Top 12 Famous Destinations to Visit in Bikaner, often called the “Camel City,” boasts a rich heritage and offers a captivating journey into Rajasthan’s past.
One of the most iconic attractions is the magnificent Junagarh Fort. Unlike many forts built on hills, this 16th-century marvel stands on the plains, showcasing an intricate blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture within its impressive walls.
Another must-visit is the unique Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok, famously known as the “Rat Temple,” where thousands of rats are considered sacred and worshipped.
For a glimpse into royal grandeur, explore the majestic Lalgarh Palace, an architectural masterpiece of red sandstone. Nearby, the Prachina Museum within Junagarh Fort displays royal costumes and artifacts, offering insights into Bikaner’s opulent history.
The National Research Centre on Camel provides a fascinating opportunity to learn about camel breeding and even enjoy a camel ride. Don’t miss the exquisite Rampuria Havelis, a cluster of grand mansions adorned with intricate carvings, showcasing the city’s wealthy merchant past.
Lastly, the beautiful Bhandasar Jain Temple, with its stunning mirror work and frescoes, is a testament to the region’s artistic and spiritual heritage.
Discover the allure and background of Bikaner with this list of top 12 places to visit in Bikaner. Every destination offers a unique angle into the town’s lifestyle, records, and beauty.
Top 12 Famous Destinations to Visit in Bikaner
1. Karni Mata Temple
Bikaner’s Karni Mata Temple can be counted among one of the more unique temples in the world, and forms the top 5 tourist places to visit in BIkaner. Karni Mata Temple is probably one of the most famous places to visit in not only Bikaner, but also in Rajasthan. This temple is known for its sizable population of rats that are the permanent residents here. Dating back to the 15th century, this temple is dedicated to Karni Mata who is worshiped as an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Legend has it that when Karni Mata’s son died, she requested Lord Yama to restore her son’s life, but he refused. Karni Mata being the incarnation of Goddess restored the life of her son and declared that from now onwards her family will not face death but be reincarnated in the form of rats.
Today, there are about 20,000 rats that live in the temple premises and attract the attention of many travelers. Even though there are many rats that run across the temple at all times, it is considered highly auspicious if any rat steps on your feet, even better if it’s a white one! Held in high reverence by the devotees, the rats at the Karni Mata Temple in Bikaner are even fed by the pilgrims visiting the temple. One of the best times to visit the temple is during the Karni Mata Festival, held twice a year, usually during the festivities of Navratri. The festival worships Karni Mata and attracts a number of devotees to the temple.
Top 12 Famous Destinations to Visit in Bikaner
2. Gajner Palace
Now functioning as a heritage hotel, Gajner Palace in Bikaner was once the royal residence of Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh of Bikaner. The palace is situated about 20 kms from the city of Bikaner and is set along the beautiful Gajner Lake, forming one of the best places to visit in Bikaner. Since it is a heritage hotel, you now have the option to enjoy Bikaner’s grand hospitality by booking a room here and feeling like a royal yourself, or, you can always choose to take a day trip to explore the palace here. Gajner Palace is divided into different sections such as the Dungar Niwas, Mandir Chowk, Gulab Niwas and Champa Niwas. Each wing is meticulously designed and equally well-maintained.
The distinctive design of the terraces, artistic balconies and the chic interiors make the palace a popular tourist attraction and put it among the top 5 places to visit in Bikaner. Covering an area of 6,000 acres, the Gajner Palace was originally built by the Maharaja as his summer house, which later became a hunting lodge even for the Britishers, and today, has an abundance of wildlife such as the Nilgai, Black Buck, and the Chinkara. Made using red sandstone, the palace displays a mix of the architectural styles of Rajasthani, Mughal, and European architecture. Given its proximity to the Thar Desert, there are desert safaris offered near the place along with other activities such as nature walks, and boating. Converted into a heritage hotel in 1976, Gajner Palace in Bikaner is one of the must visit places of the city.
Top 12 Famous Destinations to Visit in Bikaner
3. Lallgarh Palace
Another popular point of interest in the city is its architectural delight of the Lallgarh Palace. This beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the early 20th century and is a pride of Bikaner. With its construction beginning in the late 19th century, the palace has been designed by a British architect, Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. The palace has now been converted into a hotel and therefore makes for an ideal place to spend your holidays as you continue exploring Bikaner. The rich Rajputana architecture mixed with a style of Mughal and British architecture, along with the tasteful interior that adorns the palace-turned-hotel attracts visitors here, making it one of the top places to visit in Bikaner. The indoor swimming pool is also a very pleasant site to spend your time in the palace.
Bikaner’s Lallgarh Palace also consists of a museum that is situated inside Ganga Niwas, and is named the Shri Sadul Museum. Here one can see the miniature paintings related to Bikaner School of Art, terracotta wares and royal armors. There is also a library that has a good collection of many Sanskrit manuscripts, written on parchments, plaques of silver, copper and gold. The artifacts belonging to Harappan civilization and Kushan and Gupta Age that are well preserved at the museum are also something that can be explored during your visit. Made using red sandstone, a stay at the palace hotel will surely make you feel like a royalty. With top notch hospitality by the hotel staff, and the traditional architecture of the palace, staying at the Lallgarh Palace is something that you must explore on your visit to Bikaner.
Top 12 Famous Destinations to Visit in Bikaner
4. Junagarh Fort
Junagarh Fort is one of the popular tourist attractions in Bikaner. The fort was built in 1478 by Maharaja Rao Bika, the founder of Bikaner, a later construction by Raja Rai Singh, who ruled Bikaner between 1571 and 1611, and Karan Singh who ruled between 1631 and 1639. The rulers after them also contributed to the beautification of the fort and added their own touch to it, with the present day fort an effort by a total of 16 generations of rulers. Junagarh fort complex consists of many temples and palaces made in the traditional architecture style of the times, making it one of the top 5 tourist places of Bikaner.
The artistically done balconies, courtyards, and windows do not miss to catch the eyes of the visitors. The Zenana quarters in particular, capture the attention of tourists as they exhibit exquisite designs of great artistic skill. Intricate mirror work, colorful frescoes and beautiful lacquer work all make this fort look an attractive sight to behold. One of the more lavish forts to explore in Rajasthan, the Junagarh Fort has been built at a lower elevation than other forts in the state, built to showcase Bikaner’s richness rather than for defense. Mainly featuring a style of Indo-Mughal architecture, the fort has been built using red sandstone brought over from Jaisalmer. Made up of numerous beautiful palaces, some of the popular palaces to explore at Junagarh Fort include the Badal Mahal, Gaj Mandir Palace, Phool Mahal, the Anup Mahal, the Hawa Mahal, and the Vikram Vilas Palace.
Top 12 Famous Destinations to Visit in Bikaner
5. Bhandasar Jain Temple
Bhandasar Jain Temple is one of the two most famous Jain shrines in Rajasthan’s Bikaner. Dedicated to the 5th Jain Tirthankara Sumatinath, it is a three-storied shrine that dates back to the 15th century with the temple’s construction finally completed in the early 16th century, it is one of the best places to explore in Bikaner. In the temple’s ground floor, you can see a marble statue dedicated to Tirthankara Sumatinath situated on top of a silver throne, alongside sandstone pillars, all carved with numerous intricate sculptures. The temple is an epitome of Rajputana architecture and has marble pillars, gold leaf walls, intricately decorated ceilings and massive halls. The exquisite mirror work grabs special attention of the visitors here, making it a popular tourist attraction. The many frescoes that adorn the temple also tell the stories of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras, further adding to the beauty of the temple.
Apart from its architecture the utter silence and peace in the ambience of the temple is what makes it a great place to visit, where you can spend hours marveling at its architecture and its tranquil environment. The temple is also among the most unique temples that exist in Bikaner. Built by a rich merchant named Bhandasa Oswal, the Bhandasar Jain Temple is said to have been made using 40,000 kgs of ghee instead of water as mortar during its construction. Upholding the Jain beliefs and customs, items made using leather such as shoes, belts, bags, and watches, are to be removed strictly before entering the temple.
Top 12 Famous Destinations to Visit in Bikaner
6. Kodamdesar Temple
The Kodamdesar Temple is situated in the Kodamdesar village of Bikaner and is one of the top sightseeing places to visit in Bikaner. This temple is one of its kind, as unlike other temples, the Kodamdesar Temple does not have a proper temple structure. The shrine is basically a statue that presides over a marble platform, where there is no hall, door or even a roof covering the temple. Dedicated to the worship of Lord Bhairon Ji, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, the temple was built by Rao Bika Ji, the founder and the first ruler of Bikaner, in 1465, as soon as he arrived from Jodhpur to establish his own dynasty.
Within the premises of the temple, you can see a number of dogs that roam freely, which is noticeable due to dogs being considered the carrier animal of Lord Bhairon Ji. With the temple’s entire floor being made of white marble, Kodamdesar Temple in Bikaner is surely one of the top destinations in the city, also due to its beauty. The best time to visit this temple is during the Bhadrapad Fair, when artisans and craftsmen from all over the state come to visit this temple. Kodamdesar Temple is most often visited by the newlywed couples and parents who bring their newborn babies to get their first mundan, or a head-shaving ceremony.
7. Sadul Singh Museum
One of the top places to explore, the Shri Sadul Museum in Bikaner is situated inside the Lalgarh Palace, at a distance of about 2 km northeast of the Junagarh Fort. This museum throws light on the history of the Rathore royal family of Bikaner, where one can see the various belongings and artifacts related to the royal family. At the museum you also have a chance to see Maharaja Sadul Singh’s railway carriage, Maharaja Karni Singh’s golf clubs and hairbrush, as well as the miniature paintings related to Bikaner School of Art. When it comes to the artifacts at the Shri Sadul Museum, you can see on display various historic terracotta wares, along with royal armors.
The museum also has a library containing a great collection of many Sanskrit manuscripts, written on parchments, plaques of silver, copper and gold. The artifacts belonging to Harappan civilization, Kushan and Gupta Age are also well preserved at the museum and are also something that can be explored during your visit to this historic museum in Bikaner. Exploring the museum and viewing its many artifacts will provide you with a chance to understand and learn more about the history, culture, and lifestyle of the royal families, as well as the rich culture of Rajasthan’s Bikaner.
8. Rampuria Haveli
Offering the best of Rajputana architecture, Rampuria Haveli is amongst the best places to visit in Bikaner. In fact, Rampuria is a group of 9 Havelis that were constructed in the 15th century by the Rampuria family of merchants. The havelis are made of Dulmera red sand stone and display exquisite artistic skills. The opulent interior adorned with tasteful artifacts, golden paintings and woodwork are the major attractions of this magnificent structure. One of the popular tourist attractions of Bikaner, one of the Havelis of the Rampuria Haveli now functions as a heritage hotel, where the visitors can even stay and experience living amidst a royal setting. Hotel Bhanwar Niwas is the haveli-turned-hotel of the Haveli and is run by the Rampuria family.
A beautiful structure in Bikaner, Rampuria Haveli displays a blend of Mughal, Victorian, and Rajput elements of architecture. The Haveli, today, is one of the most popular points of interest in the city and is also among the most photographed tourist attractions of Bikaner. A visit to Rampuria Haveli in itself is a treat to the eyes, with it being adorned in numerous intricate carvings all over, showcasing the best of the local artisans of the time, who seemed to have poured their all when creating this architectural masterpiece in Rajasthan’s Bikaner. Located in the heart of the city, the Rampuria Haveli will take you back in time and lead you a glimpse into the lives of the wealthy merchants of Bikaner, who once commissioned the grand building, now standing as one of the prideful structures of the city of Bikaner.
9. Devi Kund Sagar
Situated about 8 kms east of Bikaner is Devi Kund Sagar, the cremation ground of Bikaner’s royal family, and is one of the destinations you must visit on your tour of Bikaner Tourism. Here stands the Royal Cenotaphs that were built in memory of members of the royal family and are among the list of top 10 places to visit in Bikaner. It should be remembered that cenotaphs were an important part of the Rajputana as well as Mughal architecture, but at Devi Kund Sagar, there are two separate groups of cenotaphs that display the architectural exuberance of the Rajputs. Here, some cenotaphs, dedicated to early rulers are made of Dulmera red sandstone and some, dedicated to the later rulers are made of marble.
The cenotaphs are dedicated to different members of the royal family, such as men, women, and children, and can be differentiated on the basis of their architecture. The cenotaphs for men have a vertical slab, the ones dedicated to women have foot marks on the memorial slab, and those dedicated to children have a simpler structure, and stand without a canopy. The major attraction here is the cenotaph built for Maharaja Anup Singh, who ruled Bikaner from 1669 to 1698, built on 16 pillars and has various intricately carved peacocks, birds, animals, as well as stories related to acts of Lord Krishna. The earliest cenotaph at Devi Kund Sagar belongs to Rao Kalyanmal, who ruled Bikaner from 1541 to 1571, with the latest one belonging to Maharaja Karni Singh who ruled the city from 1950 to 1988. A visit to the Royal Cenotaphs of Bikaner at Devi Kund Sagar will let you understand better about the many rulers of the city, and give you a glimpse into the architecture, rites, rituals, and culture of the royals.
10. Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary
About 32 kms from Bikaner, Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the top sightseeing places and is an ideal place for wildlife adventure near Bikaner. The sanctuary is among the popular wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan, and is located along the Gajner Lake, close to the Gajner Palace. This sanctuary, which was once the hunting ground of the Maharaja Ganga Singh and the royal family, today has been developed as a wildlife reserve that shelters the rich flora and fauna of the region. Hunting was an important activity for the royals which they partook in with much enthusiasm, often displaying their hunt as trophies for visitors to see and understood the practice of hunting as a sport to create better relations with different kingdoms in the past.
It shelters many species of animals like Chinkara, Black Buck, Wild Boar, Nilgai, Antelope, and the Desert Fox, along with a sizable population of birds like the Sandgrouse, often found in desert-like regions, Indian Houbara Bustards, Water fouls, Demoiselle Cranes, among other local and migratory birds. Taking a safari within the wildlife sanctuary is a great idea for wildlife buffs, letting the visitors better explore the sanctuary while also giving the bird watchers a good chance to spot birds of different species here. Exploring the Gajner Palace in Bikaner is one of the top destinations to visit in the city, and is often coupled with a visit to the Gajner Palace and the Gajner Lake.
11. Prachina Museum
Set up in the year 2000, Prachina Museum is situated in Junagarh Fort, and is a place that you must explore on your visit to Bikaner. The Prachina Bikaner Cultural Center and Museum was established by Princess Siddhi Kumari, daughter of Late Maharaja Narendra Singhji of Bikaner in order to preserve the cultural diversity of Bikaner and showcase its rich history. At this museum one can witness the royal costumes and textiles, family portraits of former rulers, religious accessories, aristocratic locomotives, and personal objects of royal men and women, among other artifacts. The museum also gives an insight into the change of cultural milieus from one generation of rulers to another, responses of the royal family to western influences, and the influence of Bikaner’s contemporary arts and crafts till date.
The Prachina Museum is made up of several galleries and has been categorized as the Contemporary Art Gallery that contains arts from the famous Usta artisans of Bikaner, the Ritual Art Gallery that showcases idols of local and clan deities, the Bikaner Period Room, the Aristocratic Textiles and Costume Gallery and the Gallery of Aristocratic Transportation that showcases fancy bullock carts and raths belonging to the royal family, along with rooms that display Bikaner’s traditional floral wall and ceiling paintings. Among the best places to explore in Bikaner, add the Prachina Museum to your list and get a chance to witness the history, and culture of the past generations of the royal family for yourself.
12. Laxmi Niwas Palace
Laxmi Niwas Palace in Bikaner is a magnificent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, commissioned by Maharaja Ganga Singh in 1904. Designed by British architect Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, it was intended as a stately royal residence and to provide employment.
Crafted from red sandstone, the palace showcases exquisite friezes, ornate filigree work, and latticed screens, reflecting the Maharaja’s artistic vision. Once a private abode for the Bikaner royal family and their distinguished guests, including King George V, it exemplifies opulent Rajput grandeur blended with European elegance.
Today, Laxmi Niwas Palace operates as a luxury heritage hotel. It offers regal accommodations, modern amenities like a swimming pool and fine dining restaurants (Swarna Mahal, Gulab Mahal, Hari Mahal), while retaining its historic charm with hand-painted walls and antique furnishings, providing a truly royal experience in Bikaner.
