Shopping at Bikaner

Arts & Crafts:

• Gesso work – camel hide products
• Leather handicrafts
• Lacquer and wooden artifacts
• Metalware
• Blue pottery

Handloom:

• Durries or carpets
• Tie and dye fabrics

Jewellery:

• Tribal silverware
• Kundan jewellery and artifacts

Special marts

Jewellery, handicraft and handlooms – can be organised at Dungar Niwas Courtyard for large groups who wish to purchase authentic products and witness artists at work.

City Sights

Discover the rich cultural and eco-heritage of Bikaner as you visit:

Museums & Collections:

Junagarh Fort

Raja Rai Singh built this formidable fort in the late 16th century. Magnificent in marble and red sandstone, the fort’s extensive wall has 37 bastions and two entrances. When you enter through the Karan Pol, the interiors of the fort unfold palatial spaces such as the Anoop Mahal with its gold leaf painting, Chandra Mahal (moon palace), Phool mahal (flower palace, with mirror inlay work), Har Mandir (royal place of prayers), Ganga Niwas and Rang Mahal (palace of pleasure), The Durbar Hall, Gaj Mandir and the Sheesh Mahal (mirror chamber)

Lallgarh Palace

This Indo Saracenic architectural beauty is the work of Samual Swinton Jacob, the British engineer commissioned by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner to build the Lalgarh Palace in 1898.

Sir Ganga Singh Golden Jubilee Museum

The museum has one of the finest collections of Rajasthan art with unique collection of terracotta, weapons, litho prints, miniature paintings of Bikaner school; coins of Harappan civilisation; and sculptures of the Gupta and Kushan era as well as of the late classical time. Managed by the Government of Rajasthan, the museum is currently located in a new building in the Civil Lines.

Prachina

This museum was established by the royal family, in 2000, to present the cultural heritage of the place. It brings to life the long lost court traditions and glorious lifestyle of the Bikaner royalty. Essentially a craft museum, the Prachina Museum creates a platform for local artists to display their traditional crafts.
The costume gallery displays the clothes of a glorious era when clothes were designed keeping in mind the wearer’s social status, personal tastes and personality.
Also on display are European wine glasses, cut glass bric-a-brac object d’art, cutlery and crockery used in the regal kitchen, perfumes, ethnic carpets, unique jali rugs and delicately carved period wooden furniture.

Camel Breeding Farm

At Jorbeer, 10 km from Bikaner, is a breeding farm for the ship of the desert. It was launched in 1984. An elite flock of Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri and Kachchhi camel has been developed and are maintained at the centre.
Scientists at the centre, using molecular markers, have successfully identified genetic variations within and between camel breeds. They have also produced two camel calves using the technique of embryo transfer. The Centre has also generated useful information on double-humped camel found in Nobra Valley of Laddakh (in Jammu & Kashmir).
The centre is an important spot on the tourist map of Rajasthan. And is open on all days from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm for visitors.

Gardens & Resorts:

• Sir Ganga Singh Public Park & Zoo - This is a popular destination for families thanks to its small zoo, where children can enjoy viewing a variety of domestic animals
• Ratan Bihari Temple Park - This magnificent 19th century shrine, built like a mansion by Ratan Singhji and Sardar Singhji in the Ratan Bihari Park, is worth a visit.
• Tessitory Public Gardens - This spot is named after Dr LP Tessitori , an Italian scholar who came to Bikaner in 1915, and made a great contribution to the bardic literature of this region. He worked and died in Bikaner.

Ancient temples & sites:

• Bhandasar Jain Temple (5 km from Bikaner) - This 16th century temple is dedicated to the 5th Tirthankar of the Jain faith. It is decorated with exquisite mirror work, frescoes and gold leaf paintings. It is carved in red sandstone and white marble.
• Shiv Bari Temple (6 km from Bikaner) - Built by Dungar Singhji in the late 19th century, this temple is surrounded by a battlement wall. It has four-faced black marble Shiva statue and a bronze Nandi facing the Shiva-Lingam. This red sandstone temple attracts thousands of visitors during Shravan (Feb) especially on Mondays.
• Devi Kund (8 km from Bikaner) - This is the site for the royal cenotaphs. While most chatries are hand carved in red sandstone, Maharaja Suraj Singh's chhatri is the most impressive - created entirely in white marble with paintings on the ceiling.
• Karni Mata Temple (30 km from Bikaner) - This famous shrine is one of the most popular pilgrimages of the region. The Mata is the tutelary deity of the erstwhile Bikaner dynasty. The temple is unique as its rats, called kabas, are venerated and the shrine is a sanctuary for them: They move freely in the temple. It is believed that these kabas carry souls of future charans (bards - children of the goddess) who inhabit the town of Deshnok. It is highly auspicious to sight a white kaba. The temple has fascinating huge silver gates and marble carvings that were donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh
• Kolayatji Temple (51 Km from Bikaner, on highway to Jaisalmer) - From Gajner it’s an easy drive to Kolayat, an old pilgrimage. Legend has it that Kapil Muni of the Vedic fame shed his body under a banyan tree here. Kolayat has a series of charming marble temple, sandstone pavilions and 32 ghats (bathing places) built around a huge artificial lake that never dries. You see see sadhus and pilgrms taking a holy dip, surrounded by the vast emptiness of a timeless atmosphere and the golden desert. On Karthik Purnima day a grand fair is held in which devotees from all over the country come for a holy dip in the lake.
• Kalibangan (205 km from Bikaner) - Located in Hanumangarh district, this is an interesting archaeological site with remnants of the pre-Harappan and Harappan settlements. Archaeological digs at Kalibanga reveal that Rajasthan had been an important centre of the ceramic industry. The paintings on the ancient pottery from Kalibanga bear a close resemblance with Harappan designs. The Harappan ruins include a cemetery and a fortified citadel.

Must-Do’s At Gajner

• Regal dining in the Sand Dunes. A jeep or camel safari, for 10 to 50 guests, adds to the sense of adventure and the natural beauty of the sand dunes near the Gajner sanctuary. Dance and music make it a magical evening on the sand dunes.
• Birdwatch at Gajner Sanctuary
• Sail in the Solar Boat
• Know the Gajner Calender of Events to plan your next visit
• Jeep Safari