This trip served us two purposes – My state conference and family visit. My in-laws live in this desert town of Rajasthan. Bikaner is very famous for its Bhujiya, Rasgulle, Rat Temple(Karni Mata Temple) and Camels.
Days required – 2 days
Nearby places to go – Deshnok (Karni Mata Temple)
Best time to visit – October to February (Summer in this region can be very harsh)
How to reach
By bus – Bikaner is well connected to all the neighboring cities by state-run bus services and private bus services. It is the most convenient and fastest way to reach Bikaner.
By Train – Bikaner has a well-linked rail system which connects it to all major Indian cities.
By Road/Self drive – You can hire a cab or self-drive there. Roads connecting cities in Rajasthan are very good.
By air – Bikaner has an airport with limited connectivity but there is a direct flight from Delhi and Jaipur. Other nearest airports are 250km (Jodhpur) and 330km (Jaipur) away.
How we traveled – we traveled by bus from Jaipur. People from Jaipur and Jodhpur can plan a road trip also.
Where to stay – We stayed with our family but there are many budget hotels around the railway station area. You can easily find a place to live and eat and easily get a taxi/cab to explore the city. If you want to taste the royalty, stay at Lalgarh Palace or Laxmi Niwas Palace.
How to go around – Bikaner can easily be covered by cab/taxi/auto-rickshaw. Deshnok visit can be done by state-run buses which are cheap but not comfortable or you can hire a taxi for the complete trip.
Places to visit
- Junagarh Fort – One of the few forts in Rajasthan that is not built on a hilltop and only one that was never captured. Constructed in red stone, this fort is a must-visit place in Bikaner.
Inside Junagarh Fort - National Research Centre on Camel – One of its kind in whole Asia, this is research and breeding center for camels.
- Lalgarh Palace – Once the residence of the royal family, now most of the Palace is converted to a heritage hotel and is inaccessible for the general public. Tourist can visit the Sadul museum inside the Palace.
- Rampuriya Havelis – Once the home of the influential merchant family of Bikaner, Rampuriyas, these Havelis were known for their grandeur and beautiful architecture.
- Jain Temple Bhandasar- Located in Old City, this beautiful three-storeyed Jain temple is built with white marble and red stone.
- Karni Mata Temple – 30km from Bikaner, Deshnok is well known among devotees for the Karni Mata Temple which is home to thousands of rats which roam freely in the premises. No one can kill or even hurt these rats. Sighting of a white rat is considered good luck here.
a common sight inside Karni Mata Temple
Where to eat–
Bikaner serves you sweetest Rasgullas to spiciest Laal Maans. Here are some of the legendary outlets of Bikaner loved by locals and tourists alike.
Chhotu Motu Joshi sweet shop – Rasgulla, ras malai, kachori, and puri sabji
Bhikharam Chandmal Bhujiyawala – This is the place where famous Bikaneri Bhujiya was created.
Chhapan bhog – a very old outlet serving the tasty Bikaneri Rasgullas, Laddoo, and kachori.
Itinerary –
We boarded the bus to Bikaner at night to reach there early morning. My brother-in-law was waiting for us there at the bus stop to pick us up. We reached home and took the rest. After breakfast, we took their car and reach the Conference venue. It was boring so we headed back home and spent time with family. In the evening, we went to see the Fort which was walking distance from our home. We took all our nephews and niece with us and enjoyed the fun trip.
Next day, we visited the old city on a bike. My brother-in-law suggested taking the bike there as lanes are very narrow at some places. Traffic was just terrible in the city. We first visited Shri Laxminath temple but it was closed at that time. Jain Temple Bhandasar is walking distance from the Laxminath Temple. After that, we asked the locals about the Rampuriya Havelis and reached the area. We were amazed to see these beautiful lanes with Havelis on both the sides and equally disappointed to see the deserted ruined ones because of lack of maintenance. All these Havelis are closed and locked. You can’t visit them from inside. One is restored and converted to the Heritage Hotel. We got to see this one from inside on requesting the manager.
In the evening, all family members decided to pay a visit to Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok which is a 50-minute drive from Bikaner. I had visited this temple once before a few years back. Karni Mata Memorial has been developed nearby which is a new attraction for the visitors. It was dark when we reached Bikaner and had dinner at home.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
- Rampuriya Havelis and Jain Temple are located in the old city so it is better to avoid driving car there. Take a bike or hire an auto to visit the place.
- Ask the locals to locate the Rampuriya Havelis. Don’t trust Google in the old city.
- Thousands of devotees come to Karni Mata Temple on some special occasion like Navratri so avoid these dates or you will have to spend hours in a long queue.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 7/10 Not much to explore in the city but Bikaner is a whole package when it comes to food, History, travel, and adventure.
Travel Expense 1/10 – my trip was extremely inexpensive as I didn’t spend any money on accommodation and travel.
Travel ease 8/10 – Bikaner is well-connected city via rail and road network.
Food 8/10 – You will love the Rajasthan food here and don’t forget to pick Bhujiya and Rasgullas for your family back home.