| Bikaner
takes its name from the prodigious Rao Bikaji,
who boldly fought desert clans for 30 years
to carve out the kingdom in 1486. Bikaji was
the son of the Rathod Raja of Marwar (Jodhpur)
Rao Jodha. The son fell out with the father
-- when he was questioned before a darbar
about his expansionist dreams -- and lead his
own team of horsemen further north, to victoriously
set up Bikaner.
The
city was already on the old caravan trade route
that linked Central Asia, China and the Middle
East to North India and the Gujarat seaports.
The harsh desert climate aided Bikaji's descendants
in preserving a leisurely lifestyle and custom
that remained unchallenged by outside intervention.
By the 16th century, the conflict with the Delhi
Sultanate did not last. With the decline of
the Mughals, the kingdom signed a peace treaty
with the British in the 17th century. In the
latter part of that century, a more Maharaja
Ganga Singh preserved the economic integrity
of the city until Bikaner became a part of the
Indian union in 1947.
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| Bikaner
and the Mughal influence Bikaner's
war -- and eventual peace -- with the Mughals
began in the 16th century when the Mughal empire
constituted a new order. But with time, energy
and a climate that was on no one's side, the
Bikaner armies routed the Mughals in their early
encounters. But sometime later that century,
Akbar's diplomacy won over the Bikaner Maharajas'
resolute isolation. Now several rulers of Bikaner
commanded the Mughal armies with distinction
appropriating lands in Gujarat in the west to
the Deccan in the south.
The
poet-king Prithviraj Singh went on to became
one of the Nine Gems of Emperor Akbar's court. With peace by their side
and a prosperous trade, it became known for
its gold and silversmiths, weaving centres,
perfumes and leathercraftsmen. Arts and music
thrived. The miniature painting style here combined
the Rajput and the Mughal style of depiction.
British
rule in Bikaner
In
the shadow of a declining Mughal rule, the symbiotic
independence of Bikaner was shattered and the
18th century saw a slide in its pomp much like
the rest of Rajasthan. The Marathas could not
traverse its desert barriers but it became an
easy prey for the British who in 1818 signed a
treaty of 'perpetual friendship' with Bikaner.
The
exertions with the British bankrupted Bikaner
by the middle of the 19th century. The once
happy province was now a grubby colony. But,
the camels saved the decade. A steady supply
of these animals to help the British in the
Afghan war brought money back to the coffers.
The money was used by the rulers to modernise
administration, build infrastructure like hospitals,
introduce electricity and create a strong police
force to check the rampant anarchy that prevailed.
In 1949, Bikaner became a part of Rajasthan.
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| A
hot spot close to the Thar desert. Bikaner lies
to the north of Jaisalmer in the sandy state
of Rajasthan. The 7 km long walled city has
a pink hue similar to that of Jaipur largely
due to the use of burnt pink sandstone used
to construct the fort and the palace.
Outside
the railway station, the hotels are along Station
Road. From the main KEM Road you can access
the walled city and Junagarh Fort. To the south
is the Karni Mata Temple.
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