Far out
in the Great Indian Thar Desert, Jaisalmer rises like a mirage from the
sands, a huge fortified city in the middle of nowhere. Architecturally,
the city has a wonderful legacy of old buildings, united by the common
use of local yellow stone and beautifully preserved due to the isolated
location. Enclosed by an imposing sandstone wall, the fort stands on a
hill 250 ft. high.
Some
of the glories of Jaisalmer are the mansions called Havelis of the
Rajput Nobles and merchants. Salim Singh-ki-Haveli has a beautiful
arched roof and exquisitely carved details, with brackets in the form of
peacocks. A large stone Elephant guards the entrance.
Also
visit the spectacular Patwon-ki-Haveli which has exquisitely carved
pillars and extensive corridors and chambers; and the Sagar Tank –
surrounded by a small temple and shrines.
No tour to Jaisalmer
is complete without a trip to the most picturesque dunes of Sam. The
ripples on the wind-caressed dunes that create an enchanting mirage is a
wonderful view. Various cultural programs are organized against the
backdrop of these fascinating sand dunes along with a camel ride to view
the sun set over the sand dunes.
ShoppingShopping
in Jaisalmer can be a heady experience. Jaisalmer is famous for
embroidery, Rajasthani mirror work, rugs, blankets, old stonework and
antique. One can watch sun sets in Jaisalmer as these provide
spectacular sights.
Camel SafariAll travel
agencies and budget hotels has the same tour program : jeep driving,
camel riding, night spent in the"sand dunes" to a cost of
200-600 rupees. All camel tours seems to have more or less the same
concept but do take care with which travel agency you choose to go. The
best seems to be to go with a specialized travel agency (Sahara travels
next to the main gate had very nice offers but make sure that Mr Desert
(!? yes that is his name!) goes along as guide, the price was not higher
than at any other place, 425 rupees). The reason to choose to go with a
travel agency is that you then can make sure that you get an english
speaking camel guide with who you can make your own agreements. If you
book via a budget hotel, you will often end up with a guide that speaks
no or very little english who is probably not very interested in
changing his normal tour and do extras for the 100 rupees per camel that
he gets.
Attractions
- Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer fort was built in 1156 and
is the second oldest in Rajasthan. Two hundred and fifty feet tall
and reinforced by an imposing crenellated sandstone wall 30 feet
high, it has 99 bastion, 92 of which were built between 1633 and
1647. The fort is also known as the Golden Fort, for its amber hue,
attracting a large section of tourists from all around. Almost one
fourth of present Jaisalmer lies inside the complex of this massive
fort. The fort nestles over Trikuta Hill and is guarded by number of
gorgeous havelis, beautifully carved Jain Temples of the 12th-15th
century AD and 5 royal palaces. The Havelis or mansions built by the
wealthy merchants in the 19th century within the complex are famed
for their exquisitely carved sandstone facades. The fort also has 4
gateways - Akhaiyal, Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol and Hava Pol. Today, the
fort has been populated by merchants and shop owners living within
its walls. Small, winding lanes are peppered with houses, temples,
and shops. The Golden Fort of Jaisalmer is alive with people going
about their daily routine lifestyle.
- Government Museum
The Government Museum of Jaisalmer
is situated on Police Line Road near RTDC Hotel Moomal. It was
opened in 1984. the large collection of wood and marine fossils in
the museum gives an insight into the geological past of the area.
The sculpture from the ancient townships of Kiradu and Lodurva
dating back to the 12th century pulsate with youth and grace and
depicts the artistic skill of the time a glass case exhibits the
Great Indian Bustards and Tilor which are birds of the desert.
- Jain Temples
The Parswanath Temple is the oldest and
the most beautiful of the Jain temples. The walls of the sanctum are
carved with animal and human figures. There is a small dome which is
crowned by an amalak and a waterpot containing a lotus flower.
- Folklore Museum
For
anyone interested in seeing the culture of Jaisalmer on display
through the ages, the Lok Sanskritik Sangrahalaya or the Museum of
the Folk Culture situated on the bank of Gadsisar Lake in Mehar Bagh
Garden is a must. This museum was established in 1984 by N.K.
Sharma, a local connoisseur. This well organized museum is divided
into six sections and has a rich collection of paintings,
photographs, costumes, hairstyles and jewellery, utility articles
of rural life, camel and horse decorations, fossils, ornamental
arches, as well as articles connected with folk and cultural
lifestyles.
- Havelis of Jaisalmer
Havelis of Jaisalmer are some
very interesting places to visit. The intricately latticed Havelis
of Jaisalmer are elaborately designed. Patwon-Ki-Haveli, Salim Sing
ki-Haveli, Nathmalji-ki-Haveli all with exquisite lattice work are
worth visiting.
How to reach
- Air
The nearest airport is Jodhpur.
- Rail
Jaisalmer is connected to Jodhpur by a regular
train service.
- Road
Roads in Jaisalmer connects it to major cities
of Rajasthan, which are well linked to rest of the country.
