India 15 - Rajasthan (Chapter)

(Marcin) #1

Rajasthan


WESTERN


R AJASTHAN


Rajasthan


EAT iNG


Rajasthan


Bi KANER


is) This guesthouse is in a family home
3km south of the main train station. It’s a
cosy choice and is the base of one of Bikan-
er’s best-known camel-safari operations. It’s
good value, the family is welcoming and
there’s home-cooked food available. It’s op-
posite Gopeshwar Temple; free pick-up from
the main train station.


Hotel ̈Jaswant ̈Bhawan ̈ HOTEl $$


(%2548848, 9001554746; http://www.hoteljaswantb-
hawan.com; s/d ₹800/1000; ai) You’ll get a
lovely welcome at this peaceful, unassuming
200-year-old family home, which has been
been converted into a simple but elegant


guesthouse. Rooms are large, bright and
spotlessly clean and come with family photo-
graphs and quality furniture. The pleasant
garden contains a vegetable patch and a
chicken coop. It’s just outside the back en-


trance of the train station.


Bhairon ̈Vilas ̈ HER iTAGE HOTEl $$$


(%2544751, 9928312283; http://hotelbhaironvilas.
tripod.com; r from ₹2000; aiW) This delight-
ful hotel on the west side of the fort is run


by a former Bikaner prime minister’s great-
grandson. Rooms are mostly large and are
eclectically decorated with antiques, gold-
threaded curtains and old family photo-
graphs (some of the wiring and fittings seem
to be of the same vintage). The restaurant
and quirky bar both have outdoor seating
in the well-kept gardens. Fish for discounts
when it’s quiet. You can sometimes get
rooms for around half price.

Bhanwar ̈Niwas ̈ HER iTAGE HOTEl $$$
(%2529323; http://www.bhanwarniwas.com; Rampuria
St; r ₹4500; ai) Charming rather than luxu-
rious, this fine hotel has been developed out
of the beautiful 1927 Rampuria Haveli – a
gem in the old city, 300m southwest of the
City Kotwali police station. It has 26 indi-
vidual, spacious and delightfully decorated
rooms, featuring stencil-painted wallpaper,
marble or mosaic floors, and antique fur-
nishings. Comfortable common rooms drip
with antiques and are arranged around a
large internal courtyard, which doubles as a
venue for cultural events. Nonguests can eat
dinner here (from 7.30pm to 9.30pm) for a
set ₹600 per person.

5 ̈Eating

All the hotels and guesthouses we cover also
serve food.

Chhotu ̈Motu ̈Joshi ̈ CAFE $
(Station Rd; snacks & sweets ₹10-30; h7am-10pm)
A hidden gem near the train station, this
no-nonsense local favourite not only does
Bikaner’s best lassi (small/large ₹15/25), it
also knocks up very tasty kachori samosa
(two for ₹20) plus lip-smackingly delicious
Bengali sweets such as spongy rasgulla
(three for ₹10) or syrupy gulab jamun (four
for ₹30). It’s also a good spot for breakfast
puri (₹6 each) and vegetable danamethi (an
unusual Rajasthani speciality with a fenu-
greek sauce; ₹25). Not much English spoken,
but there’s an English menu chalked on the
wall behind the counter.

Heeralal’s ̈ MU lTiCU iSiNE $
(Station Rd; mains ₹50-150; h7.30am-10.30pm)
This bright and popular 1st-floor restaurant
serves up pretty good Indian dishes, plus a
few Chinese dishes and pizzas, amid large
banks of plastic flowers. The ground floor is
more of a canteen and is popular for South
Indian breakfasts, lunchtime thalis and its
range of chaat (spicy snacks; ₹25 to ₹60).

Bikaner
æSights
1 Junagarh.............................................C1
2 PoonamChandKothaliHaveli...........A4
3 RampuriaHaveli.................................A4

ÿSleeping
4 BhaironVilas.......................................C 1
5 BhanwarNiwas..................................A3
6 HotelJaswantBhawan......................C3
7 HotelMarudharHeritage...................C3
8 ShantiHouse......................................A4

úEating
BhanwarNiwas...........................(see5)
9 ChhotuMotuJoshi.............................C3
10 Gallops.................................................D1
11 GardenCafé.......................................C2
12 Heeralal's............................................C 3
13 LaxmiHotel........................................C 3

ûDrinking&Nightlife
BhaironVilas...............................(see4)
14 HeeralalHotel.....................................C 3

ïInformation
15 AgarwalInternet.................................C3
16 ATM....................................................C2
17 BankofBarodaATM..........................C 3
18 SBBJATM..........................................C3
19 StateBankofBikaner&Jaipur..........D4
20 StateBankofBikaner&Jaipur...........D1
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