Weather in Bikaner

Bikaner has a rougher, more desert-edged character than Rajasthan's other forts-and-palaces cities, its red sandstone Junagarh Fort rising straight out of the city without a hill to soften it. Camel breeding has shaped the region for centuries, and a research farm just outside town lets you get close to the animals, while the nearby Karni Mata temple at Deshnoke — famous for its thousands of revered rats — is one of India's strangest pilgrimage sites.

Best areas to stay in Bikaner

Junagarh Fort area

The fort and its surrounding old city streets, with havelis and markets.

Old City lanes

Narrow streets of carved sandstone havelis, many still inhabited, around the Kote Gate.

National Research Centre on Camel

A camel breeding farm on the outskirts where visitors can see and interact with camels.

Deshnoke (Karni Mata Temple)

A short drive from the city, home to the famous rat temple and pilgrimage activity.

Getting to Bikaner

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Flights

Fly into Jaipur International Airport (JAI) from the UK via Delhi, then travel by train or road to Bikaner (around 5–6 hours).

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From London

~14–17 hours total journey time from London including connections

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Getting around

Auto-rickshaws and taxis cover the city; camel safaris can be arranged into the surrounding desert.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Bikaner?

October to March offers comfortable temperatures for exploring the fort and old city, avoiding the extreme desert heat of summer.

How do I get to Bikaner?

Bikaner has a small airport with limited domestic connections; most visitors arrive by train from Jaipur or Delhi (around 5–7 hours).

What is Junagarh Fort?

A 16th-century fort built on level ground rather than a hilltop, with ornately decorated palaces, courtyards, and a museum inside its walls.

What is the Karni Mata Temple?

A temple in nearby Deshnoke famous for housing thousands of rats considered sacred, visited by pilgrims and curious travellers alike.

Is Bikaner worth visiting compared to Jaipur or Udaipur?

It's less polished but feels more authentically desert-Rajasthan, with fewer tourists, a striking fort, and access to camel safaris into the Thar Desert.

Traveler reviews

★★★★★

Junagarh Fort was one of the most impressive we saw in Rajasthan and far less crowded than the forts in Jaipur or Jodhpur. The old city streets felt wonderfully untouristy too.

Heather G. · December 2023

★★★★☆

The camel research farm was a fun stop and Bikaner itself has a real desert-frontier feel. The rat temple at Deshnoke is bizarre but fascinating.

Vikram S. · January 2024

★★★★☆

A great off-the-beaten-path stop on a Rajasthan circuit — the havelis in the old city are beautiful and there's much less hassle from touts than other cities.

Claire M. · November 2024