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Bikaner - Forts, Temples and Desert
Apr 19, 2002 07:18 AM 5124 Views
(Updated Apr 19, 2002 07:22 AM)

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Bikaner is a desert town situated in the north of Rajasthan. It was founded in 1488 by Rao Bika, a descendant of the founder of Jodhpur, Jodha. Like many cities in Rajasthan, the old city of Bikaner is surrounded by a high crenellated wall and, like Jaisalmer, it was once an important staging post on the great caravan trade routes. The Ganga Canal, built between 1925 and 1927, irrigates a large area of previously arid land around Bikaner.


Although it is less impressive than Jaisalmer, Bikaner is still quite an important place to visit. There is a superb Fort and a unique Government Camel Breeding Farm just outside the town, and 30km to the south is the extraordinary Karni Mata Temple, where thousands of holy rats are worshipped.


The old city is encircled by a seven kilometer long city wall with five entrance gates, constructed in the 18th century. The Fort and Palace, built of the same reddish-pink sandstone as Jaisalmer's famous buildings, are outside the city walls.


The Junagarh Fort, constructed between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Jai Singh - a General in the Army of the Mughal Emperor Akbar - the Fort has a 986m long wall with 37 bastions, a moat and two entrances. The Surajpol, or Sun Gate, is the main entrance to the Fort. The Palaces within the Fort are on the southern side and make a picturesque ensemble of court yards, balconies, kiosks, towers and windows. An important feature of this Fort and its Palaces is the magnificent carving. Among the Palaces of interest are the Chandra Mahal or Moon Palace, and the Phool Mahal or the Flower Palace, both decorated with paintings, mirrors, glass and carved marble panels.


The other Palaces of interest are the Hawa Mahal and Anup Mahal. The Lalgarh Palace is also very famous. This red sandstone Palace was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh (1881-1942) in memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh.


The Shri Sadul Museum, Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum and the Jain Temples are worth visiting.


There is a Camel Festival held in Bikaner in January each year. This is a very interesting event worth attending, if you are in this part of Rajasthan at that time.


On the right hand side as one enters the Fort, there is a very interesting craft shop, run by the Urmul Trust. Items sold here are of very superior quality and these are made by the people in the surrounding villages. The Urmul Trust is the brain child of Sanjoy Ghose and his wife. It is hard to believe that Sanjoy is no more. He was a childhood friend of my eldest daughter Kalpana.


I had once visited Bikaner some years ago. We had the annual Conference of the Indian Adult Education Association. The Bikaner Adult Education Association is very active in the field.


On Bikaner I could write more, but Sanjoy's memory has started haunting me. His wife Sumeeta feels that he is not dead. Actually it remains a mystery. Sanjoy..A Great Soul. My salutations to thee !


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