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Place to See >> Gajner
Palace (32km)
 Gajner
Palace -a summer resort of Bikaner Maharajas -has often
been described as ' an incomparable jewel in the Thar
desert'. Built by Maharaja Ganga Singh ji of Bikaner,
palace stands on the embankment of a lake .The palace
was used by Maharaja for grand shoots and lavish
entertainment. Royalty, both Indian as well as
international, Viceroys and other dignitaries have been
entertained at this grand palace. The architecture of
Gajner palace is truly outstanding. Built in red
sandstone with intricately carved pillars, jharokhas and
screens , the craftsmanship here is amazing.A part of
palace has been transformed into hotel.
 In
the 18th century ,when Maharaja Gaj Singh married a
Jaisalmer Princess, she requested him to build a
pleasure garden which he proceeded to do, also creating
a tank in the process. This is how Gajner was conceived,
and this was added to by the successive rulers, till
maharaja Sardar Singh extended it into a hunting lodge
with an even larger tank. It was this inheritance that
Maharaja Ganga Singh was able to use for diplomatic
gains, perfecting the hunt to a fine art, and contagious
with the hospitality with which it became associated. It
was during his rule too that the new Gajner palace was
designed by sir Swinton Jacob, complete with twin
dressing rooms per room to allow couples to get dressed
at their own pace. While the annex to the main palace
was opened as a hotel in 1976, the palace too is a hotel
now with 25 rooms and a restaurant on the premises. |
