Bikaner & Mount Abu

About The Destination

Bikaner and Mount Abu are usually visited on different legs of a Rajasthan trip, but both add a different flavor to the desert-and-palace circuit most travelers expect. Bikaner, deep in the Thar Desert, is known for Junagarh Fort and its camel breeding farm, with a quieter, less touristy old city than Jaipur or Jodhpur.

Mount Abu, by contrast, is Rajasthan's only hill station, offering cooler air, forested hills and the intricately carved marble Dilwara Temples - a welcome change of pace, especially when paired with a Udaipur stay.

Top Attractions

Places To Visit

Nakki Lake

A small lake at the center of Mount Abu town, popular for boating and evening walks.

Intricately carved Rajasthan heritage architecture

Dilwara Temples

A group of Jain temples famous for their extraordinarily detailed marble carving, among the finest in India.

Mount Abu hilltop viewpoint over Nakki Lake

Guru Shikhar

The highest peak in the Aravalli Range, with sweeping views over the surrounding hills.

Junagarh Fort

A fort built at ground level rather than on a hilltop, with ornate palaces and museums inside.

Bikaner's Old City

Havelis and narrow lanes with a quieter, more local feel than Rajasthan's more visited cities.

Things To Do

Experiences You Shouldn’t Miss

An evening boat ride on Nakki Lake
A visit to the Dilwara Temples to see the marble carving up close
A sunset viewpoint stop at Guru Shikhar
Exploring Junagarh Fort's palaces and museums in Bikaner
A walk through Bikaner's quieter old-city lanes

Plan Your Visit

Best Time & Travel Info

Best Time

October to March for Bikaner's desert climate; March to June and September to November for cooler Mount Abu

Suggested Stay

1-2 days each, usually visited on separate legs of a wider itinerary

Getting There

Bikaner connects well with Jaisalmer; Mount Abu is a scenic drive from Udaipur

Good To Know

Mount Abu is noticeably cooler than the rest of Rajasthan - pack a light sweater

Food & Culture

Food, Culture & Local Life

Bikaner is well known across India for its namkeen (savory snacks) and bhujia, produced by local shops that have been perfecting their recipes for generations - a good place to pick up gifts to take home.

Mount Abu's food scene is more mixed, shaped by visitors from Gujarat and Rajasthan alike, with plenty of vegetarian thalis and Gujarati-influenced dishes alongside Rajasthani staples.