5 Places to Visit in Bikaner, Rajasthan

Places to Visit in Bikaner

Honestly, Bikaner does not get the attention it deserves. Most people travel to Rajasthan and go straight to Jaipur or Udaipur. But this city has something that must be explored with family. Here are five places that you must visit in Bikaner.

Junagarh Fort

People always say forts in Rajasthan were captured and recaptured through history. Junagarh Fort breaks that pattern entirely. Since it was built in 1593 by Raja Rai Singh, not one enemy managed to take it over. That alone makes it worth seeing. Inside, there are palaces, temples, old weapons, and paintings that have survived for hundreds of years. The detail on the walls and ceilings is so hard to believe, which makes you keep wondering how people made all this without machines. Keep at least two hours for this place, because rushing through it would be a waste.

If you are going with your whole family, sorting out a comfortable car before you leave Jodhpur makes the whole trip less stressful. Booking an Ertiga on rent in Jodhpur works well for families and it seats up to seven people and has decent boot space for bags and the shopping you will definitely end up doing in Bikaner.

Karni Mata Temple

Okay, so this one is unusual. The temple is about 30 kilometers from Bikaner, in Deshnok, and it is known as the Rat Temple. Thousands of rats live inside, and they are treated as sacred. You walk in barefoot and the rats run around freely on the floor, on the ledges, everywhere. One of the best experiences to have in Bikaner.

A lot of first-time visitors are nervous about it. But once you are inside, something shifts. The devotion of the people who come here, the way the priests treat the rats with such care that it stops feeling weird. Whether or not you are religious, this place will stay with you.

Lalgarh Palace

Built in 1902 for Maharaja Ganga Singh, Lalgarh Palace is one of those buildings that makes you stop and stare before you even go inside. The whole thing is red sandstone with carvings covering almost every surface. It is both a hotel and a museum now, and you can visit the museum section to see photographs, royal furniture, and personal items from the royal family.

If your group is larger than four or five people travelling from Jodhpur, consider hiring a tempo traveller in Jodhpur before starting your trip. A tempo traveller can take 12 to 17 people together, which means your whole group arrives at the same time and no one is waiting around at every stop.

Gajner Palace and Wildlife Sanctuary

Gajner is located about 32 kilometers from Bikaner. Gajner Palace sits right on the edge of a lake surrounded by thick trees. The royal family used it as a hunting retreat, and it still has that secluded, unhurried energy. Now a wildlife sanctuary surrounds it, and you can spot deer, wild boar, and all kinds of birds just by walking near the water.

It is best to visit early in the morning. The light on the lake is something else, and the birds are most active then. Even if you are not a nature person, this place has a calming quality that most people find unexpectedly enjoyable.

Camel Research and Breeding Farm

Not many cities in the world have a whole government farm dedicated to camels, but Bikaner has one. You can walk around and see how camels are raised, learn about their role in desert life, and even take a short camel ride. There is a small shop on site selling camel milk ice cream and soap, which makes for fun and original souvenirs.

Conclusion

Those mentioned places were our top-picked places to visit in Bikaner, while there is so much left to explore, which cannot be covered in one blog. If you are planning a Bikaner tour, make sure to visit those places and make your trip memorable. Those who are travelling from Jodhpur in a group can choose a Jodhpur to Bikaner cab on rent to make their travel experience smooth and reliable.