Bikaner! Land of the martial Rathores

Rao Bhikhaji Rathore, a younger son of Rao Jodha, founder of Jodhpur, on a single incident of paternal rebuke(!), left his father's kingdom with a contingent of 500 men and 100 cavalry, went on an adventure foray in the desserts north of Jodhpur and eventually founded his own kingdom, Bikaner in 1465. For a colourful history of the Princely State of Bikaner go here

Bikaner, roughly in the north west region of Rajasthan is 257 kms north of Jodhpur, and 500 kms west of Delhi, and in western proximity (240kms) to the Shekhawati region (see post below.)
Bikaner is one of the three major towns set in the western desserts of Rajasthan, the other two Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
Bikaner is famous for its Bikaner Camel Corps, an elite camel cavalry of the Indian army, the corps formed first by the Maharaja Ganga Singh.
Unlike Jaipur where the defensive forts are on the outskirts of the city (the Jaigarh and Amber forts), in Bikaner the massive fort, Lallgarh, sits in the centre of the old town.
Top picture -the Camel Corps.
The great bearded royalty is His Highness Sri Raj Rajeshwar Maharaja-dhi-raja Narendra Maharaja Shiromani Sri Sardar Singh, Maharaja (1851-72)( full title given here for effect!!!) soon after ascending the gadi (throne)-(gold room above) issued orders banning the practise of sati (where a widow self immolates on the funeral pyre of her husband.) The Bikaner Maharajas were, like most other rulers of Rajasthan, feerless warriors, leading their armies from up front. Second picture is the royal family tree of Bikaner.
This town is famous for its savoury snack called Bikaner sev and bhujia, spicy and crisp and worth the try!
More Info on Bikaner

Getting there:

This link gives you the best heritage hotels in Bikaner

link for more hotels. and hotels here

and this link (see photo above)tells you a little about the last "Maharaja" of Bikaner, Dr Karni Singh, Phd. and Member of Parliament, India- an outstanding acheiver!
"As an outstanding player, he participated in many Olympic and Asian Games in clay pigeon shooting and brought name and fame to India by winning gold and silver medals. At the IX Asiad in New Delhi in 1982, Dr. Karni Singh was the proud flag bearer of the Indian contingent at the open and the closing ceremony. He has been the unbeaten NATIONAL CHAMPION in Clay Pigeon Trap for 17 years, i.e. from 1960 to 1977. He competed in five Olympic namely- Rome, Tokyo, Mexico, Munich and Moscow."
see this link (above photo)for Princess-Rajyashree Kumari of Bikaner, in her father's footsteps!!