The history of rustic Bikaner began with a “comment” passed by Rao Jodha, the ruler of Jodhpur that led his son Rao Bikaji brave the formidable Thar and set up a bastion called Bikaner in the 15th century.

It wasn’t hard for the rulers of Bikaner to consolidate their empire as most enemies refrained from attacking Bikaner due to its location on a desert terrain. Though several desert nomad warriors attacked Bikaner from time to time, Rao Bika managed to secure his kingdom within a period of 30 years.

By virtue of being situated on an ancient trade route, the history of Bikaner is the history of riches that flowed in from camel trade with traders who passed this desert state en route to and from China, Central Asia and the Middle East.

The history of Bikaner, Rajasthan, India is generously sprinkled with the birth, growth and constant evolving of arts and crafts such as camel leather goods, silver and gold items and exquisite embroidery styles.

In the 16th century the Maharaja of Bikaner entered into a political alliance with the Mughal Emperor Akbar and secured Bikaner from Mughal attacks. The warrior king was accorded the status of one of the Nine Gems in Emperor Akbar’s Royal Court.

Later during British colonial rule in India, Bikaner supplied some of the best riding camels in the world to the British forces as payment for its suzerainty. The British greed led to a decline in the Bikaner state treasury. The situation was salvaged to a certain extent when the princely state of Bikaner supplied camels to the English army during the Afgan war.

Today though Bikaner is no more a great royal bastion, it is an important tour destination that showcases past splendor and regal opulence of glorious Rajasthan.