Bikaner, India

Capital City

With a population of 529,007, Bikaner is a sizable city in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan. The climate is extreme, with summer temperatures exceeding 48°C and winter lows dipping below freezing. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city's municipal corporation oversees a complex web of taxation, service delivery, and financial management. However, Bikaner offers a rich cultural heritage, from the historic Junagarh Fort to the famed Bikaneri bhujia snack. For those who can tolerate the harsh conditions and bureaucratic hoop-jumping, Bikaner may hold appeal as an offbeat Indian destination.