The main courtyard of the palace inside the Junagarh fort in Bikaner was designed for celebrating festivals like Diwali and Holi in the royal family.
I took a huge ramp leading to the courtyard that opened up suddenly casting a magical spell on me. I stood there for a while marveling at every edge and corner, the walls and the ceiling all of which were decorated with ornate carvings on marble and red sandstone.
In the center was a huge pool that was meant for filling with colored water for Holi and at the center of that was an umbrella-like structure made in marble with a seating arrangement. This was perhaps a gathering place for the members of the royal family and the guests for the festival.
The access to this central slab was via a causeway that was no less beautiful being made in with a parapet sidewall interrupted with nets carved again in stone.
The courtyard was surrounded by several double-storied palatial rooms that had exterior galleries on one side of an open view of the people playing colors below while on the other side were several windows that were permanently covered with wooden grills through which the royal ladies would watch the show.
On the third side, I could see four very tall pillars in red sandstone supporting a cantilevered roof and a strikingly beautiful Jharonka or a decorated window for the queen to be seated and have a panoramic view of the festivities on the ground floor especially the pond.
The Jharonka was decorated with royal blue glazed tiles interwoven with yellow patterns. The ceiling also was painted with an interlaced floral pattern.
A relatively small door opened up into another courtyard that was a private place of gathering for the ladies of the royal family including the queen and the concubines.
This place was a bit smaller but more enchanting in that it was all made of either marble or whitewashed with ivory lime.
There are several small and big royal windows or Jharonkas that are elaborately ornamented in a mix of brown and off-white Rajasthani patterns.
Overall my impression of the two courtyards inside the Junagarh Fort of Bikaner was that of superlatives ranging from grandiose and flamboyant to magniloquent and pompous, take your pick.
Have you been to a palace that was mesmerizingly-beautiful and captivated your mind like never before?
I would be interested in knowing your experience and seeing a photo or two if possible.
Until then… Happy Guiding 
Accessibility Features
The Junagarh Fort Palace is entirely accessible right from the street level up to the main courtyard inside.
This huge ramp is especially a significant feature in this regard and it also has serrated tiles to prevent slippage.
Here’s a snapshot:
Ramp Access.
A wheelchair-accessible Entrance.
A wheelchair-accessible Parking.
A wheelchair-accessible Restroom/Toilet.
