Bikaner: Difference between revisions
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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[[List of people from Bikaner]] |
[[List of people from Bikaner]] |
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Sanjay Shrimali, Astrologer and vastu Consultant source Sanjay Shrimali, Bajrang Colony, Out Side Usta Bari, Bikaner (Rajasthan) India |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 09:04, 4 February 2010
Bikaner
Bikaner | |
|---|---|
city | |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 723,982 |
Bikaner is a District in the northwest of the state of Rajasthan in northern India. The city is the administrative headquarters of Bikaner District and Bikaner division. It was formerly the capital of the princely state of Bikaner. The city was founded by Rao Bika in 1486 and from its small origins it has developed into the fourth largest city in Rajasthan. Just like Jaipur, Bikaner is called the [[Camel City/Land of Camels)]. The Ganga Canal completed in 1928 and the [[Indira Gandhi Canal - One of The largest canal Project of the world)] completed in 1987 have allowed the farming of crops such as mustard, cotton, Groundnut, wheat and vegitables. Other industries include wool production and the mining of Gypsum, plaster of Paris and bentonite.
History
Till the 11 th Cenruary the area was under the Gurjara - Pratihara and was rules by a powerful Bargujar King. In those days it was known as Jangladesh and Churu was the centre of Bargujar power.
Geography
Bikaner is located at 28°01′N 73°11′E / 28.01°N 73.19°E[1]. It has an average elevation of 243 metres (797 feet
Transport
The internal transport system in Bikaner consists of autorickshaws and city buses. Bikaner is connected to some of major Indian cities via broad gauge railway. The city has direct rail connections to Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, Agra, Jalandhar, Baroda, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati, Jaipur, Surat, Jalandhar, Thiruvananthapuram, Chandigarh, Jammu, and Ahmedabad. However, there is no rail connectivity for other major Indian cities like Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Gorakhpur and Puri. Bikaner is well served with roads and is linked directly to Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Ambala, Ahmedabad, Haridwar, Jodhpur, Indore and many other cities. National highways 11, 15, and 89 meet at Bikaner. Bikaner has a well equipped military airport at Nal and hopes to have a passenger airport in the near future.
Climate
Bikaner is situated in the middle of the Thar desert with very little rainfall and extreme temperatures. In summer, temperatures exceed 50 °C and during the winter it dips to freezing point.
Art & Culture
Bikaner is famous for its "Bikaneri Bhujia" and its sweets. Bikaneri Bhujia is a spicy snack made from moth dal, spices and edible oil. Bikaner is also known for its handicrafts and leather articles, for its palaces and for having Asia's biggest camel farm.
The city is also known for its intricately carved Jharokas. These red sandstone stone jalis (screens) are found on the windows of the Junagarh fort, temples and havelis (mansions of Northern India). Jalis would be used for ventilation and for women to watch the world while remaining hidden.
The red sandstone for these stone window screens was supplied by the nearby village of Dulmera.
Usta Art
Bikaner was and is the centre for Usta Art, a generic term for the Manoti-Naqqashi (embossed and unembossed floral and geometric patterned objects layered with gold) media produced by Usta family master artistans of Bikaner. The Usta artists and artisans also controlled all production of the Bikaner School "miniature" paintings using translucent and opaque vegetable and mineral watercolours from the late-16th to late-19th Century. Famous painters of the Bikaner School were Hamid Rukn-ud-din, Ahmad, Nathu ji, Nure, Rahim, Isa, Iso, Sahab-ud-din, Rehim ji and Murad.
Fairs and festivals
- Karni Mata fair
- Gangaur
- Kapil Muni fair
- Camel festival: each January the state government organises a camel festival with camel races, various cultural events and a fire dance performed by the Sidh people.
- Aksaye Tritya or "AKKHA TEEJ": the foundation day of Bikaner. This was the day when Rao Bika laid the foundation of the new empire. Every year on this day people from across the social spectrum enjoy themselves by flying kites or "CHANDA". They also enjoy a special meal, such as "Khichra and Imlani".
Attractions in Bikaner and nearby
Junagarh Fort
The fort was built by Raja Rai Singh, the sixth ruler of Bikaner who reigned from 1571 to 1612. Rai Singh had conquered part of Marwar and had been granted territory in Gujurat and Burhanpur by the Mughal emperor Akbar as a reward for his services as military commander. This, as well as funding from Jodhpur, enabled him to build the fort. Rai Singh held high rank in the imperial courts of both Akbar and his successor, Jehangir. During his imperial service he travelled extensively, giving him an appreciation of art and architecture. These ideas have been incorporated meticulously into the architectural style of Junagarh Fort.
The Laxmi Niwas Palace is a former residential palace of the king of the former Bikaner state, Maharajah Ganga Singh in Bikaner in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was designed by the British architect, Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob in the year 1902. The style of architecture is Indo-Saracenic. It is now a luxury hotel owned by Golden Triangle Fort & Palace P. Ltd. The magnificent structure in red sandstone is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Bikaner.[2]
Lalgarh Palace
Lalgarh Palace was built between 1902 and 1926 according to Rajput, Mughal and European architectural styles. The building was commissioned by Maharaja Ganga Singh (1889 - 1925) in memory of his father Maharaja Lall Singh and was designed by the British architect, Sir Swinton Jacob. It is coated in red sandstone and has several grand halls, lounges, cupolas and pavilions. The building features magnificent pillars, elaborate fireplaces, Italian colonnades and intricate latticework and filigree work. The palace houses the Shri Sadul Museum as well as the fourth largest library in the world. Though the Bikaner Royal Family still live in the palace, part of the building has been converted into a Heritage hotel operated by the Royal faimly of Bikaner.[citation needed]
Moolnayakji
Constructed in 1486, Moolnayakji was the first Vaishnav Temple built in Bikaner. It was the principal seat of the Vaishanv sect. The first of the Bhagavad Katha Vachaks of the Rattani Vyas clan of Bikaner Shri Rattoji Vyas gave the Bhagavad Updesh to the king, Rao Bika and his aide Salloji Rathi. This practice is carried on till date. The presiding deity is Lord Moolnayak Krishna.
Laxmi Nath Temple
Laxmi Nath Temple is one of the oldest temples in Bikaner. The foundation of the city was laid here in 1488 by Rao Bikaji. The temple was erected during the reign of Rao Lunkaran and was added to by Maharaja Ganga Singh.
Bhandasar Jain Temple
Out of the 27 beautiful Jain Temples adorning the landscape of Bikaner city, this temple dedicated to 5th Tirthankar Lord Sumatinath is considered to be the most beautiful and also the highest. This temple was buit by a Jain merchant Bhanda Shah. The foundation of this temple was filled by pure ghee and dry coconuts.
This temple is mainly famous for wall paintings and usta art. The temple is built of red sandstone and is divided in three floors. One can see the skyline of Bikaner by climbing to the topmost floor of this temple.
Other famous Jain Temples
There are total 27 Jain temples in Bikaner. Following is the list of most revered and some of the oldest Jain temples of the city.
1. Sri Adishwar Ji- dedicated to 1st Tirthankar Lord Rishabhdev
2. Sri Chintamani Ji- dedicated to 1st Tirthankar Lord Rishabhdev. Boasts of more than 1500 sacred jina idols which Maharaja of Bikaner secured from the hands of insane Muslim chiefs.
3. Sri Baido ka Mahavir Ji- dedicated to 24th and last Tirthankar Lord Mahavira
4. Sri Naminath Ji- dedicated to 21st Tirthankar Lord Naminath. It is situated inside the campus of Laxminath temple. Thus it a testimony to the cordial relations between the two main communities of Bikaner -Jains & Hindus. Consists of good wall paintings.
Kolayat
Kolayat is a famous pilgrimage spot with a temple dedicated to Kapila who, according to his devotees, sat in meditation near the lake. One week before Pushkar Festival and till one week later this lake is more interesting if you like to see Sadhus. Pushkar will have some Sadhus but Kolayat will have many hundreds.
Karni Mata Temple
The world famous shrine of Karni Mata can be found in the town of Deshnoke 30 km south from Bikaner on the road to Jodhpur. Karni Mata is worshiped as an incarnation of Goddess Durga.
This temple is famous for rats which can be seen everywhere in the temple.
Shiv Bari Temple
Built from red sandstone by Dungar Singh in the late 19th century, the temple is surrounded by a wall with battlements. It has a four faced black marble statue of Shiva and a bronze Nandi facing the Shiva Lingam. There are also two large reservoirs of water known as bawaris. The temple attracts thousands of visitors during Shravan (August) especially on Mondays.
Other attractions
- Camel Farm
- Sur Sagar
- Public Park and Zoo
- Raj Ratan Bihariand Rasik Siromani Temple
- Lakshminath Temple
- Bhandasar Jain Temple
- Vaidehi Global Trust
- Vaishno Dham
- Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum
- Rajasthan State Archives
- Rampuria Havelis
- Ratan Bihari Temple
- Historical Gopi Nath Temple, Opp. Government Press
- Devi Kund Sagar.
- Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Kalibangan.
- Kolayat.
- MUKAM Nokha
- Deshnok Goddess Karni Temple.
Demographics
According to the 2001 India census [3], Bikaner had a population of 529,007. Males constituted 53% of the population and females 47%. Bikaner has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 74% and female literacy of 57%. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Education in Bikaner
For notable Universities and colleges see List of universities and colleges in Bikaner: Maharaja Ganga Singh University, Jaisalmer Road, Bikaner Swami Keshvanand rajasthan agricultute University, ganganagar Road, Bikaner Government Dunger College, jaipur Road, Bikaner M.S. College for Women, Jaisalmer Road, Bikaner Rampuria College, Joshiwara, inside kote gate, Bikaner.
For notable schools see List of schools in Bikaner, Rajasthan. K.A.M. Children Secondary School, Neel kanth Colony, In frount of Cine Magic Cinema, Rani Bazar Industrial Area, Bikaner Government Fort Sr. Sec. School, Station Road, Bikaner Govt. Sadul Sr. Sec. School, Inside Kote Gate, Bikaner Major Thomus Govt. City Sr. Sec. School, Morden Market School, Bikaner
See also
List of people from Bikaner Sanjay Shrimali, Astrologer and vastu Consultant source Sanjay Shrimali, Bajrang Colony, Out Side Usta Bari, Bikaner (Rajasthan) India
References
- Patnaik, Naveen. (1990). A Desert Kingdom: The Rajputs of Bikaner. George Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd., London.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2007) |
