Rajasthan – Phalodi, Bikaner, Nagaur and Khimsar

Phalodi

• A town in the district of Jodhpur, famous for its Moslem salt production and a migratory crane “kurja”.
• Shro Godi Parshah Jain Temple, covered with beautiful mirrors and wall paintings. Also called the Jain Glass Temple.
• Kanooga Haveli is a building over 200 years old. It is half museum and half art gallery, but where everything is for sale.

Bikaner

• Near the Pakistan border and surrounded by the Thar Desert, Junagarh Fort is one of the few Rajisthani forts not built on a hill, built in the late 16th century. It covers 5.28 hectares and is full of red sandstone palaces, temples, pavilions and museums.
• Gajner Palace is a beautiful heritage hotel on the shores of Lake Gajner. It used to be the Hunting Lodge for the Maharajah of Bikaner. At over 24 square kilometres, it was larger than Buckingham Place and Edwina Mountbatten loved to stay there in the 1920s and 1930s.
• Ganga State Museum houses Gupta era terracotta, exquisite gold paintings, carpets, clothing and Rajasthani musical instruments.
• Bhandasar Jain Temple is famous for its mirror work, frescoes and wall paintings. The temple was built in the 15th century and according to legend it was built using 40 000 kg of ghee rather than traditional mortar.

Nagaur

• Halfway between Jodhpur and Bikaner, the 12th century fort (Ahhichatragarh or Fort of the Hooded Cobra) was one of the first Moslem strongholds in India. It is one of the finest examples of Rajput-Mughal architecture.

Khimsar

• This 16th century fort lies on the edge of the Thar Desert and is now built into a hotel.
• The Nila Moti (blue pearl) Trust was set up by a Swiss couple, Monica and Michel Matter, in 1992. They employ over 50 women to create beautiful high quality handcrafts that are then sold worldwide. They were all chosen among the neediest mothers with young children, without distinction of cast or social background.