Bikaner district is an arid and rocky scrubland located in the state of Rajasthan. It is situated on an elevated ground, surrounded by a seven-kilometre-long embattled wall marked by five gates. Bikaner was founded by Rao Bikaji, son of Rao Jodhaji of Marwar, in 1488. Bikaner is now a trade centre for wool, hides, building stone, salt, and grain. Bikaneri woollen shawls, blankets, carpets, and sugar candy are famous, and there are also ivory and lacquerware handicrafts. Bikaner is situated in an arid tract of undulating sand hills where the breeding of camel, horses, and sheep is the principal occupation. Bajra (pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), and pulses are the main crops grown in the locality.

Location of Bikaner District
The district of Bikaner is situated in the Northern part of the state of Rajasthan. It lies between the latitudes of 27 degrees 11 minutes to 29 degrees 03 minutes. Longitudinally, it is situated between 71 degrees 54 minutes to 74 degrees 22 minutes. The district covers a total geographical area of 30247.90 Sq. Kms.

History of Bikaner District
Bikaner`s history dates back to 1488 AD when a Rajput prince Rao Bikaji, a descendent of the founder of Jodhpur (1459 AD)., Rao Jodha Ji established his kingdom here. Archaeological surveys and excavations have established beyond doubt that civilization flourished here even before the Harappa period. Excavated statues, coins and carvings of stones and clay stand as testimony to this fact. Ever since the foundations of Bikaner till its accession into the Indian Union in 1947 A.D., and there after it`s integration in Rajasthan state in 30-3-1949 A.D., Bikaner has played a notable role in the history of the country. Bika Ji died in 1504, and his successors gradually extended their possessions. The state adhered loyally to the Mughal emperors, who ruled in Delhi from 1526 to 1857. Rai Singh, who succeeded as chieftain of Bikaner in 1571, became one of Emperor Akbar`s most distinguished generals and was named the first raja of Bikaner. As Mughal dominance ebbed, wars between Bikaner and the princely state of Jodhpur raged intermittently in the 18th century. A treaty establishing British paramountcy was concluded in 1818, and order was restored in the country by British troops. The rebellious behaviour of the local thakurs, or subsidiary chiefs, continued, however, until the princely state was made subject to the Rajputana agency in 1883. The state`s military force included the Bikaner Camel Corps, which gained renown in China during the Boxer Rebellion (1900) and in the Middle East during World War I. In 1949 Bikaner, which by then totalled more than 23,000 square miles (60,000 square km) in area, became part of the Indian state of Rajasthan and was divided into three districts.

Culture of Bikaner District
One of the finest schools of miniatures developed in this desert state. Early examples exist from 1600 on and show a marked Mughal influence .In fact, the local style kept pace with the painters in the Mughals court, and were expressive of their nuances even when the Bikaneri artist tended to be more expressive. There have been cases of Mughals and Bikaneri miniatures being mistaken for each other, even though the painting used backgrounds and colourscapes that are more pleasant ,and the foliage(as if to make up for the desert conditions),more luxuriant. There is a palette of delicate subcolours, and a delicacy in the portrayal of the human and vegetation forms.

Administration of Bikaner District
Bikaner District is a Divisional Commissioner Head Quarter District. District Magistrate and District Collector are at the head of District Administration. District Collector is assisted by three Additional District Magistrates-  Additional District Magistrate (Administrator) HQ Bikaner  Additional District Magistrate (City) HQ Bikaner  Additional District Magistrate (Mandi) BIkaner

Along with 3 ADMs and one ACM there is one CEO, Zila Parishad

For administration and development, the district is divided into five sub-divisions i.e. Bikaner, Loonkaransar, Nokha, Khajuwaka and Dungargarh and eight tehsils, i.e., Bikaner, Kolayat, Nokha, Loonkaransar, Khajuwala, Chhattargarh, Poogal and Dungargarh . The developmental activities of the district are being looked after by five Panchayat Samities, i.e. Bikaner, Kolayat, Nokha, Loonkaransar, and Dungargarh. There are 923 villages and 219 Gram panchayats. There is one independent Sub-Tehsil Bajju situated in Kolayat tehsil for better administration. There is one Municipal Corporation (Bikaner) and six Municipal Councils: Deshnok, Nokha, Dungargarh, Khajuwala, Loonkaransar and Napasar.

Tourism in Bikaner District
Bikaner district abounds in a number of places of tourism. Located here are a number of forts, palaces, places of worship and even a museum and wildlife. Bikaner is well-known for the many beautiful havelis found here, such as the Rampuria Group of Havelies Rikhji Bagri ki Haveli, haveli of Bhairondan Kothari etc. The Junagarh fort built here is an imposing fort which is a major attraction in all of Rajasthan. Devi Kund Sagar, Kalibanga, Gajner Palace, Lakshmi Nath Temple, Kolayat temple, Ratan Behari temple and many more places of tourist attraction await the visitor in Bikaner district.