Bikaner- the royal
fortified city, stands on a slightly raised ground, and is
circumscribed by a 7 km long embattled wall
with five gates. The magnificent forts and
palaces created with delicacy in
reddish-pink sandstone bears testimony to its
rich cultural heritage. Bikaner is also well known for its
camels.
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More about
Bikaner
Climate
Bikaner experiences a
typically desert climate, with hot
summers (average temperatures 28-42 deg. celsius) and
cold winters (average temperatures 5-23 deg.
celsius). Bikaner has a light monsoon with not much
rain.
Language
Rajasthani, Hindi and
English (in tourist
spots) are the main languages.
Bikaner, more
popularly called the camel country is
renowned for the best riding camels in the world. In fact,
a camel festival held annually brings to life
this desert land. Various camel contests
are
also held.
Other festivals celebrated here include
the Karni Mata Fair (celebrated
twice a year in April/ May & Oct/ Nov),
Gangaur (18-day long festival in
March) and Kapil Muni Fair,
Kolayat (a fair held to honour the
ancient Hindu sage Kapil Muni, along with a
cattle fair
to collaborate the
event).
For the avid
shopper, there is
Kundan (stones set in gold) and fine
jewellery, besides textiles
in block and tie-and-dye
prints and various handicraft
items.
Places of
interest in and around Bikaner include
Junagarh Fort (decorated with
magnificent stone carvings, towering over the city at a height
of 700 ft with a 986-metre-long wall with 37 bastions, a moat
and two entrances), Lalgarh Palace
(with overhanging balconies and delicate latticework and
with peacocks and blooming bougainvillea in the garden, a part
of this palace has been converted to a hotel),
Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum (having
a rich collection of terracotta ware, weapons, miniature
paintings of Bikaner school and coins dating back to Harappan
civilization), Raj Ratan Bihari and
Rasik Shiromani Temples built of red
sandstone, BhandShah Jain Temple, Camel
Research Farm, Devi Kund, Gajner Palace
& Wildlife Sanctuary, Shiv Bari Temple,
Deshnok's Karni Mata Temple (where
rats are cared for and worshipped),
Kalibanga, Wood Fossils at
Maruti Vyamshala near Jassusar,
Katariasar (a rural tourism site) and
Mokam.
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