Five
hundred years ago, a desert chieftain established his kingdom here, and over
the centuries it has grown into an impressive town on the strength of its
valorous and diplomatic resident. Bikaner city is bolstered by imposing
walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and a mosque.
Founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37
pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. Its
central fort offered the occupants safety from invaders, while inside, the
rulers designed some beautiful apartments that carried echoes of opulence
and in rain starved Bikaner-the images of monsoon clouds.The city, however, has remained in many ways, timeless. Nearby is Deshnoke where, in a marble-fronted temple, rats are offered sanctuary for they are considered sacred. And at Gajner is a former hunting lodge by a lake. Conversation efforts have declared it a sanctuary. Till a few decades ago, Gajner was particularly celebrated for its imperial sandgrouse shoots, diplomatically arranged by Maharaja Ganga Singh for viceregal visitors.
CITY SIGHTS
Junagarh Fort: The fort of Bikaner, Junagarh, however, was built in 1593 by Raja Rai Singh who also served as a general in the army of Emperor Akbar. Made from red sandstone and encircled by a moat around which the modern city of Bikaner has spread in a somewhat erratic fashion, Junagarh consists of several palaces and apartments in a remarkable state of preservation. The art of mason and sculptor is most obvious in the recreation of delicate stone screens, kiosks, pavilions and a series of arched entrances to buildings reached entrances to buildings reached from corridors that have windows overlooking the city beyond.
Anup Mahal:Anup Mahal
courtyard has a throne set in a pool of water, bringing alive the
sensitivity the rulers showed in their building environment. A formal set of
sandstone staircases, and the wooden Durbar Hall are additions made early in
this century by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Badal Mahal: Recreates paintings of clouds on its walls, a reminder of the monsoon that often failed the settlement
Phool Mahal, Chandra Mahal: They give the impression of a rich inlay of pietra dura, though in fact the apartments are merely richly painted. The paintings have been preserved as good as new because of the extremely dry heat conditions of the desert town.
Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum: It is one of the best in Rajasthan, and stores artifacts from the pre-Harappan civilisations, the Gupta and Kushan eras.
EXCURSIONS
Camel Breeding Farm: 10 km away, is probably the only one of its kind in Asia, and is managed by the government.
Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary: 32 km away, is located on the Jaisalmer road. Bluebull, chinkara and black buck can be found. There are flocks of imperial sand grouse too. The erstwhile hunting lodge is now a hotel.
Deshnoke: Karni Mata's temple, 33km away, is situated on the Jodhpur road, and is devoted to an incarnation of Durga.
SEASON
September to March
