Jaisalmer Travel Guide

Jaisalmer Founded by prince Jaisal in 1156, Jaisalmer grew to be a major staging post on the trade route across the forbidding Thar Desert from India to the West. The town is mostly  to the north  of the fort, enclosed  by a wall  built  in 1750. There are four major gateways to the city-malka pol (north), Amar  Sagar pol (west), Baron-ki-pol and  Gadisagar  Pol (south-east).

Rising from the heart of the Thar Desert like a golden mirage is the city of Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer is a place that should exist only in the imagination. Nothing  else in India is remotely similar  to this enchanting city, which has been dubbed  the ‘Golden City’ because of the honey  coloured  imparted  to its stone  imparted  ramparts  by the setting  sun.

The prophecy of Lord Krishna, the head of the Yadav clan, was fulfilled in 1156 AD  when Rawal  Jaisal, a descendant  and a Bhatti  Rajput, built Jaisalmer, perched  on the Trikuta  Hill. Bhatti  Rajputs of  Jaisalmer  were feudal chiefs who  lived  off the forced  levy on the caravans  laden  with precious  silks  and spices  that crossed  the territory enroute Delhi  or Sind. In the past, getting to Jaisalmer was not easy and hence remained  untouched by invaders. But the desert fortress that seems to be straight out of the ‘Tales  of the Arabian  Night’s  still  enchants.

The vision of Jaisalmer’s massive fort thrusting  heavenwards  out of the barren  deserts cape  is  unforgettable. The life within  the citadel  conjures  up  images  of medieval  majesty visible  in its narrow lanes strewn  with magnificent  palaces, havelis, temples and of course skilled  artisans  and  ubiquitous  camels.

Places of  Attraction

Gadsisar  Lake: A scenic  rain  water lake with  numerous  beautiful  shrines  around  and a spectacular  avian  variety. The lake is an idyllic spot for outings. This tank, south of the city walls, was once the water supply  of the city  and there are many  small temples  and shrines  around it. Lack of rain has always been a problem which will be alleviated by the laying of a water pipe  to Gadi Sagar.  It attracts the migratory birds.

The Fort: The golden  hued  fort is a sentinel  to the bleak  deserts cape  from  its 80 metre high  perch  on the hill, housing the entire  township within  its ramparts. On the  roughly  triangular-shaped  Trikuta  Hill, the fort stands  76 mts. above  the town. It was built in 1156 by the Rajput ruler Jaisala, and reinforced by subsequent  rulers. About  25% of the old city ‘s seven  storey  palace  fronts onto this. It has an enchanting  cob-web  of narrow  lanes dotted  with some lovely  havelis, three  beautifully  sculptured  Jain  temples  of the 12th -15th century AD and  five interconnected  palaces.
The fort is approached through four gateways-Ashaiya Pol, Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol and Hava Pol. The Suraj Pol, once an outer gate, is flanked by heavy bastions and has bands of decoration seen in local textiles.

Manak Chowk and Havelis: A main marketplace outside the fort leads to the narrow  lanes  dotted  with famous  havelis.

Tazia  Tower: A pagoda like structure  looming  up from  the ‘Badal Mahal’ with beautiful  ‘Taazias’-ornately  decorated  bamboo, paper and tinsel replicas of a bier, carried  out in procession  during  Moharram  by the Muslims.

Havelis: The impressive  mansions  built by  the wealthy  merchants  of Jaisalmer  are known  as havelis, and several  of these  finely sculpted  sandstone  buildings are still in good  condition. Many  have  beautifully  carved  facades, jali  screens  and oriel  windows  overchanging  the  streets  below.

Nathmalji-ki-Haveli: Nearer Gandhi chowk, was built for the prime minister. The late 19th century haveli with intricate architecture is a display of  sheer craftsmanship. The left  and right  wings of the mansion which were carved  by two  brothers  are not identical but  very similar  and balanced  in design. The interior walls are ornate with splendid  miniature  paintings. Yellow sandstone elephants guard the building, and even the front  door is a work of art.

Patwon-Ki-Haveli: The most elaborate and magnificent of all the Jaisalmer havelis. It has exquisitely carved pillars and extensive corridors and chambers. It was originally  built  between  1800  and 1860   by five  Jain  brothers  who made  their  fortunes  in trading jewellery  and fine brocades.
One of the apartments of this five storey high haveli is painted with beautiful murals.

Salim  Singh-Ki-Haveli:  This 300 year  old haveli of Jaisalmer ‘s Prime Minister to a Maharaja  Rawal Gaj  Singh-Salim  Singh, has  a beautiful  blue  cupola  roof with  superbly  carved  brackets  in the form of peacocks. It is near  the fort  entrance  is especially  attractive  with peacock brackets  and because  of its distinctive  and decorative  upper  portion  is often referred  to as the Ship’s  Palace.
This  extraordinary  mansion  in yellow stone is covered  with intricate  carvings  and has an elaborate  projecting  balcony  on the top storey.
The  mansion  is one of the most notable of the array  of havelis.

Jain Temple : The fort has three exquisitely carved Jain temples dedicated to the Jain  Tirthankaras –Rishabdev, Sambhavnath  and  Parswanath.

Laxminath  Temple: This  Hindu  temple, in the centre of the fort, is simpler  than the Jain  temples, although  there  are  some interesting  paintings  in the drum  of the dome. Devotees offer grain, which is distributed before the temple.

Gyan Bhandar or Library: Some of the oldest manuscripts  of India  are found  in this library  established  as  a  part  of  Jain  Temples.

Sunset Point: It is just north of the fort, is popular at sundown for views over Jaisalmer. There is a viewpoint also, from the royal chhatris (memorials) further north.

Museums
Government   Museum : It is close to the RTDC Hotel Moomal and had a limited  but well-captioned  collection  of fossils.

Folklore Museum :- It is located  on the road leading down to the lake. The hill near this museum  is a tremendous  place to soak  up the sunset.

Desert  Cultural  Centre and Museum:- Next to the Tourists  Reception  Centre. It has textiles, old coins, fossils and traditional Rajasthani instruments among other things. Its aim is to preserve Rajasthani’s cultural heritage and conduct research on local history.

Shopping: The local tradition of carving is best seen in little wooden boxes that are intricately pierced in exciting patterns and motifs. Woolen and cotton rugs and blankets, embroidered fabrics, silver jewellery   and trinkets, are available  in shops  that open  off the cobbled  streets.

The Shopping  spots  are within  the fort and include  Sadar Bazaar, Sonaron ka Bas, Manak  Chowk, Pansari  Bazar, Gandhi  Darshan, Seema Gram , Rajasthani  Govt. Shop and  Khadi  Gramodyog  Emporium.

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