RaoBika established the city of Bikaner in 1488. He was the first son of Maharaja RaoJodha of the Rathore clan, the founder of Jodhpur and conquered the largely arid country in the north of Rajasthan.RaoBika, a Rajput ruler, built his place. The place where RaoBika wanted to build it belonged to a NehraJat who got ready to give the land to the king, only if the name of the place would be linked to his name, to which the king agreed. Hence, the name of the place was kept Bikaner.
RaoBika, being the first son of RaoJodha, wanted to build his own kingdom and hence, built the present day Bikaner. Since Bikaner was in the middle of the Thardesert, it served as an oasis and was on the trade route between Gujarat coast and Central Asia.
Bika also built a fort in this region in 1478 AD. The fort is famous by the name of Junagarh Fort.
Located in the midst of Thar Desert, Bikaner is a “cultural paradise and a traveller’s haven”. Bikaner with its magnificence in architecture, art and culture is filled with colour, festivity and cultural marvels.The city will mesmerize you with the camels sauntering the beautiful sand dunes, its ancient palaces and forts. Rightly called as one of the three great desert kingdoms of Rajasthan, the dazzling city boasts of old-world charm, opulent havelis and depicts a pleasing bygone era of the Rajputs. Best known as the “camel country” for breeding some best-known riding camels, Bikaner also happens to house one of the only two models of the biplane used by the British in World War 1.
Sand Dunes and the Desert Safari are among major attractions. Bikaner is also famous for hosting the international Camel festival which draws tourists from the world over.