Bikaner lies in the center of the hot Thar Desert, 240 km northeast of Jodhpur. The layout is straightforward outside the old city. The old city is encircled by a seven-km-long city wall with fine entrance gates, constructed in the 18th century.

POPULATION: Approximately 4 lakhs.
MAIN LANGUAGES: Rajasthani & Hindi.
CLOSE ON HEELS:
Jodhpur- 256 Kms
Jaipur- 354 Kms
Jaisalmer- 312 Kms
Best Season :
       It has got extreme desert type of climate with high temperature difference and low rainfall. The best season to visit Bikaner between October and March. Also during any festival period its a real pleasure to visit this city.
Festivals special to this city are :
Camel Festival :
In the festival one can see the ship of the desert at their sporting best. The festival is held in January every year.
Karni Mata fair :
Held twice in a year--April/ May and October/ November-- the fair is celebrated on the nineth day of the Navratra. Devotees throng the temple to worship Goddess Durga and her incarnations on this day.
Transportation :
Though the unfriendly desert sands surround Bikaner but the city is well connected by trains and roads.
The nearest airport is Jodhpur 240 Km.
The Indian Railways connect Bikaner with cities like Delhi, Calcutta, Agra, Jaipur, Allahabad etc.
The gorgeous 'Palace on wheels' also covers Bikaner in its eight-day tour of Rajasthan.
There are local and interstate bus services for Bikaner.

      Bikaner city is best known for its forts and red sandstone construction. Also, worth visiting is the Karni Mata Temple as well as the Camel park which is one of its kind in Asia. The camel festival is also held here which forms a major tourist attraction.
      The place is also famous for the jewellery it produces, not to leave aside the handicrafts. In food items too, one cannot miss the famous Bikaneri Bhujiya, which is known for its rich spicy taste.
       This Royal walled city is a part of the desert tourist triangle and lies on the northern tip of the triangle. It was an important staging post on the great caravan routes. The city was founded in 1486 A.D by the Rathore prince, Rao Bikaji, hence the name Bikaner. Bikaji was son of Rao Jodhaji who had asked his son to establish a kingdom of his own.
       The helpful Tourist Reception Centre is in the grounds of RTDC Hotel Dhola Maru. It is open daily except Sunday from 10am to 5 pm.