Jaisalmer

Geography

Rising from the heart of the Thar Desert like a golden mirage is the city of Jaisalmer. A commanding fort etched in yellow sandstone stands, with all its awesome splendor, dominating the amber-hued city
Jaisalmer is a phenomenal 900 kilometres from Delhi and no closer than 275 kilometres from Jodhpur, the nearest big city. The weather is either extremely hot or pretty cold given that Jaisalmer is located in the desert region of Rajasthan. Besides, it's very close to the trouble-prone Indian border with Pakistan. And yet, none of this deters the tourist; if you don't believe this, consider the stats - one foreign tourist out of three visits Jaisalmer. You look into your guide book, ponder the information and still wonder what makes this place such a hot destination? It would be just any Rajasthani town but, looming over the city, towering nearly 100 metres over the city and apparently rising out of the desert haze, is the spectacular golden Jaisalmer Fort. Made of yellow sandstone, the fort inspires wonder at its beauty like perhaps none other in India.

History

The city of Jaisalmer is named after Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput ruler. He founded the city in 1156. A local hermit advised him to set up his new residence on the Tricut Hills, abandoning the old fort at Luderwa. During the medieval times, Jaisalmer served as the main trade route linking India to Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Africa and the West. The 13th century saw the Jaisalmer fort being besieged for 9 years by the emperor of Delhi, Ala-ud-din Khilji. When the defeat of the fort seemed impending, the women folk committed Jauhar (self immolation).
The battle with Ala-ud-din Khilji resulted in the death of Duda, son of Jaitasimha and a Bhatti hero. Jaisalmer continued to be ruled by the descendants of Duda afterwards. The year 1541 saw another battle in Jaisalmer, with Mughal Emperor Himayun. Later Sabala Simha ruled Jaisalmer under the patronage of Mughal Emperor Shahajahan. He earned this right as a reward for battle distinctions in Peshawar. During the British rule, the state of Jaisalmer was the last to sign the Instrument of Agreement with the British.

Jaisalmer Attraction

Jaisalmer Fort : The golden hued fort is a sentinel to the bleak deserts cape from its 80-meter high perch on the hill, housing the entire township within its ramparts. It has an enchanting cow-web of narrow lanes dotted with some lovely havelis, three beautifully sculptured Jain temples dating between the 12th-15th century AD and five interconnected palaces. These fort temples are dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras - Rishabdev, Sambhavnath and Parswanath. The fort is approached through four gateways-Akhaiya Pol, Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol and Hava Pol..

Patwon-Ki-Haveli : One of the most elaborate and magnificent of all Jaisalmer havelis, the Patwon-Ki-Havelibuilt by Guman Chand Patwa, one of the wealthiest merchant of the time took over fifty years to complete. Five storied high with some exquisite carved pillars and extensive corridors and chambers, it is divided into six apartments, two owned by archaeological Survey of India, two by families who operate craft-shops and two private homes. The haveli is built of yellow sandstone with a different design on every window and arch. As you enter the haveli through its magnificent arched gateway, you come across its delicately carved yellow-brown frontage with as many as 60 balconies overlooking it. There are remnants of paintings on some of the inside walls as well as some mirror work. One of the grandest mansions in Jaisalmer, the stone carving far surpasses in beauty the work on brocade and gold.

Nathmalji ki Haveli : The Nathmalji ki Haveli is a late 19th century mansion that was built for Diwan Mohata Nathmal, then Prime Minister of Jaisalmer. Designed by two Muslim brothers Hathi and Lulu, the left and right wings of the haveli was carved out differently by two brothers. Although the motif used by one is not similar to the other, yet they are in perfect harmony with each other and one has to look very closely to spot the dissimilarities. Mighty tuskers carved out of yellow sandstone stand guard to the haveli while the entire façade is embellished with a slew of detailing - horses, elephants, soldiers, flowers and birds. T he walls are dominated by beautiful miniature paintings.

Gaddisar Lake : On your Jaisalmer attraction tours, entertain yourself with boating on shimmering waters of Gadsisar Lake. It is an ideal spot for picnic..

Sam Sand Dunes:No trip is complete to Jaisalmer, without a trip to the picturesque sand dunes of Sam. The ripples on the wind-caressed dunes, that create an enchanting mirage, are a sure delight for a trigger-happy photographer. Various cultural programmed are organized, against the backdrop of these fascinating sand dunes. Exciting camel safaris, allow you to get the real feel of the desert on the camels back.

Jaisalmer Climate

Located near the desert, Jaisalmer has an extreme climate- hot and scorching summers and cool chilly winters. Summers are very hot with the temperature touching 47 degrees while winters are very cold with the thermometer coming down to 8 degrees. The annual total rainfall is relatively low at 15 cm and the best months to visit the region is from October-March.

How To Reach Jaisalmer

Flight : The Jaisalmer Airport is 5 km from the city centre and is managed by the Indian Air Force and is in the cantonment area . Note: The airport is operational only during the season (September-March)..

Train : Jaisalmer is accessible from Jodhpur by the IJPJ Express and the Jodhpur Express, both of which are daily trains. It is possible to connect to further destinations from Jodhpur. There is a Railway Reservation counter at the Railway Station and the timings are 0800-2000 hrs Railway station: The Jaisalmer Railway Station is a 10-minute drive from Gadi Sagar Pol..

Road :Jaisalmer is well-connected to Bikaner and Jodhpur by good, motorable roads. There are luxury buses plying between Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaipur. The main Bus Stand is located at a short distance from the Railway Station. However, all major buses start from a Bus Depot, which is adjacent to the Hotel Neeraj, in the city centre.