Overview
Bikaner district is an administrative district in the northern part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It lies in the Thar Desert region and takes its name from its headquarters, the historic city of Bikaner, which was founded in 1488 by Rao Bika, a Rathore Rajput prince. The district is one of the largest in Rajasthan by area and forms part of the Bikaner division.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Rajasthan |
| Division | Bikaner |
| Headquarters | Bikaner |
| Region | Thar Desert (Marwar/Marusthali) |
| Founder of Bikaner city | Rao Bika (1488) |
Geography
The district is situated in the arid north-western part of Rajasthan and is largely covered by sand dunes, scrub vegetation and rocky outcrops characteristic of the Thar Desert. It is bordered by Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts to the north, Churu to the east, Nagaur and Jodhpur to the south, and Jaisalmer to the south-west. The international border with Pakistan lies to the west. The Indira Gandhi Canal passes through parts of the district and has enabled irrigated agriculture in otherwise arid tracts.
The climate is extreme, with very hot summers, cold winters, and low, erratic rainfall. Groundwater and canal water are the principal sources for cultivation and drinking supply.
Administration
Bikaner district is administered by a District Collector and Magistrate. For policing it is headed by a Superintendent of Police. The district is divided into several tehsils and community development blocks, with Bikaner city serving as the main urban and administrative centre. Other notable towns include Nokha, Deshnoke, Lunkaransar, Khajuwala and Kolayat.
History
The region was historically part of the princely state of Bikaner, ruled by the Rathore dynasty from the late fifteenth century until its accession to the Indian Union after independence in 1947. Bikaner state was formally integrated into the United State of Greater Rajasthan during the consolidation of Rajasthan, completed in 1949–1950. Junagarh Fort, built in the late sixteenth century during the reign of Raja Rai Singh, remains a major historical landmark in the district.
Economy
The economy combines pastoralism, desert agriculture, trade, and a growing services sector. Major crops include bajra (pearl millet), moth, guar, gram and, in canal-irrigated areas, wheat and mustard. Animal husbandry is significant, with sheep, goats, cattle and camels reared widely. Bikaner is well known for its woollen products, leather work, and the food industry centred on bhujia and other namkeen items, with brands from the city distributed nationally and internationally.
The Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute's arid region campus and the National Research Centre on Camel, located in Bikaner, support livestock-related research. The Camel Corps of the Border Security Force is also associated with the area.
Culture and notable places
- Junagarh Fort – a sixteenth-century fort in Bikaner city.
- Lalgarh Palace – an early twentieth-century palace built during the reign of Maharaja Ganga Singh.
- Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke – a temple noted for the rats that inhabit it, treated as sacred.
- Kolayat – a pilgrimage town associated with the sage Kapila, with an annual fair on Kartik Purnima.
- Camel Festival – an annual cultural event held in Bikaner that showcases camel races, decorations and folk performances.
Education
The district hosts several institutions of higher learning, including Maharaja Ganga Singh University, Sardar Patel Medical College, and the Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (RAJUVAS), which is headquartered in Bikaner.
Transport
Bikaner is connected by national highways to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and the Punjab–Haryana region. Bikaner Junction is a major railway station on the North Western Railway, and the city has a civil enclave airport at Nal, operating limited domestic flights.