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 A
city - awesome and beautiful. A vast expanse of
rippling sand and scorching son. An arid, rocky
scrubland. It is situated on an elevated ground,
surrounded by a seven-kilometer-long embattled
wall marked by five gates.
The Rathore prince Rao Bikaji, the liveliest and
most enterprising son of Rao Jodhaji of Marwar,
founded Bikaner in 1488 AD. The harsh desert
surrounds this rich city, no doubt few could
gather courage to venture into this part of the
globe.
The old part of Bikaner city is surrounded by a
stone wall that is 15–30 feet (5–9 m) high and has
five gates. Bikaner is now a trade centre for
Wool, Hides, Building Stone, Salt, and grain.
Bikaneri woolen shawls, blankets, carpets, and
sugar candy are famous, and there are also ivory
and lacquerware handicrafts. The city has
electrical and mechanical engineering works,
railway workshops, and factories that manufacture
glass, pottery, felts, chemicals, shoes, and
cigarettes. The old part of the city is overlooked
by a fort and has numerous buildings of bright red
and yellow sandstone. Within the fort are several
palaces of different periods, a museum housing
Rajput miniature paintings, and a library of
Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts. The city's
colleges (including a medical school and a
teachers' training institute) are affiliated with
the University of Rajasthan. Bikaner is situated
in an arid tract of undulating sand hills where
the breeding of camels, horses, and sheep is the
principal occupation. Because there are no rivers,
irrigation is chiefly by means of deep tube wells.
Bajra (pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), and pulses
are the chief crops grown in the locality.
The fortified town still preserves the aura of
medieval times, as it is protected by harsh desert
and remained untouched by outside influence. The
city is an exercise in architecture ,one gapes in
awe at the embattled wall with ornamental gates.
The lofty houses with excellent carvings still
survive averring to the craftsmanship and
prosperity of the people.
The Town is also famous for delicacies like
Rasgullas ,Bhujias and Papads.It has become a big
wool production centre,and has a unique Came
research farm.
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