Jaisalmer

Rajasthan, the land of the kings, in India at its exotic and colourful best with its battle-scarred forts, its palaces of breathtaking grandeur and whimsical charm, its riotous colours and even its romantic sense of pride and honour. Jaisalmer is a great place to simply wander. The old city was once completely surrounded by an extensive wall, much of which has sadly been ripped away in recent times for building material. Some of it remains, however, including the city gates and, inside them, the massive fort which rises above the city and is the essence of Jaisalmer. The main market area is directly below the hill, while the banks, the new palace and several other shops and offices are near the Amar Sagar Gate to the west.


Jaisalmer History

The 'Golden City' of Jaisalmer was founded in the year 1156 by a Bhatti Rajput prime Jaisala named the city from the vulnerable former capital of Lodhruva, 15 kms to the southeast. The succession of Maharajas of Jaisalmer trace their lineage back to the ruler of Bhatti Rajput Clan Jailasimha. It was in fulfillment of Lord Krishna's prophecy that a distant scion of his Yadav clan would build a kingdom here. There was water on the hill, a miracle performed by Krishna to quench the thirst of Arjuna. The hilltop offered the safest fort location, dominating and surveying the desert for miles. The Lunar clan of Bhattis is Krishna's descendant, valiant and most feared of the dessert marauders, perennially locked in territorial skirmishes with Jodhpur and Bikaner. One Bhatti scion-Gaj Singh had founded the city of Ghazni in Afghanistan but ultimately lost it to forces from Khorasan. One of his grandsons reclaimed Ghazni, embraced Islam, and came to be called Chagattas (Mughals). They later plundered the land of their ancestors between 1000 and 1025 A.D. Again, led by Babar they came to found the Mughal Empire in India. Today, tourism will soon rival military bases as the pillar of the city's economy. The military bases hardly impinge at all on the life of the old city and only the occasional sound of war planes landing or taking off in the distance ever disturbs the tranquillity of this desert gem.It's not always been so peaceful, of course, since fortresses have rarely been constructed for aesthetic reasons and medieval desert chieftains were not known for their pacific temperaments. Chivarlic rivelry and ferocity between the various Rajput clans were the order of the day and the Bhatti Rajputs of Jaisalmer were regarded as a formidable force throughout the region. While Jaisalmer largely escaped direct conquest by the muslim rulers of Delhi, it did experience its share of sieges and sackings with the inevitable jauhar being declared in the face of inevitable defeat. There is perhaps no Rajasthani city in which you can more easily conjure up the spirit of those times.

Jaisalmer Fair & Festivals

Desert Festival :- Desert Festival is the perfect occasion to take a glimpse into the royal past and affluent cultural heritage of Jaisalmer. The festival offers a breathtaking spectacle of folk dances, traditional songs and various competitions that virtually set the deserted land of Jaisalmer on fire. The festival exudes a delightful spirit and for three days the entire town is clustered with colorfully dressed people.

Jaisalmer Best Season

At an altitude of 793 meters, maximum temperature is 46 degrees Celsius and minimum 354 degrees Celsius. In winter the highest is 14 and lowest is 1-degree Celsius. Therefore the best season to visit Jaisalmer is between October and March.

Attractions

Jaisalmer Fort: The 12th century Jaisalmer Fort is one of the most formidable forts in Rajasthan, India. Perched on Trikuta hill, Jaisalmer Fort is a 250 ft tall and massive fort surrounded by a 30 ft high sandstone wall with 99 bastions, offering a spectacular sight to visitors. The Fort also houses a Jain Temple.

Jaisalmer Havelis: Once the residence of wealthy merchants, the havelis (mansions) of Jaisalmer are famous for their artistic designs and decorations. Their exclusive cutwork, yellow and red stone treatment, and the bracket-shaped decoration of peacocks, never fail to mesmerize the visitors. The Patwon-ki-Haveli, Salim-Singh-ki-Haveli and Nathmalji-ki-Haveli are major tourist attractions in Jaisalmer.

Gadsisar Sagar Lake: A famous picnic spot in the sandy city, Gadsisar Sagar Lake is among the most beautiful tourist attractions in Jaisalmer. It attracts hundreds of migratory birds during the winter season. Bara Bagh: Located on the bank of Gadsisar Sagar Lake, Bara Bagh is an oasis in the desert. The lush green garden provides much-needed relief to the local people.

Tazia Tower: The pagoda like Tazia Tower rises from the Badal Mahal (Palace of Clouds). The beautiful five-tiered tower is known for its beautifully carved balconies on each storey.

Things to Do in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer offers a wide range of leisure options to its visitors. On tours to Jaisalmer, on can enjoy exciting and unforgettable excursions to places like the Desert National Park, famous for its fragile ecosystem and unique flora and fauna; Amar Lake (6 km) famous for summer palaces, finely hewed Jain temples, and gardens; Lodurva (16 km) famous for the ruined Jain Temple and a mythical wish-fulfilling tree; and Akal Wood Fossil Park famous for fossilized logs of trees trunks. Situated at about 42 km from Jaisalmer, Sam Sand Dunes are must visit tourist attractions near Jaisalmer. Enjoying an exciting camel safari on Sam promises to be truly an unforgettable experience. The place also offers breathtaking view of the sunrise and sunset. Another not to be missed tourist attraction in Jaisalmer is its colorful Desert Festival held in Jan-Feb every year.

Jaisalmer also offers exciting shopping experience to its visitors. On tours to Jaisalmer, you can shop for embroidered textiles and carpets, woolen pattu, carpets made from camel hair, tapestry, oil lamps, silver jewelry, finely cut antiques, old stonework, trinkets, and other souvenirs and curios.

Access

How to reach Jaisalmer by Air: Jaisalmer has an airport, which is located 5km from the city center and is well linked by air with New Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur. However it is managed by the Indian Air Force and is operational only from September to March. So Jodhpur airport at a distance of about 285 km is the better option.

How to reach Jaisalmer by Rail: Jaisalmer is well connected by rail with Jodhpur as well as other major cities of India including Agra, Jaipur, New Delhi and Mumbai.

How to reach Jaisalmer by Road: Jaisalmer has a good network of roads and is well connected to other cities of Rajasthan including Jaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner and major cities of India.
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