Bikaner

Photos

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Best time to go

Sights and activities

Getting there

By bus

Bikaner is about 389 km from Delhi (about 10 to 13 hours by bus) and about 274 km from Jaipur (about 6 to 7 hours). RSRTC and many private operators run daily buses, and Jodhpur and Jaisalmer are about 5 to 6 hours away by road.

By train

Bikaner Junction is a major station of North Western Railway with direct trains from Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur. The daily 12457 superfast express leaves Delhi Sarai Rohilla at 23:35 and reaches Bikaner at 07:30.

By air

Nal Airport (BKB) is about 13 km west of the city centre, 25 to 30 minutes by taxi. Alliance Air and IndiGo are listed as operating flights, mainly to Delhi. Jodhpur airport, about 250 km away, is the larger alternative.

Where to base yourself

Stay in the city near Junagarh Fort, the old city or Station Road, or at one of the palace hotels about 2 km from the fort.

Getting around

• Auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws cover short trips in town; the old city and havelis are best walked.
• From Nal Airport to the city, a taxi or app cab costs about Rs 400 to 600, an auto about Rs 200 to 350, and an RSRTC bus about Rs 30 to 60.
• A full-day sightseeing taxi (8 to 10 hours, including Deshnok) costs about Rs 2,800 for a sedan, Rs 3,800 for an SUV and Rs 5,500 for a 12-seat Tempo Traveller.
• Camel rides near the city cost about Rs 750 per person for a short ride, or about Rs 1,500 for a longer safari with folk dance and dinner.

Often combined with

Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.

• Jaipur: Train or road, about 5 to 6 hours, about 340 km by road. See the Bikaner, Jaipur and Ranthambore trip

Where to stay

Food

Old sweet and snack shops in the walled city sell bhujia, kachori, ghevar and rabri. Bhojanalayas in the old city serve Rajasthani thalis, and Station Road has popular snack and sweet places.

Try these

• Bikaneri bhujia (spicy fried gram-flour snack)
• Bikaneri rasgulla (syrup-soaked cheese balls)
• Kachori (fried pastry stuffed with spiced lentils)
• Ghevar (honeycomb-like sweet disc)
• Dal baati churma (baked wheat balls with lentils and sweet crumble)
• Ker sangri (desert beans and berries)

Most food in Bikaner is vegetarian and widely available. Jain-friendly food is likely given the large Jain community.

Daily costs

Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.

Permits and documents

No permits are needed. Carry photo ID for hotel check-in.

Safety

By day

Bikaner is a busy but generally calm city for visitors. Carry water, as the desert climate is harsh.

At night

Stick to main roads and the old city's busier lanes after dark, and use known autos or hotel taxis.

Solo women

Dress modestly, especially at temples, and arrange camel safaris and taxis through your hotel or a known operator.

Roads

Roads to Deshnok and Gajner are plain highways. Watch for stray cattle and camels, and avoid long drives in the midday summer heat.

Emergency numbers

112 (all emergencies)

Practical

Mobile network

All the main networks (Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL) work in town.

ATMs and cash

ATMs are widely available in the city.

Fuel

There are several petrol pumps in and around town. Fill up in the city before trips to outlying sights.

Medical

Hospitals are easy to find across the city. In an emergency dial 112, or 108 for an ambulance in most states. The city is the district headquarters, so use its hospitals for emergencies.

Coverage maps: Jio · Airtel · Vi · BSNL. Report a problem

Accessibility

Seniors

The city sights are close together and easy by taxi. The fort involves stairs and uneven floors, so go slowly and take a guide.

Children

Children usually enjoy the camel farm, camel rides and the rat temple. Avoid hot afternoons from April to June.

Wheelchair users

The fort and old havelis have steps and narrow passages, and the old city lanes are uneven.

Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.

Culture and responsible travel

• Remove your shoes at temples; at Karni Mata you walk barefoot among the rats, so carry socks if you prefer.
• Dress modestly at religious places and follow any photography rules on signs.
• Bhandasar and other Jain temples have their own rules; do not take leather items inside.
• Tipping is appreciated but not required; a small tip for guides and drivers is enough.
• Hindi and Rajasthani are spoken, and English is understood in most tourist places.

What to pack

• Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
• A scarf against sand and sun, sunglasses, and a warm layer for desert nights in winter
• Clothes that cover shoulders and knees, and socks for hot stone floors where shoes come off. Some temples do not allow phones or bags, so carry little
• Some cash in small notes for autos, stalls and tips
• Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts

Multi-stop trips that include Bikaner

• Bikaner, Jaipur and Ranthambore, 5 nights