A desert capital built on the camel trade, where a Maharaja’s official residence and the last reigning Maharaja’s own Art Deco home now welcome guests exactly as they once welcomed kings, queens and viceroys.
Bikaner was founded in 1488 by Rao Bika, a Rathore prince who established the city along the trade routes connecting the Thar Desert to Central Asia — routes carried, quite literally, on the backs of camels bred and traded here for centuries. Where Jaisalmer and Jodhpur built their identities around forts and sieges, Bikaner’s wealth came from commerce, and its finest architecture reflects that: not fortress walls, but palaces built for hosting, for hospitality, for the business of governing a prosperous desert state.
Nowhere is this clearer than in Laxmi Niwas Palace, commissioned in 1904 by His Highness Sir Ganga Singh Ji — the ruling Maharaja of Bikaner from 1888 to 1943, a member of the Imperial War Cabinet present at the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The palace’s purpose was explicitly twofold: to provide employment to the townspeople during a difficult period, and to create a residence worthy of hosting the dignitaries Ganga Singh’s international standing regularly attracted — King George V and Queen Mary, the King of Greece, and successive viceroys among them. Designed by British architect Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob — the same architect behind Jaipur’s Rambagh Palace — its pink sandstone was quarried specifically from Dulmera for the project.
A different, more personal story defines Narendra Bhawan. This was the private home of Narendra Singh Ji, the last reigning Maharaja of Bikaner, built in 1969 and lived in until his passing in 2003. Shaped entirely by his eclectic taste rather than rigid dynastic tradition, the residence beautifully blends Bombay Art Deco, traditional Rajasthani architecture, and the European flair of a well-traveled prince. MRS Hospitality subsequently acquired the property, carefully restoring and transforming it into a boutique hotel that launched in 2016—designed specifically to celebrate Narendra Singh Ji’s vibrant life rather than erase his personal taste in favor of a generic heritage aesthetic.
Two properties, both Escapes tier, both exceptionally well-documented — a Maharaja's official state residence, and the last reigning Maharaja's own private home, restored to celebrate rather than erase his personal taste.
CITY CENTRE · THE LAST MAHARAJA'S OWN ART DECO HOME
Built in 1969 by Narendra Singh Ji, the last reigning Maharaja of Bikaner, and lived in until his passing in 2003. Thoughtfully restored and launched in 2016 by the visionary team behind Suryagarh, it stands as a celebration of one man’s distinct personal taste, blending mid-century Art Deco with classic desert heritage.
CITY CENTRE • SIR GANGA SINGH'S OFFICIAL RESIDENCE, 1904
Commissioned in 1904 to provide employment to the townspeople and host visiting dignitaries — King George V and Queen Mary among them — designed by the same architect behind Jaipur's Rambagh Palace, in pink sandstone quarried specifically for the project.
The questions we are asked most often about staying in Bikaner — answered through first-hand knowledge of the city and the two properties we personally vouch for.
Laxmi Niwas Palace is a grand, turn-of-the-century Indo-Saracenic structure built in 1904 as the premier residential palace within the Lalgarh estate, designed for grand royal diplomacy. Narendra Bhawan is a sleek, mid-century residential home built in 1969 by the last Maharaja, offering a playful, intimate blend of Art Deco and curated global memories opened to the public in 2016.
While one night covers the essentials like Junagarh Fort and a palace stay, a 2-night stay is highly recommended to fully absorb the distinct contrast between the two properties, explore the Old City Havelis (like the Rampuria cluster), and visit nearby landmarks like Gajner or the Karni Mata Temple without rushing.
The two cities sit naturally on the same desert circuit, and we coordinate the full route personally.
Yes — Laxmi Niwas Palace in particular regularly hosts destination weddings and events across its courtyards and lawns.
Yes — both are genuinely original buildings with independently verified histories, not later constructions styled to resemble heritage.
Jaisalmer Fort is where every journey begins, but the city's story extends far beyond its walls. Merchant havelis, royal cenotaphs, abandoned villages and desert landscapes each reveal a different chapter of the Golden City's remarkable history. These are the places we believe are genuinely worth your time.
ROYAL HERITAGE
A 16th-century fort built without a hilltop, unusual among Rajasthan’s major forts — its ornate courtyards and painted chambers rival any hill fortress in the state.
CULTURE
A temple roughly 30km from Bikaner, famous across India for the thousands of black rats considered sacred and protected within its walls.
CULTURE
The only government camel breeding facility of its kind in Asia, offering genuine insight into the animal that built Bikaner’s trading economy.
ARCHITECTURE
A stunning 15th-century temple in the old city, legend holds that 40,000 kg of liquid ghee was used in place of water for its foundation mortar, causing the stone floors to still seep oil on hot days.
ARCHITECTURE
A breathtaking cluster of 15th-century red sandstone mansions in the old city, showcasing intricate wooden carvings, vibrant gold-leaf art, and traditional jharokha balconies that make it the ultimate testament to Bikaner’s merchant-class wealth.
Our journey began in Rajasthan, but our curation now extends across some of India's most extraordinary destinations—from the Himalayas and Kerala's backwaters to Central India's wildlife and beyond.
Whether you’re planning a stay in Jaisalmer alone or combining it with the Thar Desert, Jodhpur, Udaipur or beyond, we’ll help design an itinerary that fits your travel style. From personally curated stays to transport and unique experiences, every journey is planned around you.
Take a moment to share a few details with us, and we’ll craft a tailor-made itinerary just for you.
Our Travel Experts are here to narrow down the best options and create a journey that will stay with you forever.
