Rajasthan Grand Journey. Or find a journey, weekend or city guide in three taps.