INTRODUCTION

The regal fortified city of Bikaner possesses a timeless appeal. An integral part of the Desert Triangle, it still retains much of its medieval charm.

If you thrill to the inexorable forces of Nature, do not miss Bikaner. This is true desert country. You must dismiss any picture post card ideas of the desert, however. There are few sand dunes here. The Thar Desert is hard rocky soil, solid as brick. It is scrub country not cactus land. Gorse, thorn milk- weed sprout precariously and the earth is alive with broken insects and bolder birds.
This is camel country. They transport grain pull heavy carts, work on the wells. Water lies sometimes 122 meters below the surface. Wells are important, almost sacred. Built on each of the four corners, these wells proclaim their existence from afar like a shout of welcome. The approach to Bikaner is bleak. The wonder is that men have chosen to live here of have thought it worthwhile to risk their lives to win such a kingdom.

Rao Jodha Rathore of Marwar retrieved the fortunes of this clan and founded the city of Jodhpur in 1459 AD. He had five sons of whom Bikaji was the most lively and enterprising. Bikaner is situated directly on the ancient caravan routes that come from West Central Asia. It was therefore a great center of trade in the ancient world. This gave rise to a curious phenomenon. The fortified city of Bikaner is encircled by imposing battlements and stands on a slight eminence. Its roads undulate through colorful bazaars and the predominant hue of the building is the strong reddish- pink of local sandstone. It is the fourth largest city of Rajasthan.

Bikaner is well known for its School of miniature paintings. The paintings are a fine blend of the Rajput & Mughal styles.