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The State of Bikaner or Jangladeh was founded by Rao Bika (1465-1504 AD) by the blessing 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 as ambitious military adventure, with a small contingent of Rathore warriors (500 soldier and 100 cavalrymen). His brave uncle, Rawat Kandhal, who always stood by him as his guardian and politico-strategic adviser, supported him. Those were the days when different clans of Jats & Rajputs inhabited this land and their chiefs enjoyed fairly good amount of autonomy, of course owing their allegiance to the sultanate of Delhi. Bika subdued all the contemporary chiefs and the Indian union after the British left this country in 1947 AD. In the beginning the neighboring Bhati chiefs
were suspicious of the new growing power in their vicinity. Karni
Mata brought
the rivalry between the Rathore & Bhatis to an end by inspiring
Rao Shekha- Rao Bika laid foundation of the city of Bikaner in 1488 AD and first constructed a small fortress in RATI GHATI area. Today this site is situated at the southwest end of the old walled city near Laxminath Ji temple. The royal family of Bikaner lived there, till Raja Rai Singh Ji built a new fort called “CHINTAMANI” (now Junagarh) between 1589 to 1593 AD. The rule of Bikaner had a prominent and glorious role in history of India. They held high ranks as Mansabdars of special order in the court of the imperial Mughals. As imperial military commander of various campaigns of the Mughals, they were posted all over the Indian sub-continent. Raja Rai Singhji is the sixth ruler of Bikaner was among the first Rajput Chiefs to join the Mughal alliance. The Mughal power in India declined with the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707 AD, the bonds of Mughals-Rajput relationship slowly dissolved. The new era of Rajput-British relationship with the advent of “British East India Company” ushered in. this European contact later played a vital role in the history of Bikaner as the ideas of industrial west started floating in. the reign of Maharaja Sri Ganga Singhji is marked for great Socio-Political and economic development in every sphere of life viz. – Education, Health, Sanitation, Water Supply, Power Generation & Electricity, Irrigation, Post & Telegraph. Roads & Railways, Trade & Commerce and so on- there is no subject untouched by this foresighted Maharaja. When the British left this country, this state was ruled by Maharaja Sadul Singhji. Among the heads of princely state of India, he was the first to sign the instrument of Accession by which this state merged into Indian union and become an example for other princes. In the independent India, Maharaja Dr. Karni Singhji enjoyed a prestigious position for his skill as a sportsman of Olympian order and also had an important for representing the constituency of Bikaner in the parliament (Lok Shabha) continuously for five terms (25 Years). Apart from the royal family this beautiful city has its own glory that makes it only of its type. This gorgeous city known not only for its fairs and festivals, picnics and outings, temples and havelies, kite flying and its proud and fearless people but also for their ornaments, colorful costumes quaint customs, sheep’s wool, camel races, awesome sunset and SAWAN – BIKANERI - that glorious time of year when the desert city blooms in beauty. |
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the powerful Bhati chief of Pugal, to give the hand
of his daughter in marriage to Rao Bika. This consolidated the
power of Rathore in this region and proved to be a mile stone in
the history of the state.
