Bikaner is famous worldwide for its camel fair. But even if you aren’t visiting the town in January to witness this one-of-a-kind festival, a trip to the place has lots in store for you. Junagarh Fort, formerly known as the Chintamani Palace, this fort, built in 1478, is an architectural extravaganza as it combines together many styles like Rajput, Mughal, Gujarati and even western architecture. Karni Mata Temple – home to a million rats – around 2,500 black rats to be precise. This 600-year-old temple has numerous legends associated with it. Constructed by Maharaja of Bikaner, Maharaja Ganga Singh, from 1902 to 1926, the Lalgarh Palace is an architectural wonder. The palace is believed to change colour with the passage of the sun. The Shri Sadul Museum, inside the palace, gives tourists an apt picture of the extravagant lifestyle of the royals in the bygone days. A visit to Bikaner is incomplete without a desert safari on camel, exploring the vast expanse of golden sands of the Thar. Bikaner is also a hub for traditional Rajasthani cuisine. It is also a street shopper’s delight as the local bazaars sell handicrafts, traditional clothes, footwear etc.