Jaisalmer Travel Guide
JAISALMER - THE GLORY OF THE GOLDEN FORT
Unlike any other city, this desert fortress is one of Rajasthan's most exotic
and unusual towns. Jaisalmer, an important ancient trading centre because of
its strategic location on the camel trade routes, is often described as the
'golden city'. The havelis, built by merchants of the 19th century, are exquisitely
carved from golden-yellow sandstone and are still in a beautiful condition.
The fort built by Rawal Jaisal in the 12th century, stands on the 80 metre high
Trikuta hill, with beautifully carved Jain temples.
PLACES TO VISIT
Jaisalmer Fort : Known as SONAR QUILA, rising from the sand , the mega
structure merges with the golden hues of the desert ambience and the setting
suns in its most colourful shades gives it a fairy tale look. Its simply a magic,
the bastions envelops a whole townships that consist of palace complex various
security sources and the havelis of rich merchants carved with an incredibly
light touch, several temples and the residential complexes of the armies and
traders placed strategically on the trade route, from where the ancient caravans
passed en-route passing all the riches for the prosperity to an otherwise non
source full kingdom.
These merchants served and acquire a great deal of power and noble status
in the royal courts of Bhatti Rajputs who founded the state in the 12th century
and proceeded further. But the rich merchant inspired by the classic style
of the royals , constructed huge mansions (havelis) adjacent to each other
in the nature of medieval culture and profusely decorated walls and ceilings
and intricately carved outdoors and interiors. The colourful art forms and
some how side kind the royal heritage and made it appear more pale in comparison
. The craftsmen were usually muslims who were induced on their journey to
exhibit their skills. The results was architectural purity that cannot be
seen elsewhere.
Deep in the heart of the Thar Desert is Jaisalmer, one of the last princely
bastions in the region. Founded on what was the cross - road of lucrative
trade routes, this remote settlement came to be celebrated for the valour
of its rulers, and for the aesthetic sense represented by their palaces and
havelis.
The rich merchants engaged stone - craftsmen who worked delicately on the
sandstone mansions they built, filling up facades with sculptural filigree,
screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful balconies. Today, these veritable
art - museums are still inhabited, and their colourful celebrations and festivals
have placed Jaisalmer Fort firmly on the world tourism map.
The golden - yellow sandstone of Jaisalmer Fort, over 800 years old, crowns
the Trikuta Hill. Within its walls, defended by 99 turrets, lies the old city,
nearly a quarter of modern Jaisalmer. Seen from outside, the sight must be
almost identical to what was seen by merchants on their overland camel caravans
to central Asia. Once this desert outpost was an important gate for the trade
route, and Jaisalmer grew wealthy on the proceeds. But the advent of commercial
shipping relegated the town to relative obscurity.
EXCURSIONS
Lodurva, the ancient capital of Jaisalmer and an important Jain pilgrim centre
lies 16 km to the west. Among the ruins of the city is a complex of magnificent
Jain temples with ornate archway at the entrance, perhaps the finest of its
kind in Rajasthan.
The Akal Wood Fossil Park (17km) on the road to Barmer is an interesting stop
to the fossilised remains of a forest that grew 180 million years ago. Not far
from there is another prehistoric site at Kandiala where different kinds of
fossils are found – still older, but undated fossilised rocks, with tiny sea
shells embedded in them, that show that this sandy desert wasteland was once
part of the ocean bed!
The Sand Dunes at Sam : No trip to Jaisalmer is complete without a visit to
the sand dunes at Sam, 42 km away, on the edge of the Desert National Park.
The varying patterns, ripples and waves that the wind creates on the undulating,
ever changing dunes is awesome to behold. The sunsets at Sam are particularly
beautiful, with the desert changing into a kaleidoscope of red, orange and copper
before darkness engulfs the desert in a blanket of sheer black.
The Desert National Park (45km) stretches across 3000km of protected biosphere, where the fragile ecosystem of the desert is preserved in its natural environs. The native flora consists of cacti, thorny shrubs, bushes and trees and vegetation that survives in the dry and arid soil grow here and some of the local fauna- few animal species like the monitor lizard, desert foxes, porcupines and herds of black buck live in this protected park.
PARKS IN JAISALMER
Desert National Park : The Desert National Park is an excellent example
of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert and its rich fauna. The Sudashri forest
post is the most ideal place for observing wildlife in the Desert National Park.
Sand dunes form less than 20 percent of the Park, which consists of craggy rocks,
pavements and compact salt lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes.
Its inhabitants include the blackbuck, chinkara, wolf, Indian fox, desert fox,
hare and desert cat. Flights of sandfrouse start coming to waterholes from sunrise
onwards. One also hear the morning call of the grey partridge. Blue tailed and
green bee-eaters, drongos, common and bush quail and Indian rollers are birds,
which are commonly found around waterholes. the park is also home to the great
Indian Bustard which is peril of extinction..
Akal Wood Fossil Park : Just 17 kms from Jaisalmer and a kilometre away
from the Barmer Road are fossilised remains of 180 million-year-old forests.
These are beautiful forest vistas and any forester around can show you. There
is a ticket to visit the Park for foreigners Rs 20 and locals Rs 5 plus Rs 10
for vehicle.
HAVELIS IN JAISALMER
Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli : Two architect brothers built it in the 19th century.
Interestingly, while one concentrated on the right, the other concentrated on
the left and the result is a symphony epitomising the side by side symmetry
during construction. Paintings in miniature style monopolise the walls in the
interior. Mighty tuskers carved out of yellow sandstone stand guard to the haveli.
Salim Singh Ki Haveli : This haveli was built about 300 years ago and
a part of it is still occupied. Salim Singh was the prime minister when Jaisalmer
was the capital of the princely state and his mansion has a beautifully arched
roof with superb carved brackets in the form of Peacocks. The mansion is just
below the hill and it is said that once it had two additional wooden storeys
in an attempt to make it as high as the maharaja's palace, but the maharaja
had the upper storey torn down.
Patwon-Ji-Ki-Haveli : This is one of the largest and most elaborate Haveli
in Jaisalmer and stands in a narrow lane. It is five storeys high and is extensively
carved. It is divided into six apartments, two owned by archaeological Survey
of India, two by families who operate craft-shops and two private homes. There
are remnants of paintings on some of the inside walls as well as some mirror
work.
Tazia Tower : The delicate pagoda like Tazia Tower rises from Badal Mahal
(Cloud Palace). Rising in its five-tiered splendour, with each storey graced
by a delicately carved balcony, the tower is of historical significance. Muslim
craftsmen built it in the shape of a Tazia and gifted it to their royal patron.
LAKES IN JAISALMER
Godi Sagar : This tank, south of the city walls, once held the town
water supply, and befitting its importance in providing precious water to the
inhabitants of this arid city, it is sourrounded by small temples and shrines.
The beautiful yellow sandstone gateway arching across the road down to the tank
is the Tilon-ki-Pol, and is said to have been built by a famous prostitute,
Tilon . When she offered to pay to have this gateway constructed, the Maharaja
refused permission under it to go down to the tank and he felt that this would
be beneath his dignity. While he was away, she built the gate , adding a Krishna
temple on top so that king could not tear it down.
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