A weekend in Bikaner

Bikaner is a quaint city in northern Rajasthan. Small and peaceful, this city is situated in the Thar desert area and is one of the hottest places in summers. The best time to visit would hence be winter. Bikaner is an 8 hr train journey away from Delhi and makes for a perfect weekend destination. The city has beautiful architecture in its old area - sandstone and Redstone temples, gateways and havelis at every corner. Enjoy roaming through the narrow lanes of the old city, visiting the Rampuria Haveli and interacting with the locals. The Junagadh Fort is one of the prettier forts in Rajasthan with a great museum. One must visit the Charni Devi temple for its sheer uniqueness! Rats are worshiped here! Yes, you will see them running all around the temple and drinking milk from huge vessels. Be careful with your wallet at the temple, mine was stolen :(  I would recommend spending a night at one of the desert camps, this includes a camel safari into the desert at sunset, local dinner and stay in tents. Under the stars and away from the bustle of the city, this is a great way to regain peace of mind and get in touch with nature. Unlike Jaiselmer, the desert safari here is not very commercialized.We did not find too many great places to eat, but good local Indian food is available almost everywhere.