Golden
splendour amid the desert, Jaisalmer - the golden beauty, etched in yellow
sandstone. Perched atop the Trikuta Hill, it stands tall against
miles of gleaming sand. Epitomising the desolate, awesome charm of the
desert. Jaisalmer, the city of the golden fort is a fantasy in yellow
sandstone in the heart of the Thar Desert. The city was founded in 1156 by
Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput King.
This amber-hued city, in the
heart of the desert, dazzles gloriously in the early morning. The sunset has
a peculiar glow here. As the night descends, the sky goes up in flames,
which fade leaving a few embers, till it becomes black. A breathtaking sight
indeed! The sandstone of its myriad buildings pick up on the subtle changes
in the sunlight and change colour accordingly.
Jaisalmer is famous
for cobbled streets, strewn with palaces, forts, temples and havelis. Every
house, here, is exquisitely carved, having filigreed work all over. These
houses date back to 12th – 15th century. And hence Jaisalmer is called ’the
Museum city’. The perfect time to visit the golden city is during the
Desert Festival, held in Jan - Feb. every year, when the city reverberates
to the sound of melodious tunes and rhythms.
| » Major
Attractions of Jaisalmer |
Jaisalmer Fort : Renew yourself amid the past
galore, as you visit the commanding Jaisalmer Fort. The fort stands guard
over the desertscape from its 250 feet high perch on the hill with its wall
following the contours of the hills. The steep cobblestone pathways leading
to the royal palace pass through four gates. The sharp twists and turns make
the fort invincible. The fort has five interconnected palaces with ’jaali’
screens and dainty ’jharokhas’ – all showpieces of Jaisalmer
artisans’ talent.
Jain Temples : Within the
citadel are the splendorous Jain temples, dedicated to Rishabdevji,
Sambhavnathji and Parshvanathji. The Parshvanathji Temple is the oldest and
the most beautiful of the Jain temples. Human and animal figures are carved
on the walls of its sanctum and the rising dome or ’shikhar’ is
crowned by an amalak and a waterpot containing a lotus flower.
Desert Festival : During the three day long festival,
Jaisalmer reverberates with music, colour and joy, displaying its glorious
past and rich culture. Under the full moon, the vigorous folk dancers sway
to the enchanting music. The turban tying contest and Mr. Desert contest add
to the enthusiasm. A trip to Sam sand dunes, where one can view folk
musicians performing and even enjoy a camel safari, marks the finale of this
colourful extravaganza.
Desert National Park :
Come, see the rolling landscape of the Sam sand dunes. Head on for a
wild experience, as you may encounter the Indian Gazelle, Chinkara Eagle and
exotic avian variety in this 3000 sq. km. vast protected Biosphere Reserve.
The park lies to the south-west of Jaisalmer.
Patwon-ki-Haveli
: It is the grandest mansion in Jaisalmer, not to be missed at all. This
five haveli wonder has its ceiling supported by exquisitely carved pillars
and its delicately chiselled balconies surely leave you mesmerised.
Gadi
Sagar : The water tank towards the south of the city walls once provided
drinking water to the inhabitants of the city. Surrounded by small temples
and shrines, it also has a wide variety of waterfowl gathering there during
the winter season. A beautiful sandstone gateway, the Tilon ki pol arches
across the road, down to the tank.
| » Places to
Stay in Jaisalmer |
Being one of the major cities of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer is well
equipped with standard and luxurious hotels as well as budget
accommodations. There is a good choice of budget hotels to choose from. Many
hotels provide hot water and styled toilets.
Jaisalmer has got extreme climate. Best time to visit from
October to February.
Shop for exquisitely carved wooden boxes in tiny curio shops.
Traditional rugs, handwoven blankets and shawls in typical Rajasthani color
and weave are also available. Mirror work, embroided article silver jewelry.
Trickles and curios are other boys of Jaisalmer. The shopping spots are
within the fort and include sadar Bazar, sonaron ka Bass Manak Chowk,
pansari bazar, Gandhi Darshan, Seema gram, Rajsthani Govt. shop and Khadi
Gramodyog Emporium.
Air : The nearest airport is Jodhpur (285 km)
Rail : Jaisalmer is 290-km from Jodhpur via
Pokhran, Dechu and Balesar or 330-km from Bikaner via Pokhran and Phalodi.
It is well connected by train with Jodhpur and other major cities of the
country by a meter gauge line.
Road : A good
network of roads joins Jaisalmer with Jodhpur and many other destinations in
and around Rajasthan.
Jaisalmer
Tours
