Events

Rao Bika formally establishes the city of Bikaner on 12 October 1488 in the Jangladesh desert, founding the Kingdom of Bikaner.

12 October 1488 – 12 October 1488

The battle where Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi with artillery and flanking tactics, founding the Mughal Empire on 21 April 1526.

21 April 1526 – 21 April 1526

Babur's second decisive victory, defeating Rana Sanga of Mewar in 1527 and permanently establishing Mughal dominance.

17 March 1527 – 17 March 1527

Sher Shah Suri defeats Humayun at Bilgram, forcing the Mughal emperor into a 15-year exile.

17 May 1540 – 17 May 1540

Rao Jait Singh of Bikaner is killed at the Battle of Saheba (1541) fighting Rao Maldev of Marwar, temporarily ending Bikaner's independence.

1 January 1541

Rao Kalyan Mal of Bikaner allies with Sher Shah Suri and recovers his kingdom from Rao Maldev of Marwar (c. 1545).

1 January 1545

Akbar's regent Bairam Khan defeated Hindu general Hemu in 1556, securing the Mughal Empire for the 13-year-old emperor.

5 November 1556 – 5 November 1556

The 1562 marriage of Akbar with Jodha Bai (Harka Bai) of Amber — the founding act of the Rajput-Mughal alliance that transformed Indian politics.

6 February 1562 – 6 February 1562

Akbar's landmark abolition of the discriminatory tax on non-Muslims in 1564, a pillar of his Sulh-e-Kul (universal peace) policy.

1 January 1564

Akbar's personal siege of Chittorgarh (1567-68) ended in the third jauhar, the death of heroes Jaimal and Patta, and the permanent abandonment of the ancient Mewar capital.

20 October 1567 – 23 February 1568

Rao Kalyan Mal of Bikaner formally acknowledges Akbar's suzerainty at the Nagaur durbar (November 1570), forging the Mughal alliance that would define Bikaner for two centuries.

1 November 1570

The legendary clash on 18 June 1576 where Maharana Pratap fought Akbar's army led by Man Singh I — Pratap survived on his dying horse Chetak to fight another day.

18 June 1576 – 18 June 1576

Akbar proclaims Din-i-Ilahi, a syncretic divine faith blending Islam, Hinduism, and other traditions.

1 January 1582

Raja Rai Singh of Bikaner commands Mughal campaigns in the Deccan (1587–1592) under Akbar, demonstrating Bikaner's military value to the empire.

1 January 1587 – 1 January 1592

Raja Rai Singh commissions Junagarh Fort (Chintamani Durg) in 1589; completed 1594 — a 37-bastion fort on flat ground that has never been conquered in its history.

1 January 1589 – 1 January 1594

The 1615 peace accord ending Mewar-Mughal conflict — brokered by Prince Khurram, it preserved Mewar's dignity while acknowledging Mughal supremacy.

5 February 1615

Shah Jahan's 22-year architectural masterpiece (1632-1653) — a marble mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal and the world's greatest monument to love.

1 January 1632 – 1 January 1653

The fratricidal war of 1657-58 in which Aurangzeb defeated all three brothers, imprisoned Shah Jahan, and seized the Mughal throne.

1 January 1657 – 21 July 1658

Aurangzeb defeats Dara Shikoh in the decisive battle of the Mughal War of Succession, near Agra.

29 May 1658 – 29 May 1658

Aurangzeb orders execution of Crown Prince Dara Shikoh on charges of apostasy in Delhi, 1659.

30 August 1659 – 30 August 1659

Aurangzeb reverses 115 years of Mughal tolerance and reimposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims in 1679.

2 April 1679

Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner commands the seven-month Mughal siege of Golconda Fort; Sultanate surrenders 21 October 1687, earning him the 'Maharaja' title from Aurangzeb.

1 January 1687 – 21 October 1687

Sawai Jai Singh II's network of five stone astronomical observatories (1724-1735) — Jaipur's Jantar Mantar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the world's largest sundial.

1 January 1724 – 1 January 1735

Sawai Jai Singh II founded India's first planned city on 18 November 1727, designed on a Vedic grid by architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya.

18 November 1727