Bikaner Tourist Attractions
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Bikaner was founded in 1488 by Rao Bika Ji and was an important post along the great caravan routes. Imposing palaces, beautiful temples of red and yellow and the fort with its rich interior are well worth the visit.Bikaner is surrounded by an 18th C city wall and was designed with narrow, medieval streets. There are five entrance gates into Bikaner and the forst lies just outside the walls, to the northeast.Some of the other notable attractions in Bikaner include numerous old havelis and a couple of Jain temples, which date from the 15th C. Bhandasar Temple features yellow sandstone carvings and vibrant paintings. The Ganga Government Museum has a collection of sculptures, handicrafts, musical instruments and gold paintings.
Junagarh Fort
Junagarh Fort is an impressive fort with 37 bastions, a moat and two entrances that was never conquered. Within Junagarh there are 37 palaces, private temples and pavilions constructed between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Rai Singh, a general in the army for the Mughal emperor Akbar.The main entrance to Junagarh Fort is through Suraj Pol or the Sun Gate, which takes visitors past the hand prints of 59 wives who performed sati upon hearing of the death of their husbands. The palaces feature courtyards, projecting balconies, lattice screens, oriel windows, kiosks and towers.The interior of Anup Mahal is the most lavish with painted marble columns, lacquer work and inlaid mirrors. The Phool Mahal, or Flower Palace as it also known, has carved marble panels and decorative paintings. Chandra Mahal is not so lovely but has been maintained for prayer and meditation.The museum at Durbar Hall within the palace of Maharaja Ganga Singh has fascinating displays of costumes, jewelry and other everyday items from the maharajas and their subjects.
Lalgarh Palace
Lalgarh Palace was designed in the early 1900s of red sandstone and it became part hotel, part residence for Maharaja Ganga Singh. Lalgarh features several grand halls, lounges, cupolas and pavilions.The palace has a museum on the first floor, the Sri Sadul Museum that has many attractive photographs, hunting trophies, manuscripts and other items that belonged to the Maharaja.A carriage from the royal train is on display in front of Lalgarh Palace.
