Bikaner, a rose in the desert, lying in the north of the desert state, the city is dotted with many sand dunes. More popularly called the camel country , the city is renowned for the best riding camels in the world. Being near to Delhi, it had to withstand the worst of Mughal invasions during earlier times. The exotic camel safaris, its gorgeous forts and the worship of thousands of holy rats at Mata Kali temple are some of the most interesting aspects of Bikaner. The camel festival held in the month of January is also an event worth witnessing if one wants to get the actual color of the place. The magnificent forts and palaces created with delicacy in reddish-pink, sandstone, bear testimony to its historical and architectural legacy.

The City was founded in 1486 by Bika. Just like the history of the entire state, Bikaner also has its own glorious past to talk about. It's history date backs to 1488 A.D. when a Rathore Prince Rao Bikaji established his kingdom here. It has faced many foreign intrusions and fought a number of wars with the Mughals and the British. Rao Jodhaji had fourteen sons but rao Bikaji was the most enterprising of them. Situated in the heart of the desert belt, Bikaner was always an inaccessible land. Before the advent of modern motor vehicles, the survival of the people of this region depended on the 'Ship of the desert' - the Camel. The camels of this region were famous for their endurance as well as their strength and beauty.

Climate : Hot summers (35°C to 45°C) Winters (5°C to 20°C)

Clothing : Light tropical in summer, light woolen in winter.

Accessories : Cameras, binoculars, hats.

Language spoken : Hindi, English, Rajasthani

Best time to visit : October to March.