https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Camel City Bikaner Now Hopes to Take Center Stage in Rural Tourism

Bikaner is promoting rural and orchard tourism by inviting tourists to explore its culture and enjoy its cuisine. Because it is a desert area, the villages around sand dunes are being promoted and tourists will get an opportunity to stay in the villagers’ huts and eat their food. The entire exercise is being taken up under the leadership of District Collector of Bikaner, Bhagwati Prasad Kalal, a 2011-batch IAS officer.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Rajasthan’s Bikaner is not in the forefront of the most popular tourist destinations, but, of late, it is carving out a niche for itself in the rural tourism sector. Situated in the northern region of Rajasthan, it is one of the earlier established cities and still displays its ancient opulence through palaces and forts, built of red sandstone, that have withstood the passage of time. The city boasts of some of the world’s best riding camels and is aptly nicknamed ‘camel country’. It is also home to one of the world’s largest camel research and breeding farms; as well as being known for having its own unique temple dedicated to Karni Mata at Deshnok,called the Rats Temple.

But, in recent times, tourists are flocking to Bikaner and there is a reason behind it. Along with sandy areas, citadels, havelis, historical-religious heritage, an attempt is being made to paint a new picture on the tourism map of Rajasthan through agro, rural, border and health tourism, and Bikaner is way ahead in this. A lot of work is being done in rural and orchard tourism for tourists to explore the local culture and enjoy the local cuisine. The focus is also on selling local art, culture and products through innovations within limited resources.

This entire exercise is being taken up under the leadership of District Collector of Bikaner, Bhagwati Prasad Kalal, a 2011-batch IAS officer. Indian Masterminds interacted with the officer to know about the road map for rural tourism.

Laxmi Niwas Palace in Bikaner: It was the residence of the king of Bikaner, Maharaja Ganga Singh

RURAL TOURISM IN BIKANER

Saying that the district is progressing rapidly in the tourism sector, Mr. Kalal highlighted the famous camel festival as one of the reasons. “Many tourists come from the country and abroad to see this. This year, UNESCO and Tourism Department will organise a two-day Bikaner Festival on 16 and 17 November. It will showcase the culture of Rajasthan and Bikaner. Apart from this, our focus is on rural tourism through developing sand dunes. Because Bikaner has a desert, it can be a good opportunity for tourism. All the villages around sand dunes are being promoted by connecting them with art and culture. To promote tourism by taking art, culture, desert dunes together is our prime objective. We have identified three areas and work is underway there.”

He further said that tourists will get an opportunity to stay in the villagers’ huts and eat with them. Local species are also being planted in these places so that eco-tourism and rural tourism can be enjoyed at one place. A track is also going to be built in the desert along the sand dunes.

Ganga Government Museum in Bikaner

MASALA CHOWK

Apart from this, the initiative of an open live concert has been taken on the lines of foreign countries. There will also be a ‘Masala Chowk’ in front of the Town Hall. Like abroad, people can sit in an open place and enjoy food there, while live concerts are going on.

“Here the best cuisines of Bikaner will be found and live music concert will go on. It will be the most vibrant place of Bikaner. All local folk dances of Bikaner will be shown here, like the Kalbelia dance. Local folk instruments will be showcased. The construction of a Live Music Corner has already started,” the officer said.

Masala Chowk work is in full swing

This initiative has been taken to promote the folk dances and the local music and showcase them before tourists. There would be performances by folk artists like Langa, Manganiyar and Kalbelia and the place would be decorated keeping in mind local aesthetics and designs like stone chairs, tables and sheds. Besides coluorful lighting, there would also be a modern art based sculpture as the centerpiece.

Beautification of Circles in Bikaner

ORCHARD TOURISM & THEATRE

Other than rural tourism, orchard tourism and theatre are also being promoted by the administration. In the former, tourists go to one place to see special farming and plantations, like the apple orchards of Himachal. Bikaner is developing Aloe Vera orchard which thrive in less water.

A theatre festival has also been started here,where artists from all over the country come to take part.

Aloe Vera orchard in development phase

CAMEL FESTIVALS

The Camel Festival is the biggest attraction of Bikaner for international tourists. The International Camel Festival for the year 2023 will be held on January 14 and 15, for the first time in the post Covid scenario, and it is being promoted in a big way through social media. Mr. Kalal said that other activities are also being planned around this event. Very soon the city will offer a heritage walk through the areas that house the historical havelis. Facilities like lighting, footpath, seating, etc. will be developed on the route.

Camel Festivals

Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT