CHANDRA MAHAL AND PHUL MAHAL Built in the mid 18th century with their superbly painted walls and elaborate mirror inlay work . A member of the Viceroy's party which visited Junagarh fort in the 1920's wrote of the Maharaja's jewellery collection once housed here, "those of the Maharajah of Benares are splinters in comparison. Such pearls and emeralds, the latter in strings of about six chains and then knobs of uncut emeralds and diamonds...I tried everything on and blazed like a chandelier. Another rather different observation was that of the famous film director, James Ivory who noted, "So much has happened in these palaces. Nearly every story has violent death as a theme, there are terrible tales of revenge, poisoning practices, mass widow burnings. Finally it is all well, just weird and unnerving."

FORT MUSEUM Ganga Niwas a great pink sandstone hall, its walls entirely carved with delicate tracery and scroll-work, was maharajas Ganga Singh's contribution to Junagarh Palace in the early 20th century. Once used as the Diwan-i-Am. It now houses part of the fort museum.Here you can see an exotic array of antique Rajput weaponry, from jade-handled daggers to ivory inlaid muskets. Also unexpectedly, a World War One biplane in here. Other interesting items in the museum collection are an eclectic collection of royal costumes, hookahs, bric-a-brac, carpets, jewellery and the drums of Jambhoji, the saint. The museum also contains some beautiful examples of miniatures from the Bikaner school, as well as illuminated Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts.

LALLGARH PALACE  Around the turn of the 20th century Maharaja Ganga Singh decided that it was time to move out of Junagarh Fort and build a modern palace that more clearly reflected the progressive new character of his kingdom. The result was the impressive Lallgarh palace. It took twenty-four years to complete, from 1902 to 1926. Designed by Sir Swinton Jacob and considered by many to his greatest masterpiece, the opulent Lallgarh Palace draws its inspiration largely from the Rajput Tradition with virtually no trace of a Mughal influence.Its facade like a Rajput fort, has almost no decorative features except its topping of arrayed cupolas. The inside of the palace is centered around two courtyards and has a wealth of carved pillars, ornamental friezes delicate stonework lattices and arcade balconies.The cloistered courtyards of Laxmi Vilas for instance is considered to be a little architectural gem. There is a strong touch of the Renaissance in the way it has been laid out, with its colonnades and corridors, as you wonder through it, you can see its old halls, suites billiard room and smoking room, all largely unchanged from the days of Maharaja Ganga Singh with their Bohemian chandeliers and hunting trophies on the walls. There is a banquet hall that can seat up to four hundred people and in one corner's a huge indoor swimming pool .The palace also has a significant collections of rare Sanskrit manuscripts, which in fact is one of the finest collections of ancient Sanskrit manuscripts in the world. It is open to research scholars also. The royal family still lives in a wings of Lallgarh Palace, but the rest of it has now been converted into a charming hotel. In Lallgarh Palace, is a fascinating little museum, filled with the sundry possessions of the later Maharajas, everything from a 1921 model simplex movie projector to the British like soldiers that some little Bikaner prince used to play with once can be found here. You must not miss this place if want to get a feel of the past.  

ANUP MAHAL Built in 1669, it has a magnificent coronation room with ornately lacquered walls in red and gold and panels of dazzling colored glass inlay set over a throne. The marble columns are covered with delicate paint work, and the entire effect is simply breathtaking. Do not miss the small side chambers with its aquamarine blue walls, richly with gold leaf.Another notable feature is the revolutionary absence of columns to support the ceiling, which accounts for the narrowness of the hall. As you go upstairs, you come to Gaj Mandir and, right at the summit, the breezy Chhattar Niwas Built in the 1880. It has walls decorated with English plated bearing old prints of "Oriental Field Sports".  

CAMEL FARM The camels of Bikaner played a major role in the history of the kingdom, contributing greatly to its economy, as well as its defence, over the centuries. The camel breeding farm set amid rolling sand dunes, was formed in 1960 to produce superior strains of camels. One of the efforts at the farm, interestingly is to breed camels with longer, thicker eyelashes, which offer greater protection in sandstorms Bikaner camels have traditionally been renowned for their heavy load-carrying capacity. The camel farm breeds camels both for domestic haulage as well as, even today, for military use. The Indian army still boasts a crack Camel Corps, indispensable for desert warfare. It traces its origin back to the Ganga Risala regiment, raised by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the late 19th century. The regiment's temperament beasts were so superbly trained that a member of a visiting Viceroy's party to Bikaner in the 1920's on seeing a guard of honour, noted that the camels were "immovable, as if carved out of gray granite".

SANDESHWAR TEMPLE There are two very interesting Jain temples here, the Sandeshwar and Bhandeshwar temples, said to have been built by two wealthy merchant brothers in the 14th century. Sandeshwar Temple is a minor masterpiece dedicated to the Jain Tirthankara, Neminath. Its interiors are ablaze with enamel and gold-leaf frescoes and leaf work sorcery. The ceiling is vaulted, arched and ornately decorated. At one end is a statue of Neminath meditating on a lotus pedestal, beneath which are rows of wonderful marble statue of other Jain saints.  

BHANDESHWAR TEMPLE Dedicated to the Jain Saint, Parashvanath, this temple has interestingly carved wooden columns decorated with motifs of dancing maidens. In the temple's circular mandapa, or hall, scenes and battles. The red sandstone galleries and porches were later additions in the 17th century. There are several other fascinating temples in Bikaner, but if you don't have time for all of them , at least take a look at the impressive Rattan Binary Temple opposite Junagarh Fort.

DEVIKUND The royal cenotaphs of Bikaner, beautifully carved in sandstone and marble and grouped around a large pool, are located 5 miles outside Bikaner. The cenotaphs are carved with the symbol of the sun, for the dynasty is Suryavanshi. The cenotaphs of the rains are signified by lotus flowers or footmarks to mark those who had performed Sati. The cenotaphs of the children touchingly, bear hollowed cups, supposedly to hold milk for the child. It was once prophesied apparently that all the Maharajas of Bikaner would be cremated within this complex at Devikund. Uncannily with the cremation of the last ruling Maharaja, Sadul Singh, in 1950 the complex was full. The old royal hunting lodge of Gajner, 20 miles west of Bikaner was the venue of Maharaja Ganga Singh legendary Shikar Parties. The lodge itself, a sprawling deep-pink affair, ornamented with delicate lattice screens and cupolas is set in lush gardens by the side of a picturesque lake. A member of a vicarage party that was once entertained here late reminisced, "You can imagine the beauty, it was like Arabian Nights in the desert. Incidentally for all his huntsmanship, Maharaja Ganga Singh was also a dedicated wildlife conservationist. He even had slabs of rock salt tied to the trees on one occasions when it was learned that a certain species of deer was suffering from a salt deficiency. Today Gajner is a good place to see Blackbuck, Chinkara, Chittal, Sambar, Wild Boar and Bustard. The Maharaja still uses the lodge for weekends, but most of it, like Lallgarh Palace, has been converted into a hotel.

KOLAYAT Beyond Gajner in the middle of the desert, is a large lake and the temple complex of Kolayat, associated with a famous ancient sage, Kapil Muni. There are several marble temples, pavilions and bathing Ghats here, where pilgrims and holy men take a dip in the water.

Gajner palace   Gajner Palace -a summer resort of Bikaner Maharajas -has often been described as ' an incomparable jewel in the Thar desert'. Built by Maharaja Ganga Singh ji of Bikaner, palace stands on the embankment of a lake .The palace was used by Maharaja for grand shoots and lavish entertainment. Royalty, both Indian as well as international, Viceroys and other dignitaries have been entertained at this grand palace.The architecture of Gajner palace is truly outstanding. Built in red sandstone with intricately carved pillars, jharokhas and screens , the craftsmanship here is amazing.Palace is surrounded by beautiful wooded area, now a preserved sanctuary which provides shelter to chinkaras , blackbucks, blue bull (neel gai) and flocks of imperial sand grouse. A part of palace has been transformed into hotel.

Karnimata temple "The 8th Wonder of the WORLD" Situated en route to Jodhpur , the temple is dedicated to Karni Mata -an incarnation of Durga. The temple has fascinating huge silver gates and marble carvings that were donated by Maharaja Ganga Singhji The most attractive feature of temple are the rodents who scamper freely within the premises and if one touches your feet its considered auspicious. They are regarded sacred and devotees buy prasad (feeding) to offer to them.The Karni Mata Temple--just 30 kilometers from Bikaner and hardly your run-of-the-mill tourist attraction--seemed to fit the bill. It is a temple devoted to the ancient Hindu practice of rat worship. In Hindu mythology, the elephant-headed god Ganesh is accompanied by a rat wherever he travels. An offering to Ganesh and his small companion is therefore an important part of Hindu worship. Suwaap is 127 kms away from Deshnok. There is a concrete road between Suwaap and Deshnok.In order of traveling you will come across Palana, Barsihmsar, Bholasar, Jhajhu, Aaaoo in going from Deshnok to Suwaap. You can also see a red flag hoisted atop the temple of Shrikarni, this is mother's true home.Karni Mata was endowed with divine powers. The daughter of Meha Ji Kiniya, Karni Ji incarnated on 28th Sep.,1387 at Suvap Village in Tehsil Phalodi of Jodhpur District.She was marrid to depaji.The present deshnoke was founded by her on Baisakh Sudi Dwitiya Samvat 1476. Karni Ji developed the area into a sanctury and anyone seeking asylum in this area was put to no harm. People accused of crime used to come here and adop sanityto get themselves absolved of their sins. Karni mata witnessed the accession to royal thrones by three consecutive generations of rulers Rao Ridmal , Rao Jodha and Rao Bika. She was instrumental in enabling those three kings to get the reins of power . Rao Bika beseeched her blessings and founded a new empire in 1488A.D.Karniji arranged his marriage with the doughter of Bhati Rao Shekha of Pugal, who was in prison at that time at Multan. The marriage procession arrived and as the presence of bride's father was essential in the circuit ceremony, Karniji flew-off to Multan in the shape of an eagle , brought Shekha with her and caused him to complete the ceremony. Rao Bika sought her advice for each and every important issue and worked according to her instructions. Several instances show that whenever the kings of Bikaner found themselves in trouble , they remembered Karniji and with her blessing succeeded in getting over their turmois. The royal family of Bikaner always held Karniji in great esteem. The 'Garbh Griha' of deshnoke temple was founded by Karniji herself . The marble construction was completed in the time of Maharaja Ganga Singhji with superb architectural and artistic designs. Mata Churned curd with wooden form of dry tree which was later transformed into green vegitation .deshnoke has given us renowned men of literature. The Charans are famous for their literary creation and devotion to the deity.People here live in peace, harmony and fraternity .Karniji's name is attached with all sorts of social, literary and religious institutions. Pilgrims come to pay their homage to Karni Mata twice a year at the time of Nav Ratra. The 'ORAN' is a sacred and protected area fore trees . There is strict prohibition for cutting the trees.. Moreover with the blessings of shri karnimata they get their food, shelter, lodging and their life cycle continues inside the temple itself.the miraculous fact is that no diseases related to rats have been found till date. Niether the temple stings of foul smells nor it is dirty anywhere. Infact even the offerings like milk, sweet, cereals, water and groundnuts are first offered to these holy kaba's and then distributed among the devotees, which is consumed by them as a holy prasad. Especially, the water which these kaba's drink is considered very holy and auspicious. There has been no trace of how these kaba's are reproduced, infact it is believed that these rats have their own vip maternity hospital which takes care of their delivery. Moreover there has never being a trace of baby rats. All the kaba are of a standard size and weight without any changes down the ages.strangely, rats are usually considered as a coward animal which are scared of human beings. But here in karnimata's temple under her shelter these kaba's are scattered all over the temple, rule the temple like a king and roar like a lion and roam about freely & comfortably. Now, the question is-"when rats can become brave by taking shelter in this temple, then what about human beings.' ---??? When they will take shelter of sri karni maa. -"visit the temple and justify yourself."

SRI NEHRIJI: Shri nehriji is the name of the tree below which mata used to sit and meditate. This evergreen tree is 591 years old ( as per english calender)it is situated about 1.5 km of west side from deshnok ,karni mata temple. People can go there by auto-rickshaw, car , or by foot.it is said that, mata had just stuck a stick on the ground and sprinkled same curd on it. That same stick has become the evergreen tree. Over the centuries this tree is being worshipped in the shape of a "khejari" in 1942 (as per english calendar) a statue of mata was instituted below this tree. The story of this tree is engraved beside that statue itself. A small little temple of marble has been constructed there above which the tree gloriously spread and blooms in glory.

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