TōnFerns - A Nostalgic Journey (Tony Fernandes): Spectacular Bikaner

Showing posts with label Spectacular Bikaner. Show all posts

Friday, January 07, 2011

BIKANER, Rajasthan,India

Bikaner
Bikaner is a District in the northwest of the state of Rajasthan in northern India. It is located 330 kilometres (205 mi) northwest of the state capital, Jaipur. Bikaner city is the administrative headquarters of Bikaner Districtand Bikaner division. It was formerly the capital of the princely state of Bikaner. The city was founded by Rao Bika. Bikaner.[1][2][3] in 1486 and from its small origins it has developed into the fourth largest city in Rajasthan. The Ganges Canal, completed in 1928, and the Indira Gandhi Canal, completed in 1987, have allowed the farming of crops such as mustard, cotton, groundnuts, wheat and vegetables. Other industries include wool production and the mining of Gypsum, plaster of Paris and bentonite.
Bikaner is famous for sweets and snacks (or namkeens in Hindi).

Thursday, January 06, 2011

BIKANER, Rajasthan, India

JUNAGARH FORT

Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/46146750
Junagarh Fort (जुनाग्द क़िला) is a fort in the city of Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. Originally it was called Chintamani and was renamed Junagarh or "Old Fort" in the early part of the 20th century when the ruling family moved to Lalgarh Palace outside the fort limits. It is one of the few major forts in Rajasthan which is not built on a hilltop. The modern city of Bikaner has developed around the fort. The fort complex was built under the supervision of Karan Chand, the Prime Minister of Raja Rai Singh. He was the sixth ruler of Bikaner, from 1571 to 1611 AD. Construction of the walls and associated moat commenced in 1589 and was completed in 1594. It was built outside the original fort of the city, about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from the city centre.

It is believed that despite the repeated attacks by enemies to capture the fort, they were unsuccessful in their attempts, except for a lone one-day occupation by Kamran Mirza, who was the second son of the Mughal Emperor Babur who attacked Bikaner in 1534. It was then under the rule of Rao Jait Singh. In the battle, the Mughals were defeated by Rathors and then Kamran returned to Lahore.

The 5.28 hectares large fort precinct is studded with palaces, temples and pavilions.[2] These buildings depict a composite culture, manifest in the mix of architectural styles.[6]