Junagarh Museum Bikaner

Rao Jodha King of Jodhpur sitting in his royal throne noticed his eldest son Bika whispering something to his uncle. Rao Jodha casually remarked whether they were conspiring for a kingdom? Bika said yes & Rao Jodha agreed to provide him assistance and legitimise his new venture on certain T & C. Prince Bika agreed to that he would not look back or attack on Jodhpur.

In 1465 Rao Bika & his uncle Rawat Kandhal marched off from Jodhpur with 500 soldiers & 100 horsemen to establish new kingdom towards Deshnoke in Jangaldesh. Eventually in 1485 he built a small fort called Rati Ghati. By 1488 city of Bikaner started coming up. After about hundred years Junagarh Fort was constructed in the city. This Fort now houses a well kept museum having a large number of exhibits related to the royal families of Bikaner. 

The Fort is in middle of Bikaner & unlike most forts it is not on a hill but on plain ground. Entry is by tickets & guides are also available. A small restaurant & sale counter offers good souvenirs. Afternoons are hot in Bikaner take care. Some snaps from the museum:

War plane Haviland shot down in WW 1 was gifted by British Govt to Maharaja General Ganga Singh as war trophy. Maharaja Ganga Singh led Bikaner State Forces in the war. It was brought to India in 1920 and was restored in 1985 by local craftsman under the direction of Maharaja Dr Karni Singh. On display in Vikram Vilas Darbar Hall Junagarh Fort

Huge Dubar Hall

Rifles used by the royality with decorated wooden butts having intricate ivory work

Variety of arrows with different types of heads

A special exhibit. Maharaja Ganga Singh while dining with British officers could not enjoy the soup with a normal spoon as it disturbed his carefully cultivated handlebar moustache. He ordered a special spoon to be made. This special silver spoon was made that had it's upper portion covered by two thirds. With this spoon soup could be had without disturbing the moustache. In 1937 he became a General with exceptionally distinguished career.   

Houda for the royals which was used while riding on elephants 

Palki or Palenquin for the queen 

Palki for the royals 

Palki with purdah

Toy store. Those were the wooden toys for the royal kids to play with 

That's how they dressed up & wore jewellary

Royal two wheeler 

Sandalwood bed for the king on display in Phool Mahal. Folklore is that Rao Ranmal grandfather of Rao Bika was drugged, tied up with his turban to the bed & murdered. Rao Bika had got the bed made which was lower & bit shorter so that his feet hung on the edge. This would have enabled him to come on his feet quickly & fight back. No such thing however happened to him   

Rao Bika who was eledest son of Rao Jodha king of Jodhpur, established city & kingdom of Bikaner in a barren area called Jangledesh in 1488. He died in 1504. Over  a period of time Bikaner has became fourth largest city of Rajasthan