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Best Food in Bikaner (2026)
Begin your Bikaner food journey at Chhotu Motu Joshi, a legendary sweet shop near Kote Gate that has been serving since 1957. Try their signature mawa kachori (Rs 30) and rasgullβ¦ π½οΈ Where to Start
Begin your Bikaner food journey at Chhotu Motu Joshi, a legendary sweet shop near Kote Gate that has been serving since 1957. Try their signature mawa kachori (Rs 30) and rasgulla (Rs 20), open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM. For a savory start, head to Bhikharam Chandmal, also near Kote Gate, for their famous bhujia and namkeen, priced from Rs 50 per 100g.
π₯ Must-Try Local Dishes
Bikaner is famous for its spicy snacks like bhujia, papad, and mangodi, which you can sample at any local namkeen shop. Do not miss dal baati churma at Lalji Hotel near Junagarh Fort, where a thali costs around Rs 200 and is served from 11 AM to 4 PM. Also try ker sangri, a tangy dish made from dried berries and beans, at Hotel Bhanwar Niwas on Rampuria Street, priced at Rs 250 per plate.
π Top Restaurants
For a sit-down meal, Heeralal's on Station Road offers authentic Rajasthani thalis for Rs 350, open from 11 AM to 11 PM. Another favorite is Gallops Restaurant at Junagarh Fort Road, known for its laal maas (Rs 450) and elegant ambiance, open for lunch and dinner. Chhotu Motu Joshi also has a restaurant section serving kachoris and sweets in a casual setting.
π΅ Street Food Havens
Kote Gate area is the hub for street food, especially in the evening when stalls light up. Try the kachori stall at Kote Gate for hot, crispy kachoris at Rs 20 each, available from 4 PM to 9 PM. Near Junagarh Fort, you will find vendors selling mirchi vada (Rs 15) and samosa (Rs 10), perfect for a quick snack. For a sweet finish, head to Rampuria Street for jalebi and imarti, freshly fried for Rs 30 per 100g.
π’ Evening Snacks
As the sun sets, Bikaner's snack scene comes alive. Visit the stalls at Kote Gate for hot pakoras (Rs 20 per plate) and chai (Rs 10), served from 5 PM to 10 PM. Another evening favorite is the pav bhaji stall near Station Road, where a plate costs Rs 50 and is available from 6 PM to 11 PM. Do not miss the chance to try Bikaneri bhujia fresh from the fryer at local shops like Bhikharam Chandmal.
π° Sweet Shops to Visit
Bikaner is a paradise for sweet lovers. Chhotu Motu Joshi near Kote Gate is famous for its mawa kachori and rasgulla, open from 7 AM to 10 PM. Another iconic shop is Bhikharam Chandmal, also near Kote Gate, known for its premium quality sweets and namkeen, with prices starting at Rs 50 per 100g. For a unique treat, try the ghewar at Lalji Hotel, available during festivals and priced at Rs 300 per kg.
π° Budget and Prices
Street food in Bikaner is very affordable, with most snacks costing between Rs 10 and Rs 50. A full meal at a mid-range restaurant like Heeralal's will set you back around Rs 350 per person, while fine dining at Gallops can cost Rs 600 or more. Sweets and namkeen are priced by weight, typically Rs 50 to Rs 100 per 100g, making them great souvenirs.
π Getting Around
Most food spots are concentrated around Kote Gate and Junagarh Fort, which are walkable from each other. Auto-rickshaws are readily available and charge around Rs 50 for short trips within the city. For longer distances, such as to Rampuria Street, expect to pay Rs 100 to Rs 150. Bikaner is well-connected by train and bus, with the main railway station just 2 km from Kote Gate.
this covers the ground well, the kote gate cluster is def the right place to start. one thing missing tho, the kachori scene is really a breakfast thing not an evening one, most of the good stalls pack up by like 11am or noon. the evening kachori stalls near kote gate that the guide mentions are mostly for tourists, locals do kachori in the morning with a cup of chai.
if ur there on a sunday, hit the bhujia and namkeen shops early bc they sell out faster on weekends. also try the papad, bikaneri papad is underrated compared to the bhujia hype and its cheaper, like Rs 40 per 100g at most shops.
for a sit down meal, Heeralal's is solid but i'd pick Bhanwar Niwas over it for the thali, slightly pricier but the setting inside the haveli is worth it. saves u doing ker sangri and thali at two diff places
The guide is thorough, but the one thing I'd push back on is Gallops. It's fine for laal maas if you want a proper sit-down dinner with air conditioning, but the laal maas at Gallops runs mild compared to what you get at the smaller Rajasthani places, and for Rs 450 you're mostly paying for the fort view and the linen. If you actually want the dish done right, ask around for a place doing it with mathania chillies the old way, usually a family-run joint rather than a hotel kitchen.
Also worth knowing, Bikaner's water is famously hard and salty, so most locals drink chai or lassi rather than plain water with meals. A salted lassi at any of the Kote Gate stalls for around Rs 40 is a better pairing with kachori or pakora than the chai the guide keeps mentioning, especially in summer.
good list but one thing i'd add, Chhotu Motu Joshi's mawa kachori is best before 9am, after that teh morning batch is gone and the ones sitting out get a bit soft. also nobody ever mentions Ratan Bihari near Kote Gate for kachori, locals go there more than the tourist spots and its like Rs 25.
for ker sangri, its honestly a winter thing, most places only do it properly dec to feb when the dried berries are fresh. off season it can taste pretty flat.
and if u want bhujia to take home, buy it from the smaller shops on the way to Junagarh rather than the branded tins, way fresher and cheaper.
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3 Days in Bikaner: Itinerary 2026
Start your day at Junagarh Fort, which opens at 10:00 AM and closes at 5:30 PM; entry costs 200 INR for Indians and 400 INR for foreigners. Spend about three hours explorinβ¦ π° Day 1: Old City Fort
Start your day at Junagarh Fort, which opens at 10:00 AM and closes at 5:30 PM; entry costs 200 INR for Indians and 400 INR for foreigners. Spend about three hours exploring the palaces, temples, and courtyards. After lunch, walk 10 minutes to the nearby Rampuria Havelis, a cluster of ornate merchant mansions in the old city. In the evening, head to Kote Gate for street shopping and snacks like kachori and mirchi vada.
πͺ Day 2: Camel Research Farm
Take an auto-rickshaw from the city center to the National Research Centre on Camel, about 8 km away; the ride takes 20-25 minutes and costs around 150 INR. The farm is open from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with entry fees of 20 INR for Indians and 50 INR for foreigners. You can ride a camel for 100 INR and try camel milk ice cream at the on-site parlor. On your way back, stop at the Gajner Palace, a 30-minute detour, for a lakeside tea break.
π Day 3: Deshnoke Temple Trip
In the morning, take a bus or taxi to Deshnoke, 30 km south of Bikaner, to visit the Karni Mata Temple, famous for its rats. Buses leave from the main bus stand every 30 minutes and take about 45 minutes; a taxi costs around 500 INR one way. The temple is open from 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and there is no entry fee. After returning to Bikaner, spend the afternoon at the Prachina Museum inside Junagarh Fort, which showcases royal costumes and art.
π½οΈ Where to Eat
For authentic Rajasthani thalis, try Chhotu Motu Joshi Sweet Shop near Kote Gate, where a full thali costs around 250 INR and is served from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Another favorite is Gallops, a restaurant inside the Bhanwar Niwas hotel, offering continental and Indian dishes for 400-600 INR per person. For quick bites, head to the Bhujia Bazaar for fresh bhujia and rasgullas at Haldiram's or local vendors. Most restaurants close by 11:00 PM, so plan dinner accordingly.
πΊ Getting Around
Auto-rickshaws are the main mode of transport within the city; a short trip costs 50-100 INR, while longer rides to the camel farm or bus stand cost 150-200 INR. You can also rent a bicycle from many guesthouses for 100 INR per day. For day trips to Deshnoke or Gajner, hiring a taxi for the day costs around 1500-2000 INR. Walking is feasible in the old city, but be prepared for narrow lanes and heavy traffic during peak hours.
π¨ Where to Stay
For a heritage experience, book a room at Bhanwar Niwas, a restored haveli with rooms starting at 4000 INR per night. Budget travelers can stay at Hotel Harasar Haveli near Junagarh Fort, with doubles from 800 INR. Mid-range options include Hotel Bhairon Vilas, a converted nobleman's house with a pool, from 2500 INR. Book in advance during the winter months (October to March) as Bikaner hosts several festivals.
π° Budget Tips
Allocate about 1500-2000 INR per day for a budget trip, covering accommodation, meals, and local transport. Entry fees for major attractions like Junagarh Fort and the camel farm are modest, but keep small change handy for auto-rickshaws and tips. Street food meals cost 50-100 INR, while sit-down restaurants charge 300-500 INR for two. Avoid peak tourist season (December-January) when hotel prices can double.
π Best Time to Visit
The ideal time to visit Bikaner is from October to March, when daytime temperatures range from 20Β°C to 30Β°C. The Bikaner Camel Festival in January is a major highlight, featuring camel races and folk performances. Summers (April to June) are extremely hot, with temperatures soaring above 45Β°C, so avoid outdoor activities then. Monsoon (July to September) brings occasional rain but also lower hotel rates.
solid writeup, covers most of what a first timer needs. one thing i'd add: the camel farm timing in your day 2 is actually fine for the morning slot too, i went around 10am once and they let us in even though the "official" hours say 2pm, just fewer animals out. also nobody warns you that the road to Deshnoke on the bus is bumpy as hell, take the front seat if u can
for food, skip Gallops tbh. Bhanwar Niwas is gorgeous but the restaurant is overpriced for what it is. walk 5 min to Ristorante Italiano near Kote Gate instead, weird name but the local thali there is 180 and better. and bhujia from Bhikharam Chandmal on Rampuria street beats Haldiram's, fresher and you can watch them fry it
The itinerary is solid, but Day 2 has a timing problem. The camel farm actually opens at 2 PM, which means you can't pair it with Gajner Palace on the way back since the palace gets dark and quiet by then. Better to flip it: do Gajner in the morning for the lakeside tea, then hit the camel farm at 2. Also, the camel milk ice cream is worth trying but order the kulfi version, it's less of an acquired taste than the plain scoop.
been going to Bikaner for work for years and this is honestly more organized than most paid guides. one thing nobody mentions: the Junagarh audio guide is 100 INR extra and totally worth it, the guides inside will quote you 500 for a "tour" that's basically the same info.
for Junagarh specifically, go right at 10 when it opens. by 11:30 the school groups show up and the mirror hall (Sheesh Mahal) gets shoulder to shoulder. also the fort has a section near the back with old biplane and Rolls Royce, easy to miss if you're just following the crowd.
on the bhujia thing, agree with the earlier comment about Bhikharam Chandmal but fwiw the rat temple stalls outside Karni Mata sell a surprisingly good one too, cheaper and fresher than city shops. weird but true.