Best Time to Visit Bikaner

Bikaner’s crowning jewel is the Junagarh Fort with is extremely well-conserved interiors. Besides the exquisite fort, this western Rajasthan city is home to intricately-designed havelis and glorious Jain temples. The camel safari scene of Bikaner is at par with Jaisalmer, and offers a much more peaceful desert experience.

Bikaner was founded in the late 1400s by Rao Bika, who was related to the founder of Jaipur. Bikaner was a vital Rajasthani kingdom because of the ancient caravan trade routes that passed through the city. The Mughals constantly tried to invade Bikaner from Delhi but the arid desert topography helped protect the kingdom. During the Afghan War, Bikaner was a vital camel trading point with the British. It holds the distinction of being the first princely state with electricity in the late 1800s. Maharaja Ganga Singh intelligent city planning helped Bikaner walk into the modern era. He commissioned the important Ganga Canal that irrigates the arid lands in the area.

Bikaner is one of the few cities in Rajasthan that hasn’t been completely taken over by tourists. It is a great place to get a feel of Rajasthani culture, minus the major tourist crowd. Since Bikaner is in the west of Rajasthan, the climate is known to be quite extreme. The best time to visit Bikaner is usually in the winter months.

1Winter in Bikaner (October to February)

October sees a handful of tourists lands up in Bikaner, while the major chunk of travellers decide on the more popular destinations. This means you can explore the history of the city without worrying about crowds. The temperature in October ranges between 20°C and 36°C. This makes October an agreeable time to visit post-monsoon Bikaner.

November onward, tourism starts picking up in Bikaner. The weather is much cooler with temperatures dropping to around 14°C during the evenings and night. Make sure you carry a light jacket for the desert night.

A December holiday in Bikaner will see you enjoy the perfect weather conditions. Temperatures go down to about 9°C and even daytime temperature hardly goes above 26°C. This means you can explore Bikaner on foot without worrying about dehydration. The Kapil Muni Fair (at Kolayat, 55kms from Bikaner) takes place in November and is the ideal destination for the adventurous traveller.

The best time to visit Bikaner is during the first month of the year. The weather is absolutely brilliant- ranging between 7°C to 23°C, and you can witness the exuberant Bikaner Camel Festival. This two-day January extravaganza is all about the Ship of the Desert. The kaleidoscopic camel procession that begins from Junagarh Fort is a sight to behold.

For those looking for a quieter experience, make sure you plan your Bikaner trip in February. The weather is still quite pleasant- between 11°C and 27°C.

December to February is camel safari season and Bikaner can turn out to be a better choice than Jaisalmer. Ghantiyali, Dawi, Sarunda and Raisar are great spots for desert camping trips. These villages offer curious travellers the all-round experience of rustic desert life. If you’re short on time, land up at the National Research Centre On Camel for an enjoyable ride and camel milk ice-cream! Birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts should plan their Bikaner trip in the winter months. The Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary is less than an hour’s drive from Bikaner and offers brilliant wildlife safaris. The thickly forested hills are home to blackbuck, desert fox, nilgai, wild boar, and many other animals. Jorbeed is a birdwatcher’s utopia. A 30 minute drive from Bikaner will have you spot a variety of raptors- Saker falcon, Egyptian vulture, griffon vulture, steppe eagle, and more.

2Monsoon in Bikaner (July to September)

Bikaner doesn’t get a lot of rainfall and the three-month monsoon does see an uptick in the humidity levels. That being said, if you’re in Bikaner only to explore its historical sights, a monsoon visit could see you save quite a bit on accommodation. This being the off-season, you will get to witness the real Bikaner.

3Summer in Bikaner (March to June)

It is best to stay away from Bikaner in the summer months. The dry heat of the desert is extremely taxing and temperatures reach scorching levels- between 20°C and 42°C. Hot winds and dust storms can ruin any plans of exploring Bikaner between March and June.

Take it from us, the best time to visit Bikaner is in the winter. You can explore the surrounding areas, be part of the came festival, and have an overall memorable time.