Famous Tourist Places to Visit in Bikaner

Bikaner, being home to magnanimous culture and glorious past should be the next destination on your travel list especially if you love the many shades of Rajasthan. With its beautiful ancient forts, acres of white sand, and graceful havelis, the city attracts visitors with its culture, beauty, and history.

Established by the Rajputana prince named Rao Bika Ji in the 14th century, Bikaner is surrounded by the Thar Desert that gives it an attractive golden semblance. From the stunning structures in red sandstone and delectable delicacies to the best camel riding, the city has something for each kind of traveller. With so much to see and explore, it is always good to know about the best places to visit in Bikaner.

Junagarh Fort

Built by Maharaja Rai Singh in 1594, Junagarh Fort is one of the most emblematic attractions of Bikaner. Among the top tourist places in Bikaner, the marble and red sandstone fort showcase the grandeur of the Rajputana lifestyle. The beautiful architecture is a blend of conventional Rajput, Gujarati, and Mughal styles. Visitors can have an idea about the architectural brilliance and magnificence just by looking at its main gates made from gold and red sandstone.

Stone carvings, lacquer work, frescoes, red and gold filigree designs, lattice windows, wooden ceilings, gothic archways, and mirror work complete the effects of brilliance. Some of the highlights and noted places to visit in the fort include the Har Mandir, Karan Mahal, Prachina Museum, Chandra Mahal, Anup Mahal, and Fort Museum that have an amazing collection of jewels, royal costumes, arms and weapons, and other antiques. There’s a reason this fort is a highlight of Bikaner tourism.

Lalgarh Palace

Built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in 1902, the Lalgarh Palace is one of the most visited tourist places in Bikaner. Made up from the red sandstone structures, the palace showcases the style of Indo-Saracenic form of architecture. It is a three-story ancient building that mainly functions as a heritage hotel. The Lalgarh Palace also has a library and two museums including Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum and Sadul Museum, both open for visitors.

The glorious pillars and the marvellous fireplace in the structure make it even more glorious and attractive. One of the most famous places in Bikaner, the palace features exquisitely carved stonework, elegant pillars, fireplaces, attractive filigree, and lattice piece of work; all reflecting the glorious past.

Gajner Palace and Wildlife Sanctuary

Gajner is a major name among palaces when it comes to tourism in Bikaner. This magnificent palace is situated on the lakeside and was used as a summer retreat by several Maharajas in the past. The red sandstone construction is located in the thick forest where visitors get to view flocks of migratory birds. This exquisite architectural wonder is one of the most astonishing places to visit in Bikaner. During your time here, you can also visit the Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary which was a noted hunting land of the royal family. The sanctuary is home to several species such as wild boar, Chinkara (blackbuck), antelopes, blue bulls, neelgai, and much more.

Karni Mata Temple

Devoted to Karni Mata (embodiment of Goddess Durga), the Karni Mata Temple is possibly one of the most extraordinary places to visit in Bikaner. The temple attracts devotees from all across the country. If ancient tales are to be believed, the goddess restored the life of her son and ever since the whole ancestry is said to be regenerated in the rats living around the temple. It is also said that if you get to see a white mouse (which is quite rare), you obtain the blessings of Karni Mata and get good luck. Around 20,000 rats live in the temple and its surrounding areas.

Rampuria Havelis

Rampuria havelis, a renowned cluster of havelis, is one of the best tourist places in Bikaner. A visit to this amazing place will take you back in time! Each and every aspect here draws a sense of admiration, something you would love to experience in Bikaner. Built with red stone, standing in line, the aristocratic houses are unusual, right from their jharokhas and latticed windows to rich Victorian influence in design. The exquisite structures are adorned with golden work and elegant woodcarvings and boast of drawing suites showcasing the Rajput and Mughal eras.

The Thar Desert and Camel Safari

The Thar Desert is one of the most interesting places for sightseeing in Bikaner. Truth be told, your experience of Rajasthan is incomplete without having a camel safari that allows you to discover the way of the desert. So, if you are going to visit Bikaner, do not forget to go for a camel safari in the Thar Desert which is in the close vicinity to the city.

Kote Gate

Known as the Shopper’s paradise, Kote Gate is the major entryway to the city that detaches the new city from the old city in Bikaner. The place is a consolidation of old forts and memorials and new urbanized civilization. The key attraction of Kote Gate is local shopping which also happens to be one of the best things to do in Bikaner. You can find a huge variety of products in the market that includes traditional clothes, handicrafts, utensils, artifacts, or conventional open-toed shoes. In addition, you can satisfy your taste buds with its abundant eating joints.

National Research Centre on Camel

This is one of the most exclusive places to visit in Bikaner. The National Research Centre on Camel functions as a fostering nursery for camels where more than 230 camels with 3 diverse camel breeds are taken care of. The center provides samples of lassi and cakes made exclusively from camel milk. You can take a guided tour of the center and connected museum that is dedicated to camels to get a better understanding of the ‘ship of the desert’.

Kodamdesar Temple

Built by Rao Bika Ji, the Kodamdesar Temple is one of the most ancient constructions in Bikaner. The distinct feature of this tourist place is that there is no proper structure with doors and rooms. It is known for its asymmetrical shape of construction with an idol of Bhairon Ji encircled by just marble flooring all around; Bhairon Ji is the other form of Lord Shiva. Here, you can also visit the Bhadrapad fair and buy unique handicrafts made by local craftsmen and artisans.

Shri Laxminath Temple

Devoted to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi, Shri Laxminath Temple is one of the best places to visit in Bikaner. With its exquisite idols and intricate silver artwork, the temple attracts a large number of devotees from all over the world. The temple is also famous for festival celebrations during Janmashtami, Nirjala Ekadashi, Ram Navami, and Diwali.

Bikaner has an impressive cultural richness that attracts tourists from all over the world. It still has a strong association with royal history and preserves the magnificence of the past by sustaining all monuments and forts that it has. Look for a Bikaner tour package that lets you get involved in this beautiful city.