Otherwise known as the Desert City, Bikaner in the state of Rajasthan is an historic destination offering ancient forts and temples, the art and architecture of Hindus and Mughals, and the bleak yet awe-inspiring scenery of the expansive Thar Desert. Considerably less developed from a tourist perspective than major Indian cities such as Bombay, Delhi or Agra, Bikaner retains its traditional cultural charm and displays little or nothing of the commercial spoils evident elsewhere.

In spite of limited commercial development, Bikaner still has plenty to offer the average visitor. In fact, it’s the city’s ancient delights that comprise the bulk of cultural activities or sightseeing options, making Bikaner the ideal place for those visitors seeking a rich cultural experience over anything manmade or contrived. Notable sites and structures such as the Devi Kund and the Junagarh Fort have been photographed a million times over and will continue to be so as their fascinating heritage and inherent aesthetic appeal gains wider repute.

The city’s relationship with the trusty camel is highly evident in many aspects of its contemporary existence, with everything from their roles as a mode of transportation to the use of their hides as a sturdy textile, elevating their profile. The annual camel festival however, along with the camel-breeding centre just outside of the city, are perhaps most responsible for drawing attention to these unique creatures.

Bikaner’s distinct cuisine, influenced by its often raw climate and desert location makes for some pleasant dining. Visitors will find sampling the local creations an integral part of their holiday, and something likely to set the city aside in their minds from any other destinations they might have visited in India.

While rampant tourism has yet to hit Bikaner, the city still has its fair share of accommodation with everything from budget establishments to five-star hotels. Those in the latter category and others of a similarly high quality offer extensive facilities to their guests, providing a range of activities for after the sightseeing trail has been exhausted.

The city has no airport of its own but visitors can take ground transfers from Jodhpur Airport, which maintains connections with Delhi and Mumbai. Bus and rail connections are maintained between Bikaner and most major cities in India.

The history of the city can be traced back to the late 15^th century (1488 to be precise) when Rao Bikaji, a prince of the Rajput clan, chose the area then known as Jungladesh as the place at which to establish his kingdom. Jungladesh was little more than barren landscape before Bikaji built a city upon it, which he appropriately named Bikaner.

From the point of its founding onwards, Bikaner quickly established itself as one of the country’s key cities and continued to maintain a significant role right up until its accession into the Indian Union in 1947 and its integration into Rajasthan two years later. Despite this fact, the city was drawn into a variety of conflicts with Marwar, with the 18^th century in particular seeing some lengthy periods of war. The disagreement between the two cities was finally settled in 1818 with the signing of a treaty on 9 May and the introduction of a British military presence on the streets of both locations.

The British retained a presence in the city for a long time although permitting a semi-autonomous government, first under the ruling of Dungar Singh and later under the ruling of his brother Ganga Singh. The latter remained in power for an impressive 56 years and is hailed as one of the city’s great leaders. His son and successor Maharaja Sardul Singh began a period of rule in 1943 and is credited with his role in bringing Bikaner into India at the end of the British Raj.

Bikaner is a city with a climate of extremes, at least with regards to its summers and winter seasons. The former period sees searing temperatures in the low to mid 40s (ºC) with occasional wanderings over 45ºC. There is little or no rain during the summer season, so scant chance of any relief from the scorching heat; a fact which precludes the possibility of visiting the city at this time for anyone but those highly acclimatised to excessive temperatures.

Winter sees temperatures drop right down to below 10ºC with lows generally around the 5ºC mark but occasionally dropping to freezing point. Volumes of precipitation are again low at this time with only occasional spells of rain. The glut of the city’s rain comes in the monsoon season when between 26cm and 44cm is common. The best time to visit Bikaner is in the period from October to February when temperatures are quite bearable and chances of rain only slight.

Be sure to pack appropriate clothing for your trip to Bikaner. Shorts and t-shirts might seem sensible for visiting in the hotter seasons; however the sun is especially powerful and damaging to skin, so it’s advisable to cover up with light cotton clothing, especially if planning a desert safari. Bear in mind also that skimpy clothing is likely to cause offence to the locals who are devoutly religious. If visiting the city in winter, be sure to pack a few sweaters and a warm jacket as those desert winds can certainly be biting.