Bikaner travel guide: Junagarh Fort, Karni Mata and best time

Junagarh FortDeshnok

A desert city with a fort that was never taken

A desert city grown on the old caravan routes, with Junagarh Fort at its centre — unusual in Rajasthan for never having been taken. The Karni Mata temple at Deshnok lies 30 km south.

Ideal stay1 nightOne night covers Junagarh Fort and the old city. Add a morning at Deshnok if you want the Karni Mata temple.

Getting thereAbout 5 to 6 hours from Jaipur or Jodhpur by roadBikaner has a railway station on the main line from Delhi, and it fits between Jaisalmer and Jaipur on a desert circuit.

Time zoneGMT+5:30Same time as India

Getting around. The old city is compact. Cabs and auto-rickshaws cover the rest. Deshnok is about 30 km south, and a car with a driver is the easiest way to reach it.

Part ofRajasthanJaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer and 4 more cities

Things to do in Bikaner

2 experiences from our activity catalogue

CastleJunagarh FortA 16th-century fort complex in Bikaner with its original palaces and a museum, visited on a ticketed circuit.1 hr 30 min

TempleKarni Mata Temple, DeshnokHindu temple at Deshnok where thousands of rats live inside the shrine and are protected; entry is free and barefoot.45 minFree

Packages that include Bikaner

Ready-to-book itineraries with Bikaner on the route

See all

9 nightsRajasthan Grand TourJaipur · 2NBikaner · 1NJaisalmer · 2NJodhpur · 1NUdaipur · 2NPushkar · 1N9 Nights | 10 DaysFrom₹88,000 per personView package

12 nightsComplete RajasthanJaipur · 2NBikaner · 1NJaisalmer · 2NJodhpur · 1NMount Abu · 2NUdaipur · 2N+1 more12 Nights | 13 DaysFrom₹1,14,000 per personView package

Hand-picked hotels

Stays our experts book in Bikaner

Weather and best time to visit

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Best time to visit

November

High / Low29° / 16°CRainfall7 mm

Best timeGoodOff seasonOpen-Meteo historical weather (ERA5), 2015–2024 averages

WinterNovember–FebruaryBest Time

The season the state is built around. Days run 20–28°C and clear, nights are cool. Forts, desert camps and lake palaces are all at their best, and so are the prices.

SpringMarch–April

Comfortable in March, heating up fast through April. Good for Ranthambore — thinning cover pushes wildlife towards the waterholes and improves sightings.

SummerMay–June

Daytime highs of 42–47°C across the desert districts. Sightseeing works only early morning and late evening. Mount Abu, at 1,220 m, is the one cool exception.

MonsoonJuly–September

Rain is light by Indian standards and the landscape briefly turns green. Ranthambore closes for the monsoon, roughly 1 July to 30 September.