About Bikaner
Bikaner is located in northern Rajasthan on the border with the Tar desert and is the fourth largest city in Rajasthan. In Bikaner there is an interesting fort and Jain temples, ancient havelis and many camels, but because of its remoteness and competition with Jaisalmer and Jodhpur it is visited by much fewer tourist, but it has a picturesque fort and an old town with numerous havelis, surrounded by seven kilometers of high walls. Moreover, simply because this fourth largest city of Rajasthan visits fewer visitors compared to other large settlements, it has a certain atmosphere of unspoiltness. Most foreign tourists spend just one night on their way to Jaisalmer or from there, but prolong your stay in the city and you can visit the famous rat temple in nearby Deshhoka and the government camel breeding farm 10 km to the south. Despite the fact that Bikaner is inferior to the luxurious Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, the local streets have preserved many interesting buildings, and outside the ancient city you can see camels standing in picturesque stalls, beautiful palaces and temples. Here is located the mighty fort Junagarh, which is considered a perfectly preserved fort of Rajasthan, decorated with traditional ornaments, so Bikaner is of great interest to the traveler. Bikaner was founded in 1488 by Rajput Rao Bika, the son of the foundation of Jodhpur. Originally it was an important trading center, although recently industry has been developing here. A good time to visit Bikaner during the annual camel festival, which takes place here in the spring, during the festival, musicians and dancers come, parades and camel races are held, though the prices for housing and in restaurants during this period also soar.
It is worth spending a day or two just wandering around Bikaner, watching how the dyers work, visiting the ancient Jain temples and exploring Fort Junagarh. Bikaner is famous for its skillful lacquered and other handicrafts, which are sold in the market for only a small part of the Jaisalmer bloated "tourist prices", as well as woolen shawls and handmade blankets. It is best to buy the last in the Abhivyakti store immediately after the main gate leading to the fort.
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