Bikaner

Bikaner, a well known popular destination of Rajasthan, located in the north western part of the state, was founded in 1486 by Bika – one of the fourteen sons of Rao Jodha. Bikaner is very popular due to its glorious history, ancient traditions and lavish culture among the tourist who want to realize the rich tradition and culture. It is bordered by the district of Rajasthan like as Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Churu, Nagaur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer district. Old city Bikaner is surrounded by the 7 m. long wall with five entrances there.

Fast Facts
Season: September to March
Languages: Rajasthan, Hindi, English, Marwari
Location: Rajasthan, North India
Area: 38.10 sq. km.
Population: 6,42,550 approx
Temperature: 8 0C – 49 0C

How to Reach
By Air: Have no own airport, but connected with the nearest airport in Jodhpur.
By Road: Well connected by road with all the major cities of India.
By Rail: Well connected with the Railways to all the major cities of India.

Bikaner, called as the camel country, is very popular for its excited camel safari, its traditional and glorious historical forts and thousands of holy rats of worship in the temple of Goddess Mata Karni Devi. There are various places that can be explored from the tourist point of view and popular among the tourists. The prime attraction of the Bikaner is Junagarh Fort, the marvelous piece of royal architecture, was built by the Raja Rai Singh – general in the army of mughal emperor Akbar, during the period 1588 – 1593. It has 986 long walls, 37 bastions and two entrances. The suraj pole is the main entrance of the Junagarh fort.

Various other tourist attractions are also explored in the Bikaner like as Laxmi Niwas Palace, the residential palace of the king Maharaja Ganga Singh, designed by the British architect. Lalgarh Palace, a architectural splendor in red sand stone, designed as per the Rajput, Mughal and European styles, was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the memories of his father between 1902 – 1926. Gajner palace, a summer resort of the Maharajas and known as the jewel in the Thar Desert, various temples – with the most important and popular temples as the Mata Karni devi Temple, Bhandeshwar and Sandeshwar jain temples etc.

Desknok
Deshnok, a small town in the Bikaner district, is near the Pakistan border and 30 km. far apart form the Bikaner. Deshnok is very famous for its 600 years old Mata Karni Devi Temple, where rats are the symbol of worship and especially rats are worshiped here in the temple. During the Aatri time peoples offers various things to the rats like as sweets, grains and milk. It is said if anyone will see the white mouse or say kaba then he will surely receive the good fortune in the near future. In the small village of Deshnok one can explore the old traditional charm and the new developments.

Mandawa
Mandawa, in the heart of the Shekhawati region well known for its forts and havelis, is located in the north Indian state of Rajasthan near about 190 km. far apart form the Jaipur – the capital city of Rajasthan. Mandawa was founded in the mid of 18th century and once was a town inhabited with the rich merchant families like various glorious and large havelies adorned with beautiful wall paintings was constructed by the wealthy merchants for their residential purposes.

The old settlements applied in the havelis of the wealthy merchants remained in total obscurity with no one to look after them due to the migration of the merchant families but the attraction did not fade today despite the time lapse and ignorance about these visuals and architectural extravaganzas and are still now they are some of the major attractions for the travelers visiting Rajasthan. Battlements in Mandawa offer the spectacular views of the town below.

Another major tourist places in the Mandawa are its massive forts now converted into the heritage hotels, decorated with the fascinated painting, depicting Lord Krishna and his cowherds. One can explore in the fort an piece of the best architectural heritage setup with a different theme and exotic wall painting and the mirror work in the rooms of the fort.

Fast facts
Population: 20717
Languages: Hindi, Rajasthani, and English
Clothing: Light tropical for summer & Light woolen for winter
Must Visit: Various Havelis and Mandawa Castle
Season: October to March

There is various other tourist attractions in Mandawa also like as Castle Mandawa, Gulab Rai Wadia Haveli, Chowkhadi Haveli, Goenka Duoble Haveli etc. Mandawa is well connected with the Air to the nearest Airport in the Jhunjhunu, by road – well connected the entire reason of the Shekhawati with all the major cities of India, By Rail – with the nearest railhead in the Jhunjhunu connected with the entire major cities.

Alsisar
Alsisar village is gloriously located in the Shekhawati region and a nearby excursion of the Mandawa. The grandson of Maharaja Udaikaran of Amer, Rao Shekhaji, founded the sub-clan popularly known as shekhawat more than the five centuries ago. The branch of the Kachawa caln of Rajputs owned the Alsisar haveli – built in 1982. Various other major attractions here are the Amer Mahal, Alsisar Mahal – now converted into the heritage hotel and well known for providing the luxurious comforts for the tourists, Palkiya Haveli. These are such attractions of the Alsisar which attracts the tourists most to explore the beauty of this region lies in the Shekhawati region

Nawalgarh
Nawalgarh, a town in Jhunjhunu district and a part of Shekhawati region lies in Rajasthan, is 30 km. from Sikar and 39 km. far apart from Jhunjhunu. Thakur Nawal Sing ji Bahadur founded the Nawalgarh in 1737 A.D. at the village site of Rohili. Nawalgarh is situated around 37 km south of Mandawa and is famous for its fort, built in 1737. Other attractions here include havelis of Anandi Lal Poddar, Aath Haveli, Hem Raj Kulwal Haveli, Bhagton Ki Haveli, and Khedwal Bhavan. Nawalgarh is renowned all over the world for its exquisitely painted havelis that are beautifully designed and carved. There are more than 200 havelis, the two Forts of the Nawalgarh named as Bala Kila Fort, Fatehgarh Fort and the palace hotel Roop Niwas Palace, Sheesh Mahal, Anaandi Lal Poddar Haveli are the beautiful and luxurious heritage renovated with modern facilities and popular tourist places to visit.