Bikaner, Camel Country and more

Apart from the Junagarh Fort, Bikaner has lot to offer to the tourists. (Click on all the images for bigger picture)

The other major attractions here are:

Devi Kund

Eight Kilometers east of Bikaner, this is the site of royal chatris of many of the Bika dynasty rulers. The royal crematorium has several exquisite cenotaphs (Chatris). Each Chatri is dedicated to the memory of rulers of Bikaji dynasty and is situated on the exact place where they were cremated.

There are beautiful paintings on the interior of the chatris inside the dome. The paintings even today appear very fresh.

A sample of one of the interiors of the dome can be seen below.


That is for the tourist attractions of Bikaner. Apart sight seeing in the city we went around the streets of the city in the market area. You will find lot of sweet stalls or bakery's around. Bikner is famous for Bikaner Bhujia. It is a spicy snack made from moth dal, spices and edible oil. There are lot of varieties in them. We purchased quite a few varieties for te rest of the trip.

From Bikaner we traveled to Jaisalmer, the Golden City.

Distance: Bikaner ---> Jaisalmer is 333 kms

P.S: December is the month when lot of tourists land in Rajasthan. So if you really want all the arrangements to be done properly this has to be done before October end.

Bikaner Camel Country

On the way to Bikaner from Mandwa, we had our lunch at the road side Dhaba. We reached Bikaner around 3:30 in the afternoon.

Binaker’s history dates back to 1488 A.D, when a Rathore Prince, Rao Bikaji, established his kingdom here. Bikaji choose a barren wilderness called ‘Jangladesh’ and transformed it to an impressive city, called Bikaner after the founder’ name. More popularly called the camel country, the city is renowned for the best riding camels in the world.

The wells of Bikaner: an important source of water is other attractions of the city. These are built on high plinths with slender minareted towers on each of the four corners and can be noticed even from a distance. (Click on all the images for bigger picture)

The major attractions here are:

Junagarh Fort



Junagarh Fort was constructed between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Rai Singh, a general in the army of Mughal emperor Akhbar. , with embellishments in the form of palaces and luxurious suites added by subsequent
Maharajas. This fort has a 986m-long wall with 37 bastions, a moat and two entrances.

Despite that fact Junagarh doesn't command hilltop position, as do some of the Rajasthan’s other grand forts, it is no less imposing and a credit to its planners and architects has never been conquered.

The Surajpol or the 'Sun Gate' is the main entrance. The palaces within the fort are on the southern side and make a picturesque ensemble of towers, courtyards, balconies and windows. A major feature of fort and palaces is the superb quality of stone carving.


Bijai Mahal Palace is yet another exquisite palace situated inside the fort that’s worth visiting while here, that has excellent paintings and tile work.

Anup Mahal Palace Intricate golden pen work decorates this building and is worth seeing while visiting the fort.

Durga Niwas of the fort is a beautiful courtyard with excellent paintings and tile-work worth seeing.

Chandra Mahal Palace or Moon Palace is a beautiful puja (worship) room covered with remarkable frescoes of Hindu gods and goddesses.

Diwan-e-Khas or Hall of Special Audience, with intricately carved stonework so fine that it seems as though it is carved out of wood. Worth seeing is a beautiful window in Blue Dutch tiles and a pair of golden gates which lie, behind iron bars (for security). The place is located within the fort and shouldn’t be missed.

Ganga Mahal Palace added to the fort by Maharaja Gailga Singh, now houses the Fort Museum and contains a fine collection of antique Rajput, weaponry, jade handle daggers, camel hide shields, inlaid handguns and camel guns, gold and silver howdahs, jhulas, kis and a first-world war biplane. Other important objects include a pair of drums belonging to jamblioji, the saint who predicted the foundation of the dynasty by Rao Bika for 450 years.


Apart from the fort and the palaces within in, Bikaner has quite a many more attractions.

P.S: December is the month when lot of tourists land in Rajasthan. So if you really want all the arrangements to be done properly this has to be done before October end.

Silversea's 2009 South Pacific Season Announced

Ever since Silversea's new 132-passenger expedition ship, Prince Albert II, was launched earlier this year, fans of the cruise line have been anticipating details about the ship's upcoming visits to the South Pacific from mid-March to late October 2009.

The itineraries have been released and there are some outstanding options that include lesser known ports of call in the Austral Islands, the Marquesas, and the isolated Tuamotu Islands. Perhaps the best news is that these Polynesian cruises will follow only a loose itinerary, allowing for the flexibility to stay longer at one location or make a slight detour due to weather conditions.

The following itinerary descriptions were provided by Silversea:

Austral Island Adventures
Nestled in the Tropic of Capricorn, the remote Austral Islands lie hundreds of miles south of Tahiti and enjoy a slightly cooler climate. Tubuai, largest of these volcanic islands, is probably best known for the failed landing attempts of the H.M.S. Bounty. (The island's villagers assaulted the unwelcome ship with a barrage of stones, and ultimately the mutineers sailed off to Pitcairn.) Prince Albert II and her fleet of eight Zodiac boats will explore the unique culture, flora and fauna of Rapa, Raivavae, Tubuai, Rurutu, and Rimatara on five 11-day, roundtrip journeys from Papeete.
Silver Sailing fares start at $3,897 per person, based on double occupancy.

Journeys to the Marquesas
The mountainous islands of the Marquesas are located nearly 900 miles northeast of Tahiti and just south of the equator. With a lush, vibrant terrain bursting with myriad exotic flowers and fruit trees, it's easy to understand how this tropical paradise captivated the artist Paul Gauguin, who made the Marquesas his adopted home. On four roundtrip journeys of 14 days from Papeete, Prince Albert II's expedition team will lead in-depth explorations of Fatu Hiva, Pua Mau, Hiva Oa, Atuona, Ua Pou, Nuku Hiva, and Tahuata, as well as Manihi and Fakarava Island in the Tuamotu Archipelago and the Society Islands of Bora Bora and Tahaa.
Silver Sailing fares start at $4,917 per person, based on double occupancy.

Tuomotu Expeditions
The isolated Tuamotu Islands, northeast of Tahiti, comprise the world's largest chain of atolls. Its 78 sparsely populated coral islands span over 900 miles of aquamarine waters. Dotted with quaint villages, coral churches and an abundance of wildlife—from bottlenose dolphins and coconut crabs to the rarest of birds, this remote archipelago offers endless possibilities for real Robinson Crusoe-style adventures. Departing from Papeete, Prince Albert II will embark on five 10-day expeditions to the Tuamotu islands of Tikihau, Rangiroa, Apataki, Arutua and Fakarava, as well as Raiatea, Maupihaa, and Huahine in the Society Islands.
Silver Sailing fares start at $3,597 per person, based on double occupancy.

The Prince Albert II is a luxury expedition ship offering an all-inclusive experience featuring spacious staterooms (many with French balconies or full verandahs) and a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.

For more information about Prince Albert II, talk with your travel agent or visit Silversea's website.

Photos courtesy of Silversea.