Junagarh fort in Bikaner is considered one of India's most impressive fort complexes. It's exquisitely decorated interiors are in an excellent state of preservation. Built in 1588 by Raja Rai Singh, it is one of the few major forts, which were not built on a hilltop.

The complex consists of palaces, courtyards, pavilions, and balconies. The walls are adorned with carved stones, marble, paintings, and inlaid semi-precious stones. Each palace in the complex was built by a different ruler, over the centuries.
The Anup Mahal is one of the most impressive rooms in the fort complex. The ornately lacquered walls are covered in red and gold with colored glass inlay. White plaster pillars are decorated in delicate patterns and covered with gold leaf. In a land where water is rare, the Badal Mahal or Cloud Palace's walls are painted with a fresco of rain clouds. The Rain Fresco photograph shows a painting of Krishna and Radna surrounded by the blue cloud motifs.

General Information

Location : Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Evolution/ Origin
1587 AD.

Main Attraction : Anup Mahal And Exquisitely Carved Windows.
Built By
Raja Rai Singh.

The erstwhile Princely state of Bikaner and its capital city Bikaner was founded by Rao Bika (1465-1504 AD.) by the blessings of Goddess Karni Mata in the year 1488 AD. In those days this vast tract of desert country was called “Jangaldesh”. Prince Bika of the Rathore clan of Rajputs was the valiant son of Rao Jodha- the founder of Jodhpur. Encouraged and provoked by his father, Prince Bika moved out of Marwar (Jodhpur) on an ambitious military adventure, with a small contingent of Rathore warriors (500 soldier and 100 cavalry men). He was supported by his brave uncle, Rawat Kandhal, who always stood by him as his guardian and politico-strategic advisor. Those were the days when this land was inhabited by different clans of Jats and Rajputs and their Chiefs enjoyed fairly good amount of autonomy, of course some of them owing their allegiance to the Sultanate of Delhi. Rao Bika subdued all the contemporary Chiefs and was recognized as the ruler of the land. He laid the foundations of a State that existed till it acceded and merged into the Indian Union in 1947 and 1949.