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Rajasthan

Bikaner

Remote desert city of camels and forts

DesertHeritageOffbeat

Best time to visit Bikaner

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to September

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Bikaner season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

The one genuinely pleasant season. Cool days for the fort, camel farm and Karni Mata temple.

Summer March to May Shoulder

Deep desert heat past 44C with dust storms; there's no upside to visiting now.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Barely any rain reaches this far into the Thar, so the punishing heat just continues.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Temperatures fall through October and November, the desert turns bearable again.

What Bikaner is actually like

Off the backpacker circuit: expect to explore the fort mostly on your own.

Things to do in Bikaner

The local places worth your time in and around Bikaner, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Junagarh Fort

    Fort · 1 km out

    Never taken 1594 fort whose painted Anup Mahal is the finest room here; audio guide included, allow two hours.

  • Rampuria Havelis

    Heritage · 2 km out

    Cluster of red sandstone merchant havelis in the old lanes; walk in from Kote Gate, mornings for the carving.

  • Bhandasar Jain Temple

    Temple · 2 km out

    1514 temple said to be founded on ghee, painted inside; climb to the top storey for the old city roofs.

  • National Research Centre on Camel

    Wildlife · 8 km out

    Government camel farm on the town edge; visitors in the afternoon, the herd walks in at dusk, camel milk kulfi at the gate.

  • Gajner Palace & Lake

    Palace · 32 km out

    Lakeside hunting palace of the Bikaner rajas, now a hotel; the lake and its winter birds are worth the 32 km.

Getting to Bikaner

Overnight train from Delhi (7-8h) or 5h bus from Jaipur

Practical ways in: trainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
237 m
State
Rajasthan
Coordinates
28.0229, 73.3119

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Bikaner?

November to February is peak season in Bikaner. March and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to September. Temperatures fall through October and November, the desert turns bearable again.

How many days do you need in Bikaner?

3 days is the usual stay. Off the backpacker circuit: expect to explore the fort mostly on your own.

How do you get to Bikaner?

Overnight train from Delhi (7-8h) or 5h bus from Jaipur. Practical ways in: train and road.

Is Bikaner expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

Is there a festival in Bikaner?

Jan: Bikaner Camel Festival. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Bikaner?

Junagarh Fort, Rampuria Havelis, Bhandasar Jain Temple, National Research Centre on Camel and Gajner Palace & Lake. Never taken 1594 fort whose painted Anup Mahal is the finest room here; audio guide included, allow two hours.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Rajasthan

All 49 destinations in Rajasthan