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INDIA
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History |
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Sightseeing |
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MAP |
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Holiday |
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Tour |
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Hotel |
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Bikaner History
Binaker’s history dates back to 1488 A.D. when a
Rathore Prince, Rao Bikaji- a desendent of the founder
of Jodhpur(1459 A.D.), Rao Jodhaji, established his
kingdom here. Rao Jodhaji had five sons but Rao Bikaji
was the most enterprising of them. Bikaji chose a
barren wilderness called ‘Jangladesh’ and trandormerd
it to an impressive city, called Bikaner after the
founder’ name.
Culture
More popularly called the camel country, the city is
renowned for the best riding camels in the world. The
ship of the desert is an inseparable part of life
here. Be it pulling heavy carts, transporting grains
or working on wells, camels are the prime helpers. The
wells of Bikaner: an important source of water are
other attractions of the city. These are built on high
plinths with slender minareted towers on each of the
four corners and can be noticed even from a distance.
How to reach Bikaner
By Air
The nearest airport service travellers headed for
Bikaner is at Jodhpur.
By Bus
Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe & air
conditioned buses from Delhi (Bikaner House, Nr. India
Gate) to Bikaner. The roads are very good, and it
takes around 8-9 hrs from Jaipur. You can also come by
taxi.
By Train
Several trains link it to important cities like Delhi,
Jaipur, Bikaner, Udaipur.
Getting around
The strategic location of Bikaner on the ancient
carvan routes that came from West/Central Asia, made
it a prime trade centre in the times of the yore.
Bikaner stands on a slightly raised ground and is
cirucmscribed by a seven km long embattled wall with
five gates.
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JUNAGARH FORT |
Junagarh Fort was constructed between 1588 and 1593 by
Raja Rai Singh, a general in the army of Mughal emperor
Akbar, with embellishments in the form of palaces and
Luxurious suites added by subsequent Maharajas. This
fort has a 986m-long wall with 37 bastions, a moat and
two entrances. The Surajpol or the 'Sun Gate' is
the main entrance. The palaces within the fort are on
the southern side and make a picturesque ensemble of
courtyards, balconies, kiosks, towers and windows. A
major feature of fort and palaces is the superb quality
of stone carving. The handprints which can be seen close
to the Daulatpol commemorate the wives of Rajput
soldiers lost in battles, who committed sati on
their husbands' funeral pyres.
Despite that fact Junagarh doesn't command hilltop
position, as do some of the Rajasthan's other grand
forts, it is no less imposing and a credit to its
planners and architects has never been conquered.
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LALGARH FORT |
Situated 3km north of the city center this palace which
built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the memory of his
father, Maharaja Lal Singh
The Shri Sadul museum covers entire first floor of the
palace. The museum was established in 1076 and there's a
reasonable collection of artifacts and personal
possessions of the Bikaner Maharajas and a brass vessel
known as a Tokan used to collect revenue which
was transported by camel to the Bikaner state treasury.
In front of the palace is a carriage from the maharaja's
royal train.
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DEVI KUND |
Eight Kilometers east of Bikaner, this is the site of
royal chatries of many of the Bika dynasty
rulers. The white marble chatri of Maharaja Surat
Singh is among the most imposing.
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GAJNER WILDLIFE SANC. |
The lake and forested hills of this reserve, 32 km from
Bikaner on the Jaisalmer road, are inhabited by
wildfowl, hares , wild boar, desert foxes and a number
of deer and antelopes including black bucks and blue
bulls. The lake at Gajner attracts water birds in
thousands. Imperial sand house migrate here in winter.
Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary, houses the former Hunting
lodge of Bikaner and has a beautiful lake surrounded by
a dense forest.
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SHIV BARI |
Enroot to Camel Breeding Farm is the Laleshwar Mahadev
Temple (Shiv Bari).
Fortified by a high wall, the temple is dedicated to
Lord Shiva. Maharaja Doongar Singh constructed it in the
ninth century in the memory of his father Maharaja Lal
Singhji. The temple has a beautiful wall panting of
Nandi Bull facing the Shiva Lingam. This is located on
the way to the camel town.
Although it is not highlighted much , but it is
definitely a place one would like to spend some time.
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DESHNOK MATA TEMPLE |
Deshnok is a village 30km south of Bikaner along the
Jodhpur road. A visit to Deshnok's fascinating temple of
Karni Mata, an incarnation of Durga, is not far for
squeamish. Here the holy rodents are considered to be
incarnations of the storytellers, and run riot over the
temple complex.
Karni Mata lived in the 14th century and performed many
miracles during her life-time. When her youngest son,
Lakhan, drowned, Karni Mata ordered Yama, the god of
Death, to bring him back to life. Yama replied that he
was unable to do this, but that Karni Mata, is an
incarnation of Durga, could restore Lakhan's life. This
she did, and decreed that members of her family would no
longer die, but would be incarnated as kabas
(rats), and these kabas would returns as members of her
family. There are around 600 families in Deshnok who
claim both decent from Karni Mata and that they will be
reincarnated as kabas.
The temple is an important place of pilgrimage, with
pilgrims being disgorged every few minutes from buses.
Before the temple, is a beautiful marble facade with
solid silver doors donated by Maharaja Gaj Singh. Across
the doorway to the inner sanctum are the repousse
(raised relief) silver doors - one panel shows the
goddess with her holy charges at her feet. An image of
goddess is enshrined in the sanctum. There are special
holes around the temple courtyard to fascinate the rats'
movements, and a wire grille has been placed over the
courtyard to prevent the birds of prey and other
predators consuming the holy rodents.
It is considered quite auspicious to have a kaba
run across your feet. White kabas are quite rare,
albeit there are one or two at the temple and
sightseeing one augurs well for your spiritual progress.
Time : 4:00 A.M.- 10:00 P.M.(Daily) |
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