Gajner Palace and Sanctuaryगजनेर पैलेस
A viceregal shooting lodge on a desert lake, with sandgrouse and blackbuck at the water.
See what is open on your dateOpen in Google MapsWhereBikaner, Rajasthan
Bikaner & Thar
Bikaner & Thar
Best time to visit1 November to 28 February
Good seasonsPost-monsoon (October to November), Winter (December to February)
DifficultyEasy
Time neededHalf day
Base and nearbyGajner, Bikaner
EntryGrounds through the hotel, day entry charged · sanctuary drives arranged by the hotel
About Gajner Palace and Sanctuary
Ganga Singh built this red sandstone lodge on the bank of Gajner lake, 32 km out on the Jaisalmer road, for the winter shoots he laid on for viceroys and the Prince of Wales; the imperial sandgrouse that flock to the lake in the cold months were the quarry. It is now a heritage hotel, and the sanctuary behind it has blackbuck, chinkara, nilgai and wild boar that come to the water at dusk. Non-guests pay to enter the grounds.
What to see and do
- Imperial sandgrouse on the lake in winter
- Blackbuck and chinkara at the waterside
- The red sandstone lodge and its lake terrace
- Jeep round the sanctuary through the hotel
- Kolayat 15 km further on
Opening status, best time and closures here are estimates from usual seasons and past patterns, not live information. Confirm with the local authority before you go. Terms of use
More places in Bikaner
- Junagarh FortBikaner, Rajasthan · FortsA fort on the flat that was never taken, with the finest painted palaces in Bikaner.
- KatariasarBikaner, Rajasthan · Villages & Hidden GemsDunes, chinkara and a fire dance 45 km from Bikaner. The easy desert night.
- Kolayat LakeBikaner, Rajasthan · Lakes & DamsA desert pilgrim lake with fifty-two ghats, at its best on Kartik Purnima.
- Lalgarh PalaceBikaner, Rajasthan · Palaces & HavelisGanga Singh's red sandstone palace, the Sadul museum in one wing and a hotel in the other.
- National Research Centre on CamelBikaner, Rajasthan · Eco TourismThe camel farm on the edge of Bikaner. Go at four, eat the ice cream.
- Bhandasar Jain TempleBikaner, Rajasthan · Temples & ShrinesA 1514 Jain temple painted in gold leaf, with a legend of ghee in the mortar.
- Devi Kund SagarBikaner, Rajasthan · Monuments & HeritageThe royal cenotaphs of Bikaner, red sandstone and marble, 8 km out of town.
- Karni Mata Temple, DeshnokBikaner, Rajasthan · Temples & ShrinesThe rat temple. Twenty thousand kabas, and a white one if you are lucky.
All places in Bikaner · All places in Rajasthan
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Jagah Pedia is a free travel guide by Santosh Pandey. Status, timings and closures are estimates from usual patterns, so confirm locally before you travel.