Bikaner

Bikaner, the capital of a Rajput state, lies in a desolate tract, 250 miles WSW. of Delhi. It is surrounded by a battlemented wall of 3½ miles in circuit, and from a distance presents a magnificent appearance; but many of the carved buildings for which it is notable are situated in narrow and dirty lanes, and the people are extremely dirty. There are seven Jain monasteries. Pottery, stone-cutting, and carving, the making of a white candy and of blankets, are amongst the industries of the place. Pop. (1891) 56,262.—The state contains 23,090 sq. m., and a pop. of 831,955. The Rajputs are the dominant race; but Jâts form the great body of the inhabitants. The greater part of the state is a dreary, undulating plain interspersed with shifting sandhills, grass, and jungle bushes. The horses, cattle, and buffaloes of Bikaner are famous. The climate is remarkable for extreme changes of temperature.