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Explore one of the best cities of Rajasthan,
famous for its temples, festivals and forts.
 Amber
Fort
Jaisalmer
Fort
Jaisalmer
Jain Temples
Desert
Festival
Budget
Hotels
Decide your favourite colour and pick a city to
match, Rajasthan's kaleidoscope of colours covers all.
Bastions of history, bristling with memories,
these splendid treasures stand battling the vageries of time.
Fort
Amber
The
City Palace, Jaipur
Wind
Palace, Jaipur
Chittaurgarh
Fort
City
Palace, Udaipur
Jaisalmer
Fort
Mehrangarh
Fort
Nahargarh
Fort, Jaipur
The desert sands shimmer and pulsate with an
energy and a spirit of festivity permeates the air, every season
provides many reasons to celebrate.
Camel
Festival
Mewar
Festival
Elephant
Festival
Gangaur
Festival
Pushkar
Festival
Desert
Festival
Ride a camel over the dunes or horses through
the hillside, speed ahead in a jeep and camp under open skies.
A delicate ecosystem, part desert part marshy
lands and even a small section of lush water filled valleys, sports a
wildlife rich in variety.
Whichever Budget Hotel you choose you will
always experience a traditional hospitality that you may never want to
forget.
Jaipur
Budget Hotels
Jaisalmer
Budget Hotels
Bharatpur
Budget Hotels
Bikaner
Budget Hotels
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Rajasthan Tours Travel » Architectural
Treasures » Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer Fort
Magic of Architecture
The Jaisalmer Fort rises above its city like a mirage from the sands. Two
hundred and fifty feet tall and reinforced by an imposing crenellated
sandstone wall 30 feet high, it has 99 bastions. Built in 1156 by the
Rajput ruler Jaisala, it is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan.In those
days of yore the enitre kingdom lay ensconced within the fort, the palace
was built as an inner citadel surrounded by the city and guarded by the
fortified walls. Since then this fort has weathered many battles between
the Bhattis, the Mughals of Delhi and the Rathores of Jodhpur.
In
the middle ages this town also became an important trade destination as it
lay on the caravan route that connected India to Persia, Egypt, Africa,
Arabia and the middle East. The town prospered as the merchants grew and
finally it spilled outside of the fort where with their newly gained
wealth the merchants and settlers built new homes and ornately carved
havelis. The most amazing thing though is the fact that to this day it is
a living fort where 25% of the city's population still resides. Within,
its carless streets are packed with houses, handicraft shops and beauty
parlours, and honeycombed with narrow, winding lanes paved in stone. The
Raj Mahal or Royal Palace inside the fort complex is also a stunning
sight, it shows the golden fort at its burnished best. The fort also
contains seven beautiful Jain temples, the Parshvanath Temple being the
most impressive of these. The oldest temple in the fort however is the
Hindu Lakshminath Temple. The poky little basement called the Gyan Bhandar
is another revelation, it contains hundreds of precious palm leaf
manuscripts and paintings, some nearly 1,000 years old.
It's an extraordinary, resonant experience to wander around the lanes
inside this animated museum. An ancient fort alive with people going about
their daily routines. The views from the fort are equally enchanting, the
sandy Thar desert stretches on for miles and the city nestled below glows
as the sun turns its sandstone havelis into an alchemist's dream.
Weather Watch
Situated in the heart of the great Thar Desert, climate of Jaisalmer is
of a typical desert character. The best time to visit this city is the
winter (November to February) when gentle sunlight makes the city glow. We
recommend you come between January and Feburary, while the Desert Festival
is on.
Shopping Spree
The lanes inside the fort are packed with shops selling trinkets and
curios, fabrics replete with embroidery and mirror work, traditional rugs,
blankets and silver jewelry. This market includes Sadar Bazar, Sonaron ka
Bass, Manak Chowk, Pansari Bazar, Gandhi Darshan, Seema Gram, Rajsthani
Govt. Shop and Khadi Gramodyog Emporium.
Soak in the Surroundings
Jaisalmer
is the most exotic of all of Rajasthan's cities. With its golden fort,
desert dunes, painted houses and elaborately carved havelis. Take a walk
through the town and enjoy the craftsmanship of architects who worked so
diligently on the sandstone mansions that they built, filling up facades
with sculptural filigree, screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful
balconies. The most famous of these is the Patwa Haveli. The Gadisar Lake
in the midst of these golden dunes is a charming attraction and a popular
picnic spot. The Jaisalmer Folklore Museum contains interesting
traditional wares and also puppets. If you happen to visit during the
Desert Festival that falls between January and Feburary you are in for a
real treat, it's the time when the town comes alive with dance, music,
crafts, camel races, turban-tying competitions and many contests and
festivals. Irrespective of what time of the year it is, the one must do
thing when you come to Jaisalmer, is go on a camel safari. You can choose
to be as adventerous as you wish, ride around for an hour during sunset or
go on a 2-day safari, make it as long or as short as you want, but miss it
you shouldn't.
Getting There
Air : The nearest airport is 285 km that links to and
other parts of India.
Rail : Jaisalmer is connected with by night train
service and also to major cities in India.
Road : Well connected by road with all the major cities
of India. Direct bus services to , Mount Abu, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Barmer,
Ajmer, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Bhuj.
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