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 A lively and colourful
event, the Camel Festival is organised by the Department
of Tourism, Art & Culture, Rajasthan in Bikaner every
year. January is just the right month for a desert spree,
and Bikaner just the right place to see the Ships of the
Desert. In the camel country Bikaner, these desert
leviathans pull heavy cart loads, transport grain and even
work at the wells.
The Camel Festival begins with a colourful procession of
bedecked camels against the red sandstone backdrop of the
Junagarh Fort, the festivity advances to the open
sand-spreads of the grounds, followed by the best breed
competition, the tug-of-war contest, camel dance and
acrobatics, etc.
The camels display amazing footwork, dancing gracefully to
the slightest direction of their trainers. Bridal,
bridles, bejewelled necks, jingling anklets and long,
lanky camel shadows on dusky sands cast a magical spell.
Hundreds of tourists and thousands of locals and
dignitaries revel in this man-and-animal affair organised
especially for the tourists.
 The evenings close with a different tenor and tempo
altogether: a traditional rendezvous of renowned artistes
of Rajasthan and the local folk performers.
The jubilant skirt-swirling dancers, the awe inspiring
fire dance, and the dazzling fireworks light up the
fortified desert city of Bikaner.
Bikaner is connected by rail and road with all the major
cities. The nearest airport is at Jodhpur (243 kms.)
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