Junagarh Fort

Junagarh Fort is the undisputed centrepiece of Bikaner, a sprawling fortified palace complex built from red sandstone and white marble. Construction began in 1588 under Raja Rai Singh and never really stopped — successive rulers added palaces, temples, and pavilions right into the early 20th century. The result is a layered architectural anthology that spans four centuries without feeling inconsistent.

The interiors are extraordinarily rich. The Anup Mahal is the throne room, decorated in gold leaf, lacquer, and carved sandstone so dense it reads almost as wallpaper. The Karan Mahal, Phool Mahal, and Chandra Mahal each have their own character — mirrored ceilings, painted friezes, Belgian glass. The museum wing includes armour, manuscripts, and a genuine World War I biplane that the Maharaja used as part of the Royal Flying Corps. Allow at least three hours.

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A story
Junagarh is one of the few major forts in Rajasthan never to have been conquered — and it sits on flat ground, making this achievement all the more remarkable. During a 1965 siege, the Pakistani army briefly occupied a corner of it, but Bikaner's defenders reclaimed it within days. Inside the fort complex, early 20th-century Maharaja Ganga Singh installed a World War I biplane in the Anup Mahal courtyard — one of the first aircraft ever purchased by an Indian royal.