ASIAN Geographic Special Interview Feature @ The Incredible India Roadshow asiangeo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from asiangeo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Instantly conjuring up visuals of colourfully-clad camels pacing beneath the weight of cheerful men in rainbow-hued turbans, Bikaner has a romance to itâone thatâs often been edged out by the more mainstream Rajasthani destinations. But in the last few years, its emerged as a bit of a sleeper hit of the state, drawing jaded metropolitan tourists more and more for its tempered blend of calm and culture. Thereâs more that the beautiful streets of Bikaner offer than meets the eyeâor the cursory Google search, and hereâs where youâll find it.
Where To Stay:
The heritage hotel
Walking into the Vikram Vilas Durbar Hall, a 1935 addition to the 16th-century Junagarh Fort and Museum in Bikaner, you encounter an unexpected sight: a DH-9 (de Havilland) World War I bomber plane. Compared to the rest of the fort museum, with its seven palaces, courtyards, pavilions and balconies featuring traditional Rajput architecture and artwork, this space is distinct.
Junagarh Fort was built between 1589 and 1593 by Raja Rai Singh, Bikaner’s then ruler. Since then, each successive maharaja has made additions during their respective reigns. In 1902, the royal family moved to Lalgarh Palace, and Junagarh became a heritage site.
In 2000, a section was converted into the Prachina Museum, which showcases objects and furniture that reflect the family’s everyday life. In comparison, the exhibits in the Vikram Vilas Durbar Hall, therefore, refer to a lesser-known part of Rajput history – one of fighting on behalf of the British, and the role of the camel cavalry in the world