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76-463: Junagarh Fort is a fort in the city of Bikaner , Rajasthan , India . The fort was originally called Chintamani and was renamed Junagarh or "Old Fort" in the early 20th century when the ruling family moved to Lalgarh Palace outside the fort limits. It is one of the few major forts in Rajasthan which is not built on a hilltop. The modern city of Bikaner has developed around the fort. The fort complex

152-585: A composite culture, manifest in the mix of architectural styles. Junagarh fort is located in the arid region of the Thar desert of Rajasthan bordered on the northwest by the Aravalli range , a range of mountains in western India. Part of the desert area is in Bikaner city, which is one of the three desert triangle cities; the other two cities are Jaisalmer and Jodhpur . The name of the place where Bikaner city with its forts

228-451: A courtesan were the primary patrons of 19 major structures in the city. Owing to the cultural precedent set by their Timurid ancestors, it was comparatively more acceptable for Mughal women to perform civic charity in the form of building projects and even engage in leisure activities outside the zenana like hunting, polo and pilgrimage, than it would have been for their Safavid contemporaries. Nur Jahan seems to be unique in that she had

304-467: A display of faith and endurance. The walls in this palace depict fresco paintings of the Hindu god Krishna and his consort Radha amidst the rain clouds. Bikaneri Havelies located both within and outside the fort in the Bikaner city's by lanes are also of unique architectural style in home architecture. Aldous Huxley who visited these havelis reportedly said "They are the pride of Bikaner." Har Mandir temple

380-579: A fort in 1478, which is now in ruins, and a hundred years later a new fort was built about 1.5 km from the city centre, known as the Junagarh Fort. Around a century after Rao Bika founded Bikaner, the state's fortunes flourished under the sixth Raja, Rai Singhji, who ruled from 1571 to 1611. During the Mughal Empire 's rule in the country, Raja Rai Singh accepted the suzerainty of the Mughals and held

456-695: A high rank as an army general at the court of the Emperor Akbar and his son, the Emperor Jahangir . Rai Singh's successful military exploits, which involved winning half of Mewar kingdom for the Empire, won him accolades and rewards from the Mughal emperors. He was given the jagirs (lands) of Gujarat and Burhanpur . With the large revenue earned from these jagirs, he built the Chintamani Durg (Junagarh fort) on

532-643: A large durbar hall known as the Ganga Singh Hall that houses the museum. The museum has exhibits of war weaponry and also a World War I aeroplane (biplane), which is stated to be well maintained. Badal Mahal (The weather palace) is part of the Anup Mahal extensions. It has paintings of Shekhawati Dundlod chiefs paying respects to the Maharaja of Bikaner in different types of turbans . Photos of people standing on nails, wood, swords and saws are also depicted here –

608-770: A member of the Imperial War Cabinet , represented the country at the Imperial First World War Conferences and the British Empire at the Versailles Peace Conference and was aware of the shift of fortunes in the World War II but died in 1943, before the war was won by the allies. His contribution to the building activity in Junagarh involved separate halls for public and private audience in

684-579: A particular affinity for hunting, and was able to gain permission to accompany her husband Jahangir on several outings, even once killing four tigers easily with her excellent marksmanship. Despite the social freedom that came with being a member of the royal household, Mughal women did not go about unveiled and were not seen by outsiders or men other than their families. Instead, when they traveled they covered their heads and faces in white veils, and they were transported in howdahs , chaudoles, carriages and palanquins while covering on all sides, to maintain

760-413: A plain land, which has an average elevation of 760 feet (230 m). The formal foundation ceremony for the fort was held on 17 February 1589 and the fort was completed on 17 January 1594. Raja Rai Singhji, was an expert in arts and architecture and the knowledge that he acquired during his several sojourns to several countries are amply reflected in the numerous monuments he built in the Junagarh fort. Thus

836-600: A plain that has an average elevation of 760 feet (230 m). He was an expert in arts and architecture, and the knowledge he acquired during his visits abroad is amply reflected in the numerous monuments he built at the Junagarh fort. Maharaja Karan Singh, who ruled from 1631 to 1639, under the suzerainty of the Mughals , built the Karan Mahal palace. Later rulers added more floors and decorations to this Mahal. Anup Singh , who ruled from 1669 to 1698, made substantial additions to

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912-467: A special suite in the Lalgarh palace, which they have converted into a heritage hotel. The structures built within the Junagarh fort are the palaces and temples, which are made of red sandstone (Dulmera) and marble. The palaces are described as picturesque with their assortment of courtyards, balconies, kiosks and windows. The fort, the temples and the palaces are preserved as museums and provide insight into

988-443: Is 49.5 °C (121.1 °F) on 19 May 2016 and lowest ever recorded is −4.0 °C (24.8 °F) on 26 January 1964. As of the 2011 Census of India the population of Bikaner city was 644,406 placing it in the top 70 major cities of India and 5th in Rajasthan. The female to male ratio in the city was 904/1,000. The literacy rate in the city was about 79%, male literacy being 87% and female literacy being 71%. The majority of

1064-482: Is a city in the northwest of the state of Rajasthan , India . It is located 330 kilometres (205 mi) northwest of the state capital, Jaipur . It is the administrative headquarters of Bikaner District and Bikaner division . Formerly the capital of the princely Bikaner State , the city was founded by Rao Bika , a Rajput chief of the Rathore dynasty in 1488 CE and from its small origins it has developed into

1140-455: Is a famous camel festival site near Malasar Village . It is about 30 km from Bikaner. Rao Bikaji's first fort, 'Bikaji Ki Tekri' built in 1478 is now in ruins. A hundred years later a new fort was built about 1.5 km from the city centre, named Junagarh Fort. The Karni Mata (करणी माता) Temple or the Rat Temple of Rajasthan is situated around 30 km away from the Bikaner city and

1216-563: Is available to apprise them of the developmental and research aspects of the camel in the desert ecosystem. Maharaja Ganga Singh of the Indian State of Bikaner founded Bikaner Camel Corps around 1890 and became a part of the BSF in Independent India. The Rajasthan government has decided to set up its first cow sanctuary in Bikaner. It has a dedicated Ministry of Cow Husbandry. The sanctuary

1292-487: Is called a true depiction of composite culture. The earliest style is of Rajput architecture, defined by Gujarati and Mughal architectural influence reflecting the association with Mughal rulers, the second type is of semi-western architecture reflecting British influence, and finally the revivalists Rajput architecture that evolved particularly during the rule of Maharaja Ganga Singh. Only the most representative of all these architectural styles are on display for visitors. Thus,

1368-485: Is considered one of the "grandest construction". Chandra Mahal has the most luxurious room in the palace, which houses gold plated deities and paintings inlaid with precious stones. In the royal bedroom, mirrors have been strategically placed so that the Maharaja could see from his bed, any intruder entering his room. Ganga Mahal was built in the 20th century by Ganga Singh who reigned for 56 years from 1887 to 1943, has

1444-412: Is considered one of the most exquisite palaces built with gardens, which displays the aesthetic sensibilities of the royalty of Rajasthan. It has stained glass windows and intricately carved balconies built in stone and wood fluted columns. Later Rajas, Anup Singh, and Surat Singh, also added a lot of glitter to this palace with inlaid polychrome glass, intricate mirror patterns, and red and gold paint. In

1520-441: Is dedicated to goddess Karni Mata, a famous mystic of her times, believed to be an incarnation of goddess Durga . The locals will be quick to point out that the creatures running around in the temple are not rats, they are kaaba . Kaabas are believed to be reincarnations of humans who had been devotees of Karni Mata, and the brevity of human life did not sufficiently satisfy their devotion. The shrine of Karni Mata can be found in

1596-638: Is held every year in January or February. Organised by the Department of Tourism, Art and Culture, the city celebrates the festival in honour of camels. Competitions like Mr Bikana and Miss Marwan are also held during the festival. Zenana Christian missionaries were able to gain access to these Indian girls and women through the zenana missions ; female missionaries who had been trained as doctors and nurses were able to provide them with health care and also evangelise them in their own homes. Physically,

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1672-458: Is likely to be set up near Amarpura village , about 70 km from Bikaner. Educational Institutes located in Bikaner are Sardar Patel Medical College , Government Engineering College Bikaner , Government Polytechnic College Bikaner, Maharaja Ganga Singh University , Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences , Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University , and Bikaner Technical University . International Camel Festival

1748-542: Is located 32 km west of the Bikaner. National Research Centre on Camels was established in 1984 in Bikaner by the Central Government under Indian Council of Agricultural Research at the outskirts of Bikaner city to promote research and development related to camels such as effective breeding, utilisation of camel milk. Scientists engage with all stakeholders like Camel herders, traders via collaborative programmes and significant growth had been made. A camel museum

1824-516: Is one of the oldest temples in Bikaner and 4 kilometres from Junagarh Fort . Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi . The artwork inside the temple apart from the shrines is the doorway which is embellished in silver work. Festivals like Janmashtmi , Nirjala Ekadashi , Rama Navami , Diwali and Gita Jayanti are majorly celebrated at the temple. Bhandasar Jain Temple is known for its beautiful leaf paintings, frescoes and ornamented mirror work. This temple

1900-432: Is the east facing gate permitting the rising Sun's rays to fall on the gate, which is considered a good omen. The doors of this gate are strengthened with iron spikes and studs to prevent ramming by elephants during an attack. At the entrance to the gate, two red stone statues of elephants with mahouts stand as sentinels. The gate was also the location for announcing the arrival and departure of royalty by musicians playing

1976-513: Is the main bus station in Bikaner. It connects Bikaner to other cities in Rajasthan and nearby states via road. Bikaner has Domestic Civil Airport Nal Airport which is located 15 km west of the city. Regular flights to Jaipur JAI and Delhi DEL commenced in 2017-18 under UDAN scheme of Narendra Modi Govt. The city is famous for its savoury snack Bikaneri bhujia and also have geographical indication (GI) tag to keep its originality intact. Other special food items for which Bikaner

2052-411: Is well known are Bajre ki Roti ( Chapati made up of Pearl millet flour), Dal baati Churma , Ghevar , Halvas , Papads/ Papadum , Rasgulla , Gulab Jamun , Kachori and Samosa . Haldiram's , a multinational snacks and sweets company was founded by Ganga Bishan Agarwal of Bikaner. The Agarwal family also own other brands like Bikaji, Bikanervala , Bikano and Prabhuji. The Junagarh Fort

2128-641: The Union of India in 1949. Maharaja Sadul Singh died in 1950, being succeeded in the title by his son, Karni Singh (1924–1988). The Royal Family still lives in a suite in Lalgarh Palace, which they have converted into a heritage hotel. Bikaner is situated in the middle of the Thar desert and has a hot desert climate ( Köppen climate classification BWh ), bordering on a hot semi arid climate (Koppen: BSh), with very little rainfall and extreme temperatures. In summer temperatures can exceed 48 °C, and during

2204-597: The Zenana quarter (royal dwelling for females). He refurbished the Karan Mahal with a Diwan-i-Am (public audience hall) and called it the Anup Mahal. Gaj Singh who ruled from 1746 to 1787 refurbished the Chandra Mahal (the Moon palace). Following him, Surat Singh ruled from 1787 to 1828 and he lavishly decorated the audience hall (see picture in info box) with glass and lively paintwork. Dungar Singh who reigned from 1872 to 1887 built

2280-520: The daroghas , who often acted as an intelligence source from the zenana directly to the emperor. The royal anaga s (the Turki-language word used at the Mughal court for wetnurses ) were elevated to positions of rank, though their purpose was not strictly administrative. It was because male members of Mughal society did not closely define the concept of purdah as a reflection of their own honor that wives, daughters, and particularly unmarried women in

2356-553: The Badal Mahal (the weather palace) named so in view of a painting of falling rain and clouds (a rare event in arid Bikaner). Ganga Singh who ruled from 1887 to 1943 built the Ganga Niwas Palace, which has towers at the entrance patio . This palace was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob . Ganga Singh's son Sadul Singh succeeded his father in 1943 but acceded to the Union of India in 1949. He died in 1950. Bikaner came under

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2432-593: The Badal Mahal, the 'weather palace', so named in view of a painting of clouds and falling rain, a rare event in arid Bikaner. General Maharaja Ganga Singh , who ruled from 1887 to 1943, was the best-known of the Rajasthan princes and was a favourite of the British Viceroys of India . He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India , served as a member of the Imperial War Cabinet , represented India at

2508-553: The European imagination by Orientalism , the zenana functioned as the domain of female members of the household, ranging from wives to concubines to widows, unmarried sisters and cousins, and even further distant relations who were considered dependent kin. In addition to the women of rank, the zenana was populated by attendants of various skills and purposes to provide for the needs of the ladies residing within. All visiting friends, servants, and entertainers were invariably female, down to

2584-476: The Ganga Mahal and a durbar hall for formal functions. The hall where he held his Golden Jubilee as a ruler of Bikaner is now a museum. He also got a new palace – north of Junagarh fort – designed and built by Swinton, the third of the new palaces built in Bikaner and named it Lalgarh Palace in the name of his father and shifted his residence from Junagarh fort to this palace in 1902. The royal family still lives in

2660-542: The Imperial Conferences during the First World War and the British Empire at the Versailles Peace Conference . His contribution to the building activity in Junagarh involved separate halls for public and private audiences in the Ganga Mahal and a durbar hall for formal functions. He also built the Ganga Niwas Palace, which has towers at the entrance patio. This palace was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob ,

2736-775: The Junagarh Fort, was built in 1846 by the 18th ruler of Bikaner. It was built in Indo- Mughal architectural style using white marble. The Hindu God Krishna is deified in this temple. The museum within the fort called the Junagarh Fort Museum is established in 1961 by Maharaja Dr.Karni Singhji under the control of "Maharaja Rai Singhji Trust". The museum exhibits Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts, miniature paintings, jewels, royal costumes, farmans (royal orders), portrait galleries, costumes, headgear and dresses of gods’ idols, enamelware, silver, palanquins, howdahs and war drums. The museum also displays armoury that consists of one of

2812-470: The assorted collection of post medieval arms. Maharaja Rai Singhji Trust has been set up by the 'royal family of Bikaner' with the basic objective to showcase the fort with professional inputs in various areas and to improve the experience for visitors. Another objective is to promote education and research scholarships, cultural activities, setting up of libraries and integration with other such trusts. Bikaner Bikaner ( pronunciation )

2888-515: The attack by Jodhpur army, of the two entrances to the fort (one in the east and the other in the west), the eastern entrance and the southern rampart were damaged; marks of cannonballs fired are seen on the southern façade of the fort. Ganga Singh was the best-known king among the Rajasthan princes. A favourite of the British Raj, he earned the title of Knight Commander of the Star of India . He served as

2964-487: The coronation chamber, there is a shored up alcove, which was used as a throne. Phool Mahal ("Flower Palace") is the oldest part of the palace and was built by king Raja Rai Singh of Bikaner , who ruled between 1571 and 1668. Anup Mahal is a multi-storey structure, which functioned as the administrative headquarters of the kingdom. It has ornate wooden ceilings with inlaid mirrors, Italian tiles, and fine lattice windows and balconies. It has some gold leaf paintings. It

3040-495: The fort complex, including new palaces and the Zenana quarter, a royal dwelling for women and children. He refurbished the Karan Mahal with a Diwan-i-Am (public audience hall) and called it the Anup Mahal. Maharaja Gaj Singh, who ruled from 1746 to 1787 refurbished the Chandra Mahal (the Moon Palace). During the 18th century, there was an internecine war between the rulers of Bikaner and Jodhpur and also among other thakurs , which

3116-416: The fort, a composite structure, became an outstanding example of architecture and a unique centre of art, amidst the Thar desert . Karan Singh who ruled from 1631 to 1639, under the suzerainty of the Mughals, built the Karan Mahal palace. Later rulers added more floors and decorations to this Mahal. Anup Singh , who ruled from 1669 to 1698, made substantial additions to the fort complex, with new palaces and

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3192-476: The fourth largest city in Rajasthan. The Ganga Canal , completed in 1928, and the Indira Gandhi Canal , completed in 1987, facilitated its development. The name "Bikaner" is a combination of two elements: "Bika", derived from the city's founder, Rao Bika and "Ner", which is believed to mean "place" or "city" in the local Rajasthani language . Hence, "Bikaner" translates to "the city of Bika". Prior to

3268-461: The grandiose living style of the past Maharanas of Rajasthan. The Laxmi Niwas Palace is a former residential palace built by Maharajah Ganga Singh, the ruler of the former state of Bikaner. It was designed by the British architect, Samuel Swinton Jacob in the year 1902. The style of architecture is Indo-Saracenic . It is now a luxury Heritage hotel owned by the royal family of Bikaner. Malasar

3344-458: The grandiose living style of the past Maharanas of Rajasthan. The fort is called "a paradox between medieval military architecture and beautiful interior decoration". The massive fort built in the plains of Bikaner has a rectangular (quadrangular) layout with a peripheral length of 1,078 yards (986 m). The fort walls are 14.5 feet (4.4 m) wide and 40 feet (12 m) in height. It encompasses an area of 63,119 square yards (5.28 ha). It

3420-631: The highly trained corps of armed women – guards known as urdubegis – assigned to escort and protect the women in the zenana. According to Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak , author of the Akbarnama , the zenana of Akbar the Great at Fatehpur Sikri was home to more than five thousand women, who had each been given her own suite of rooms. The size of the zenana meant that it was a community unto itself, and it thus required systematic administration to maintain; all of these administrators were female. Abu'l Fazl describes

3496-415: The mid 15th century, the region that is now Bikaner was a barren wilderness called Jangladesh . Rao Bika established the city of Bikaner in 1488. He was the first son of Maharaja Rao Jodha of the Rathore clan, the founder of Jodhpur and conquered the largely arid country in the north of Rajasthan. As the first son of Jodha he wanted to have his own kingdom, not inheriting Jodhpur from his father or

3572-401: The modesty and seclusion required of purdah. When entering or exiting the zenana itself, female pallbearers carried their palanquins, and they were only transferred to male servants and eunuchs outside the walls of the zenana. Should outsiders be required to enter the zenana, as in the case of an illness where the lady could not be moved for her health, the visitor was covered from head to foot in

3648-449: The number of vultures which have dwindled. There are around 600 resident vultures at Jorbeer. The region is host to another 1,200 migratory vultures. Local varieties include Egyptian and King Vultures . The most common migratory vulture is Eurasian Griffon coming from Spain and Turkey . Other migratory vultures include Cinereous and Himalayan Griffons . Saw-scaled Viper is also native to Bikaner. Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary

3724-586: The old fort are preserved near the Lakshmi Narayan temple. Historical records reveal that despite the repeated attacks by enemies to capture the fort, it was not taken, except for a lone one-day occupation by Kamran Mirza . Kamran was the second son of the Mughal Emperor Babur who attacked Bikaner in 1534, which was then ruled by Rao Jait Singh. The 5.28 hectares large fort precinct is studded with palaces, temples and pavilions. These buildings depict

3800-404: The palaces are decorated and painted in traditional Rajasthani style . The Junagarh palaces have a large number of rooms, as every king built his own separate set of rooms, not wanting to live in his predecessors’ rooms. These structures were considered "at par with those of Louis ’s France or of Imperial Russia ". Several types of architectural style are discerned in the fort complex and hence it

3876-414: The periphery of the Bikaner city walls (1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from the city centre); the old fort was demolished a century after it was built. The fort with seven gates contains several palaces, pavilions and many temples of Hindu and Jain religions – the earliest dated to the 16th century. A major feature of the fort is the stone carving done in red and gold coloured sandstones. The interiors of

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3952-538: The population of the city follows Hinduism , with followers of Islam a large minority. The city has a substantial followers of Jainism . Languages of Bikaner (2011) Rajasthani is the major language spoken here, while Hindi is the language of the educated. Small communities of Punjabi speakers also live here. Bikaner railway station is a major railway junction in the North Western Railway zone of Indian Railways . The first railway link to Bikaner

4028-586: The quadrangle, which houses a large pavilion with a water pool built in Carrara Italian marble . The Karan Mahal, where public audience was held in the Diwan-i-Am by Karan Singh (1631–39) and his successors till the 20th century, can also be seen in the same quadrangle. Karan Mahal (Public Audience Hall) was built by Karan Singh in c.1680 to mark his victory over the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb . It

4104-527: The second son of Jodha he had no chance of inheriting his father's territory of Jodhpur or to the title of Maharaja. He, therefore, reconciled and decided to build his own kingdom at Bikaner at the place then called "Jungladesh". Bikaner, though a partly of the Thar Desert , was considered an oasis on the trade route between Central Asia and the Gujarat coast since it had adequate spring water sources. Bika's name

4180-557: The suzerainty of the British Raj under a treaty of paramountcy signed in 1818, whereafter the Maharajas of Bikaner invested heavily on refurbishing their Junagarh fort. However, during the 18th century, before this treaty was signed, there was internecine war between rulers of Bikaner and Jodhpur and also amongst other Thakur , which was put down by the British troops. It is reported that during

4256-405: The suzerainty of the Mughals and held a high position of an army general in the court of Emperor Akbar and his son Emperor Jahangir . His successful war exploits by way of winning half of Mewar kingdom won him accolades and rewards from the Mughal emperors. He was gifted the jagirs (lands) of Gujarat and Burhanpur . With the large revenue earned from these jagirs, he built the Junagarh fort on

4332-479: The third of the new palaces built in Bikaner. He named the building Lalgarh Palace in honour of his father, and moved his main residence there from Junagarh Fort in 1902. The hall where he held his Golden Jubilee (in 1938) as Bikaner's ruler is now a museum. Ganga Singh 's son, Lieutenant-General Sir Sadul Singh , the Yuvaraja of Bikaner , succeeded his father as Maharaja in 1943, but acceded his state to

4408-434: The title of Maharaja. He therefore decided to build his own kingdom in what is now the state of Bikaner, in the area of Jangladesh. Though it was in the Thar Desert , Bikaner was considered an oasis on the trade route between Central Asia and the Gujarat coast as it had adequate spring water. Bika's name was attached to the city he built and to the state of Bikaner ("the settlement of Bika") that he established. Bika built

4484-493: The town of Deshnoke 30 km south from Bikaner on the road to Jodhpur. Karni Mata is worshiped as an incarnation of Goddess Durga . The Mukam Temple, also known as Mukti Dham Mukam, is located near Nokha . The Mukam is a holy place of 29 rules of followers of Bishnois. Bishnoi sect was founded by Guru Jambeshwar. Bishnois are very protective of nature. Mukam Mukti Dham is a Bishnoi temple built over his samadhi . Built by Maharaja Rao Lunkaran , Shri Laxminath Temple

4560-452: The trumpet from a gallery in the gate. The other gates are Karan Pol, Daulat Pol, Chand Pol (a double gate) and Fateh Pol; these provided access to various monuments in the fort. The Karan Pol gate is also braced with iron spikes to prevent battering of the gate by elephants. To the right of this gate is Daulat Pol. Forty-one hand imprints are seen on the Daulat Pol gate wall, in red colour, of

4636-490: The unique monuments on display in the Junagarh Fort represent sixteen successive generations of the rulers of Bikaner, starting from the end of the 16th century. While the main entry gate was Karan Pol or Parole, facing east, the current gate of entry is called Suraj Pol (meaning the Sun gate), 'pol' also colloquially spelt prol , built in gold coloured or yellow sandstone, unlike the other gates and buildings built in red sandstone. It

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4712-521: The upper-echelons of the empire were able to extend their influence beyond the physical structures of the zenana. That less-constrictive interpretation of purdah allowed the ladies of the Mughal court to indirectly participate in public life, most notably in civic building projects. Jahanara herself was responsible for the major alteration of Shahjahanabad , by constructing the now famous Chandni Chowk market in Old Delhi. Altogether, wives, daughters, and even

4788-462: The winter they may dip below freezing. The climate in Bikaner is characterised by significant variations in temperature. In the summer season it is very hot when the temperatures lie in the range of 28–53.5 °C (82.4–128.3 °F). In the winter, it is fairly cold with temperatures lying in the range of −4–23.2 °C (24.8–73.8 °F). Annual rainfall is in the range of 260–440 millimetres (10–17 in). The highest ever temperature recorded

4864-512: The wives of the Maharajas of Bikaner, who committed sati (self-immolation) on the funeral pyres of their husbands who died in battle. Between the main gate and the palace, there is a quadrangle, and then another gate called the Tripolia gate (triple gateway) before accessing the royal chambers. Next to this gate is a small temple called the Har Mandir, where the royal family used to offer worship. In

4940-402: The zenana as being divided into sections, with daroghas appointed to tend to the financial and organizational needs of the residents. Other administrative positions included the tehwildar , or accounts officer, responsible for the salaries and financial requests of the inhabitants. Then there were the mahaldars , the female servant of the highest authority chosen from within the ranks of

5016-715: The zenana of the Mughal court consisted of exceptionally luxurious conditions, particularly for princesses and women associated with high-ranking figures. Because of the extreme restrictions placed on access to the women's quarters, very few reliable descriptions are available. Still, modern scholars evaluating court records and travelogues contemporary with the Mughal period detail the women's lodgings as offering courtyards, ponds, fountains and gardens. The palaces themselves were decorated with mirrors, paintings and marble. Mariam-uz-Zamani had her own palace in Fatehpur Sikri's harem, which

5092-439: Was built around 1594 CE by Raja Rai Singh. The fort was originally called Chintamani . It is one of the few major forts in Rajasthan which was not built on hilly terrain. The modern city of Bikaner has developed around the fort. The fort is studded with temples, grand palaces and huge pavilions and walls. In 1961, a museum was set up by Maharaja Karni Singh . Its temples and palaces are preserved as museums and provide insight into

5168-457: Was built under the supervision of Karan Chand, the Prime Minister of Raja Rai Singh, the sixth ruler of Bikaner, who ruled from 1571 to 1611 AD. Construction of the walls and associated moat commenced in 1589 and was completed in 1594. It was built outside the original fort of the city (the first fort built by Rao Bikaji), about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from the city centre. Some remnants of

5244-445: Was constructed by Bhandasa Oswal in the 15th century. This temple is constructed using red sandstone with paintings on walls and pillars of the sanctum and mandapa . The temple is dedicated to the 5th Tirthankara sumatinatha . The temple consist of garbhagriha , antarala , mahamandapa and ardhamandapa . A variety of birds, mammals and reptiles live in Bikaner's semi-A Qrid climate. Initiatives are being taken to bring back

5320-412: Was established on 9 December 1891 as part of Jodhpur State Railway and it has undergone many administrative modifications since then. Today Bikaner Railway Station is efficiently well connected to National Capital Delhi and Rajasthan State's capital Jaipur along with major Indian cities. Bikaner is well served with roads and is linked directly to Delhi and other major cities. Central Bus Stand

5396-468: Was established was then known as Jungladesh . Before the present Junagarh Fort was built, an old stone fort existed in the city. This fort was built in 1478 by Rao Bika who established the city of Bikaner in 1472. Rao Bika was the second son of Maharaja Rao Jodha of the Rathod clan, the founder of Jodhpur city. He conquered the large arid lands to the northern region of Rajasthan to set up his domain. As

5472-480: Was put down by British troops. Following Maharaja Gaj Singh, Maharaja Surat Singh ruled from 1787 to 1828 and lavishly decorated the audience hall (see illustration) with glass and lively paintwork. Under a treaty of paramountcy signed in 1818, during Maharaja Surat Singh's reign, Bikaner came under the suzerainty of the British, after which the Maharajas of Bikaner invested heavily in refurbishing Junagarh fort. Dungar Singh , who reigned from 1872 to 1887, built

5548-422: Was surrounded by a moat which was 20–25 feet (6.1–7.6 m) deep with a base width of 15 feet (4.6 m) and top width of 30 feet (9.1 m). However, the moat no longer exists. The fort is well fortified with 37 bastions (‘burj’ in local language) and seven gates (two are main gates) to counter enemy attacks. The fort was built as a "new stronghold" outside of the ruins of an old fort built by Rao Bika and on

5624-452: Was the masterpiece fusion of Rajasthani and Persian elements and was the biggest residential palace of the fort. Jahanara , daughter of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal , famously lived in her own apartment decorated with valuable carpets, and murals of flying angels. Other amenities depicted in illustrations of court life include running water and meticulous gardens. Rather than being the prison-like space of licentious activity popularized for

5700-578: Was the royal chapel – private temple of the royal family. The royal family celebrated the Hindu festival of Dussera and Gangaur here, apart from celebrating other family functions such as birthdays and marriages. In the Dussera celebrations, weapons and horses were worshipped here. The main deities worshipped in this temple are the Hindu deities Lakshmi Narayan , a combined representation of God Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi . The Ratan Behari temple located near

5776-405: Was thus tagged to the Bikaner city as well as to the then state of Bikaner ("the settlement of Bika") that he established. The history of Bikaner and the fort within it thus start with Bika. It was only about 100 years later that Bikaner's fortunes flourished under Raja Rai Singhji, the sixth ruler of Bikaner, who ruled from 1571 to 1611. During the Mughal Empire ’s rule in the country, he accepted

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