Experience the best of Bikaner

Bikaner stands in the dry north-west of Rajasthan, on the edge of the Thar Desert, and was founded in 1488 by Rao Bika, a Rajput prince. Junagarh Fort, built at the end of the 16th century, has courtyards, halls and painted rooms that hold weapons, carpets and royal furniture. The red sandstone Lalgarh Palace, built in the early 20th century, is part museum and part hotel.

In the old walled city, merchants' havelis such as the Rampuria Havelis have carved sandstone balconies and windows. About 30 kilometres south at Deshnok, the Karni Mata Temple is home to thousands of rats that are treated as sacred. The National Research Centre on Camel keeps herds of camels on the edge of town, and the sand and scrub of the desert begin beyond.

Bikaner is famous across India for its snacks: bhujia, a crisp fried noodle snack of pulse flour and spices, papad, kachori and sweets such as rasgulla. In January a camel festival fills the city with decorated animals, music and dancing. The nights are cool from November to February, when days are mild, and summers are extremely hot.