Gajner

Half dayBest: Oct–MarLakes#lake#palace#wildlife

Lake and palace on a wildlife edge

Why this weekend?

Gajner palaceLake walkSafari

Some links below are affiliate links — booking through them may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The day-by-day plan

Half day · The desert lake
- Morning arrival
- Palace visit
- Lake walk
- Reserve hour
- Bikaner return

Geography & terrain

Gajner lies in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan, 32 km from Bikaner — the lake and the palace estate of the desert, its wildlife reserve and the red-sandstone palace set on the lake's bank in the Thar's dry country.

History & culture

The palace was built in the late 19th–early 20th century as the hunting lodge of the Bikaner rulers — the red sandstone retreat beside the lake, with its later life as the heritage hotel; the lake's wildlife of the wildfowl and the deer, with the estate's role in the region's shikar history, gives Gajner its royal-desert character, and the wildlife reserve's safari now draws the nature visitors.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,000–2,500/night

Mid-range

₹2,500–5,000/night

Comfort

₹5,000+/night

Things to do

Royal palace
Desert lake
Wildlife reserve
Bird winters
Scrub country

Eat & drink

Dal baati churma
Gatte ki sabzi
Lal maans (mutton curry)
Pyaaz kachori

Getting there

Fly: Jaipur (JAI) / Jodhpur (JDH) / Udaipur (UDR)
Train: Jaipur & Jodhpur junctions
Road from Delhi: 300 km / 5 hr to Jaipur
Getting around: Autos, cycle-rickshaws, app taxis in cities

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹5,000–11,000 (2 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,000–5,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Activities: ₹700–1,100

Month by month

Jan · Best: 7–21°C · Light rain
Feb · Good: 10–25°C · Light rain
Mar · Good: 15–31°C · None rain
Apr · Hot: 21–38°C · None rain
May · Hot: 26–42°C · None rain
Jun · Pre-monsoon: 28–40°C · Moderate rain
Jul · Monsoon: 27–35°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 26–34°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon tail: 25–34°C · Moderate rain
Oct · Good: 18–33°C · Light rain
Nov · Best: 12–28°C · None rain
Dec · Best: 8–23°C · None rain

Practical info

Language: Hindi (Rajasthani dialects) (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Oct–Mar
Connectivity: good 4G in towns
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

The winter's birds make the lake's best season — the morning hours
The reserve's safaris run the department's timings
Pairs with Bikaner's fort and Deshnoke for the day

Frequently asked questions

What is Gajner?

The royal lake estate of the Bikaner rulers in the Thar.

What is there to do?

The palace, the lake's birds and the wildlife reserve.

How long is the visit?

A half day from Bikaner.