The camel is rightly known as the Ship of the Desert. A visit to Bikaner is incomplete without a trip to the Camel Farm, with hundreds of camels all over the place.
The National Research Center on Camels, Bikaner, was established by the Central Government in 1984 to promote research on camels. One of a kind in India, it focuses on camel breeding and health, and promotes camel milk and its products.
Read on to plan a memorable visit to the Camel Research Center, Bikaner.
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How to Reach Bikaner Camel Farm?
Bikaner Camel Park is located about 8 km outside the city, along the Jodhpur Bypass. You can drive or take an Auto/taxi ride, preferably a round-trip, as it is difficult to find one on return.
It is good to spend 1-2 hours on campus, enjoying the breeding farm, museum, and delicacies.
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Camel Research Farm Tickets
The entry ticket to the National Research Center on Camel Bikaner is priced nominally.
Entry ticket for Indians (above 5 years): INR 50
Entry ticket for foreign nationals: INR 200
Camera Fees: INR 100
Camel riding fees: INR 100
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Camel Research Center Bikaner Timings
The timing of the visit varies by season.
April to September: 2.00 pm – 6:30 pm
October – March: 12.00 pm – 6:00 pm
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National Camel Research Centre, Bikaner
The National Camel Research Center (NRCC) is the only center in India focused on camel breeding and health.
Get captivated by seeing camels of all colors and sizes, especially the camel calves. There are many things to do at the Bikaner Camel Farm:
1. Camel Museum
As you enter the gates of this massive National Camel Research Center after paying the tickets, the first building on the right is the Camel Museum. The museum is a collection of information and a wide variety of products made from Camel parts.
It is fascinating to see that besides the camel skin, its teeth and hair are also used to make many useful products. There were bags, purses, and belts made from camel leather. In fact, masterpieces were made of camel hide and decorated with intricate Usta art designs. Beautiful carvings on the camel’s teeth were used as decorative items and even jewelry pieces. There were blankets made from camel hair. Even camel dung is used to make paper.
Isn’t it impressive to see how useful the camel is, even its dung?
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2. Camel Breeding Centers
There were multiple breeding areas with camels of all sizes and colors, from big and light brown to small and dark brown. Different areas where female camels were kept and different areas where male camels were kept. There were even enclosures where hybrid breeds were kept.
Walk through the Camel breeding farm in Bikaner past the centers and watch them peeping up at you or busy eating their feed. The most fascinating was watching small camel calves born 1-7 days ago. They were so cute, sitting by their mothers. They were kept at the backside of the Camel dairy farm.
Facts: There were 4 breeds of camels – Mewari, Jaiselmeri, Bikaneri, and Kucchi, with more than 300 camels in the park.
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3. Camel Dairy
Camel milk is considered very healthy and beneficial. It is high in protein but low in saturated fats. The dairy is where lactating camels are kept, and milk is collected. The Camel milk farm is a huge gated compound inside the campus.
Note: Entry to Camel Dairy is prohibited to the public.
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4. Camel Rides
This is the best and most loved by the kids. Small kids need to be accompanied by adults. 2 adults or 3 kids can sit together for a ride. The camel traverses the dunes before returning after a 10-15-minute ride.
Tickets: Camel ride tickets cost INR 100 per person and must be purchased before the main ticket counter.
Our Opinion: Even though kids like Camel rides, we feel it’s not ethical to ride a camel for pleasure. We would suggest you strictly avoid these practices that are not animal-friendly.
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5. Children’s Playground
There is a children’s park on the campus with swings and slides for kids to play with.
This is next to the camel ride area. Kids have a gala time viewing the Ship of the Desert, taking a ride on it, and playing in the park.
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6. Souvenir Shops
A visit to Bikaner isn’t complete without shopping for souvenirs. There are several shops on campus that are reasonably priced. The wide range of decorative items, bags, purses, and footwear made from camel skin, apart from jewelry and fridge magnets, is very attractive.
Note: We were told that camel skin products are made from the skin of dead camels.
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7. Camel Milk Parlour
The excursion to the Camel farm must have ended on a sweet note. As you leave the campus, right next to the main ticket counter is the Milk Parlor. With a variety of delectables like ice cream, flavored milk, kheer, and tea all made from camel milk, it is a tough choice.
Highly recommend: We highly recommend having the Kulfi (a kind of ice cream on a stick) and flavored camel milk.
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Fun Facts about Camels
- The average life span of a camel is 20-25 years.
- The camel calf weighs 35-40 kg at the time of birth.
- The weight of the full-grown Camel can range from 400 – 750 kg, depending on whether it is a female or a male.
- The Camel can yield 3-6 liters of milk daily, and it is full of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, and even Vitamin C.
- A camel’s stomach has 3 compartments.
- A dehydrated camel can drink around 100 liters of water.
Have you visited the Bikaner Camel Research Center yet? Hope our post will help you plan your visit to this Camel breeding center in Bikaner. Do share your experiences with us in the comments.
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