Bikaner Tourism, Rajasthan
About Bikaner
Located at 330 km northwest of the state capital Jaipur, the fourth largest city of Rajasthan, Bikaner city was founded by Rao Bika in 1486. It was formerly the capital of the princely state of Bikaner. Dotted with scores of sand dunes, Bikaner is a historical city known for its medieval grandeur. Bikaner is the centre for Usta Art, a generic term for the Manoti-Naqqashi. Bikaner is also known for its handicrafts and leather articles, for its palaces and for having Asia's biggest camel farm. Camel is an inseparable part of life here. It is famous for camel research farm (NRCC). The city is also known for its intricately carved Jharokas. These red sandstone jalis (screens) are found on the windows of the Junagarh fort, temples and havelis (mansions of Northern India) and would be used for ventilation.
History of Bikaner
The history of Bikaner begins with 1486 when a Rathore prince, Rao Bikaji, one of the five sons of Rao Jodhaji, founded his kingdom. Prior to the mid 15th century, the region that is now Bikaner was a barren wilderness called Jangladesh. Rao Bikaji decided to build his own kingdom in the area of Jangladesh. Though it was in the Thar Desert, Bikaner was considered an oasis on the trade route between Central Asia and the Gujarat coast as it had adequate spring water. Bika built a fort in 1478, which is now in ruins, and a hundred years later a new fort was built about 1.5 km from the city centre, known as the Junagarh Fort. Around a century after Rao Bika founded Bikaner, the state's fortunes flourished under the sixth Raja, Rai Singhji, who ruled from 1571 to 1611. The hall where he held his Golden Jubilee as Bikaner's ruler is now a museum. Ganga Singh's son Sadul Singh succeeded his father in 1943 but In 1949, this princely state of Alwar was acceded by his Sadul Singh to the Union of India. The royal family still lives in a suite in the Lalbagh Palace, which they have converted into a heritage hotel.