Bikaner Tour Packages

Tucked into the northern edge of the Thar Desert, Bikaner is a city built almost entirely from red sandstone, where forts, havelis, and temples all seem to glow the same warm colour at sunset. Founded in 1488 by Rao Bika, a Rathore prince who set out to build his own kingdom after leaving Jodhpur, the city grew around a fort that has never once fallen to an invading army. 

Few desert cities in India carry as much layered history as Bikaner. The same sand that once carried camel caravans on the old trade routes to Central Asia now carries tourists chasing forts, food, and folk music. This guide covers everything you need to plan your Bikaner tour packages, from Junagarh Fort and the Karni Mata Temple to local food and travel information.

Why Visit Bikaner?

Bikaner is one of the four great desert kingdoms of Rajasthan, alongside Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur. Unlike destinations that only come alive during one festival, Bikaner keeps its character through every season of the year.

Here is why Bikaner deserves a spot on your travel list:

A Fort That Was Never Conquered

Junagarh Fort has stood at the heart of the city since it was completed in the 1590s under Raja Rai Singh, a general in Emperor Akbar's own army. Unlike most Rajasthani forts, it was not built on a hilltop, and despite facing several attacks over the centuries, it has never once been captured. Its red sandstone walls stretch close to a kilometre and enclose palaces, temples, and a museum that still holds royal jewels, weapons, and manuscripts.

Older Than You Think

Bikaner's story really begins in 1488, when Rao Bika broke away from his father's kingdom in Jodhpur and carved out a territory of his own in the desert. Long before that, camel traders and desert communities had already been moving through this stretch of the Thar for generations, and the city that grew here became one of the busiest stops on the old caravan routes linking India with Central Asia.

Ride Through the Old City by Cycle Rickshaw

Bikaner's old city is best explored slowly, and a cycle rickshaw ride is worth taking purely for the views. Routes through the bazaar lanes and temple squares pass havelis and spice markets most tourists never see. A short ride gets you into corners of the city that cars simply cannot reach.

What Makes Bikaner Special

Most safrai tour packages focus on Junagarh Fort’s camel safaris. However, the city rewards travellers who wander its old merchant quarters and desert edges too.

Here is what sets Bikaner apart from other desert cities:

Sunset Over the Dunes

Head out to the sand dunes just beyond the city before evening, and you’ll catch the light turning gold across the desert, with camel silhouettes moving slowly against the horizon. This window closes fast once the sun drops, so plan your ride an hour or two before sunset. Rides typically run 60 to 90 minutes and often end with tea served at a desert camp.

Camel Country

Bikaner is home to the National Research Centre on Camels, a farm that studies camel breeding and even serves camel milk products, including ice cream. Every January, the city hosts the Bikaner Camel Festival, when decorated camels take part in races, dances, and a lively procession through the old town. It's also a part of several rajasthan tour packages that are organised around the same time.

The Food Culture

Bikaner's food scene is where much of India's love for bhujia actually began, and the city still produces some of the country's best-known namkeen brands. Rasgullas, kachoris, and a proper Rajasthani thali are all worth seeking out here. A cup of masala chai shouldn’t be skipped either, ideally taken at a rooftop café overlooking the fort.

The Bikaner Experience: Things to Do Here

Bikaner tour packages show a different face of the city, depending on whether you are a history buff, a desert lover, or just there for the food. Here are some of the must-have experiences in Bikaner:

Junagarh Fort

Junagarh is one of the rare Rajput forts built on flat ground, its 12-metre walls and 37 bastions doing the work of a moat rather than a mountain. Inside are dozens of pavilions and palaces in red sandstone and marble, but the two you'll actually remember are Anup Mahal and Chandra Mahal. 

Both are dressed in usta (or nakashi) work: gold-leaf relief painting layered over gesso, with mirror inlay and miniature-style ceilings. The technique traces back to Mughal-trained Usta artisans whom Raja Rai Singh brought to Bikaner with Emperor Akbar's permission. 

Entry tickets are best bought online, especially around the winter festival season, preferably before midday, since the museum halls can get crowded once tour groups arrive.

Karni Mata Temple

Built from marble and sandstone, this temple in Deshnoke, about 30 km from Bikaner, is dedicated to Karni Mata, worshipped as an incarnation of Durga, and the rats (locally called kabbas) are believed to be reincarnated ancestors of the Charan clan. 

A part of the top activities in Bikaner, it draws devotees hoping to spot one of the rare white rats among the twenty to twenty-five thousand that live there. Albino rats are rare enough (roughly 1 in 10,000) that spotting one is considered a direct blessing. 

Lallgarh Palace

Lallgarh Palace was raised at the turn of the 20th century (built between 1902 and 1926) for Maharaja Ganga Singh, one of Bikaner's most progressive rulers. Architecturally, it's Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob doing what he did best: Rajput carving and jharokha balconies wrapped around a very British floor plan, all in red sandstone hauled from the Thar. 

Part of it is now a heritage hotel, and yes, the billiards room and the vintage car collection are real draws but don't skip the Sri Sadul Singh Museum wing, which quietly holds one of the largest private libraries in the world.

Rampuria Haveli

The Rampuria Haveli, a short walk from the fort, sit inside Bikaner's oldest merchant quarter. It's a cluster of nine interconnected mansions in Dulmera red sandstone, credited to a local architect named Balujee Chalva, with jharokha balconies and stone carving detailed enough that Aldous Huxley reportedly called it the pride of Bikaner.

Laxmi Nivas Palace

Built between 1898 and 1902 by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob as the residence of Maharaja Ganga Singh, Laxmi Nivas Palace was called the most perfect modern Indo-Saracenic building in the country by the official reporter on the 1905 royal tour of India. It's since been converted into a luxury hotel, so you can actually stay inside a building a colonial journalist once gushed over rather than just photographing it from the gate. 

How to Get to Bikaner

Bikaner is easy to get to from any part of India through multiple means of transport. Here is an overview of the three options, with everything else you need to plan around: 

By Air

Bikaner's only airport, Nal Airport (BKB), is a civil enclave operating out of an Indian Air Force station about 13 km from the city. Flight connectivity here is thin and sees only a handful of scheduled departures a month, mostly to Delhi and Jaipur via carriers like Alliance Air. 

Because of this, most travellers looking to book their flights to Bikaner fly into Jodhpur Airport (JDH) instead, the nearest major airport, and cover the remaining distance by road. That stretch is around 250 km and takes roughly 3.5 to 4 hours by car.

By Train

The Bikaner Junction (BKN) is a major railway station that connects to cities like Delhi, Jaipur, and Jodhpur. You will also find several overnight services that reach the national capital in around 10 hours. Otherwise, you can also get down at the Lallgarh Junction (LGH), which is a few kilometres away from the main station.

By Road

All the highways in Rajasthan, especially the ones going to Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, are well maintained. Several state-run buses to Bikaner and private AC coaches also run frequently from across Rajasthan and Delhi.

Best Time to Visit Bikaner

The best time to visit is from October to March, when cool desert mornings and pleasant evenings make walking tours and camel rides comfortable. The camel festival in January adds an extra reason to plan a winter trip.

The table below compares each season to help you choose the right window for family retreat tour packages in Bikaner: 

Things to Know Before You Go

Here is what to keep in mind before booking Bikaner tour packages:

• Check the weather before you pack: Bikaner may have very hot days and cool nights, so dress in layers and carry sunscreen even in winter.
• Dress modestly: Cover your shoulders and knees when entering the Karni Mata Temple and other religious sites. Remove your shoes before you enter.
• Bargaining is common in local markets: You can negotiate some prices in the old city bazaars, especially for bhujia, textiles, and handicrafts.

Plan Your Bikaner Trip with EaseMyTrip

Bikaner rewards travellers who plan ahead. Between the desert forts, camel research farms, and havelis tucked into narrow lanes, it's easy to lose hours just figuring out logistics instead of actually seeing the city. A good travel package takes that off your plate: entry tickets, transfers, and timing sorted, so you can spend your trip exploring rather than coordinating.

That's where EaseMyTrip Holidays comes in. We put together Bikaner tour packages that bundle flights, hotels, and everything else you need into one simple booking at fair prices, with no hidden charges tacked on later. Plan less, explore more.