Gajner Palace

Gajner Palace was built on the edge of a lake in the Thar desert by Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh of Bikaner, and worked as a hunting resort under the British Raj. The Prince of Wales came in 1905, Lord Mountbatten while he was Viceroy of India. A rail line linked the palace to Bikaner in 1922 and the remains of that station stand in the grounds. It became a heritage hotel in 1976 and is part of the HRH Group.

The compound covers 6,000 acres and the palace divides into four wings. Thirteen historic suites occupy Dungar Niwas, where the British dignitaries stayed, restored to their wallpaper, four-poster beds and original furniture. The other 32 deluxe rooms are in Gulab Niwas, once used by railway officers, Champa Niwas around a courtyard, and Mandir Chowk, which holds an old temple and age-old banyan trees.

The Mirage Restaurant was the Maharaja's ballroom and serves Indian, Mughlai and Continental food; the Imperial Terrace runs off it above the lake and sanctuary. Mrigtrishna Bar sits in Dungar Niwas. Camel and jeep safaris, boats on Gajner Lake, tennis courts and the Panghat Spa fill the rest. Bikaner is 30 minutes by road.