Bikaner

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Should You Hire a Car in Bikaner? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Bikaner (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Bikaner - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by AI, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.
✅ Car Score 4
🚫 No Car Score 2
🚗 Should you rent a car?

(0= absolutely not; 10 = rental car or heavy dependence on taxis absolutely essential)

Bikaner sits deep in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, surrounded by palaces, forts, dunes, temples, and camel-breeding heritage. It’s quieter than Jaipur and Jodhpur, yet still packed with history and colour. Because the city is compact but the desert spreads endlessly in all directions, travellers often wonder: should you rent a car in Bikaner? The answer depends on how far you plan to travel beyond the city walls. Since rural Rajasthan is vast and attractions are widely spaced, your itinerary determines the ideal choice.

🏰 The Old City: Easy to Explore on Foot or by Auto

Bikaner’s centre is surprisingly walkable once you’re inside the old walls.
You can wander between:

  • Junagarh Fort

  • Rampuria Havelis

  • Local markets

  • Narrow bazaar lanes

Auto-rickshaws fill all remaining gaps, making internal movement easy.

➡ No car needed for the old city or Junagarh Fort.

🚆 Trains Are Great for Arriving and Leaving

Bikaner Junction is well connected.
Regular trains link the city to:

  • Delhi

  • Jaipur

  • Jodhpur

  • Bhatinda

  • Lalgarh

This makes long-distance travel simple and avoids the need to drive between major cities.

➡ Rail is the best option for intercity movement.

🐪 Desert Attractions Change the Equation

Bikaner’s most memorable experiences are outside the centre.
For example:

  • Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke

  • The National Research Centre on Camels

  • Sand dunes and rural villages

  • Wildlife areas and remote shrines

Public transport barely reaches these places.
Meanwhile, autos are not designed for long desert journeys.
Taxis exist, but availability may vary depending on the season.

➡ This is when having your own vehicle becomes useful.

🚗 When Renting a Car Makes Sense

A car helps when:

  • Visiting multiple desert sights in one day

  • Travelling early, late, or outside fixed bus timings

  • Exploring remote shrines and havelis

  • Photographing dunes or village life at sunset

  • Avoiding the heat while waiting for public transport

➡ Driving gives control, comfort, and independence in the desert.

🧭 Quick Decision Table

Your Plans in Bikaner Car Needed?
Staying in old Bikaner ❌ No
Autos within the city ❌ No
One short excursion ❔ Optional
Multiple desert stops ❔ Optional
Full rural touring ✅ Yes

🎯 Conclusion: Should You Rent a Car in Bikaner?

  • ❌ Skip the car if your plans focus on forts, markets, and the old city’s walkable streets.

  • ❔ Consider renting a car if you want to explore desert villages, temples, research centres, and remote landscapes around Bikaner.

Should You Hire a Car in Bikaner — or Not? Advice on this page has been written using Chat GPT, backed up by 20 years experience in the travel industry. This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow. UN flag is a placeholder

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