Bikaner
A city - awesome and beautiful. A vast expanse
of rippling sand and scorching son.An arid, rocky scrubland. It is situated on
an elevated ground, surrounded by a seven-kilometer-long embattled wall marked
by five gates.
The Rathore prince Rao Bikaji, the most enterprising
son of Rao Jodhaji of Marwar, founded Bikaner in 1488 AD. The harsh desert surrounds
this rich city, no doubt few could gather courage to venture into this part of
the globe.
The old part of Bikaner city is surrounded by a stone
wall that is 15–30 feet (5–9 m) high and has five gates. Bikaner is now a trade
centre for wool, hides, building stone, salt, and grain. Bikaneri woolen shawls,
blankets, carpets, and sugar candy are famous, and there are also ivory and lacquerware
handicrafts. The city has electrical and mechanical engineering works, railway
workshops, and factories that manufacture glass, pottery, felts, chemicals, shoes,
and cigarettes. The old part of the city is overlooked by a fort and has numerous
buildings of bright red and yellow sandstone. Within the fort are several palaces
of different periods, a museum housing Rajput miniature paintings, and a library
of Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts. The city's colleges (including a medical
school and a teachers' training institute) are affiliated with the University
of Rajasthan. Bikaner is situated in an arid tract of undulating sand hills where
the breeding of camels, horses, and sheep is the principal occupation. Because
there are no rivers, irrigation is chiefly by means of deep tube wells. Bajra
(pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), and pulses are the chief crops grown in the locality.
The fortified town still preserves the aura of medieval
times, as it is protected by harsh desert and remained untouched by outside influence.
The city is an exercise in architecture ,one gapes in awe at the embattled wall
with ornamental gates.The lofty houses with excellent carvings still survive averring
to the craftsmanship and prosperity of the people.
The Town is also famous for delicacies
like Rasgullas ,Bhujias and Papads.It has become a big wool production centre,and
has a unique Came research farm.