Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is a desert city of exceptional beauty and history, a must for any traveller. Like a fairy-tale kingdom it is abounding in ancient palaces, temples and delicately sculpted Havelis. A honey-coloured fort remarkable in its structure emerges from the flat dry sands, soaring upwards. This is one of Rajasthan's most enchanting cities. As the sun sets the sandstone buildings emit a lustrous glow that gives Jaisalmer its appropriate sobriquet, the 'Golden City'. Jaisalmer fort is the second oldest in Rajasthan after Chittor and commands the desertscape from its 250 feet high perch on the hill. Built of soft-yellow sandstone, it is the principal structure in the city. It was constructed at the site of what was once the watering hole and resting-place on the Indo-Persian trade route. Built by Rawal Jaisal, this fort is architecturally unique to India, with its labyrinthine interiors. Jaisalmer was established as a Rajput stronghold in 1156 AD, but was besieged time and again by the marauding forces of the Mughal Army. In the 1570s, relations with the Muslims improved when the Raja of Jaisalmer married one of his daughters to Emperor Akbar. From the seventeenth century onwards, the city prospered as a market centre for traders on the overland routes between India and Central Asia; in the heart of the city, the magnificent Havelis of the merchants bear witness to those times. These Havelis are the pride of Jaisalmer. Near the city center is the Patwon ki Haveli, built by Guman Chand Patwa and his five sons, dealers in brocade, gold and silver embroidery with businesses stretching between Afghanistan and China. The five suites built between 1800 and 1860 are virtually the showpiece of Jaisalmer's legendary architectural wealth.
A tour of Jaisalmer is incomplete without a camel safari and that is perhaps the most romantic way of coursing the Jaisalmer sands. The most picturesque dunes are located some 40 km from Jaisalmer. Wind-caressed slopes are marked with ripples creating an enchanting mirage, a visual illusion of extraordinary splendor. Occasionally you can see the dunes shifting with the strong desert winds. The Jaisalmer desert festival is also an important tourist attraction. It is held annually in the month of February. The desert festival shows off Jaisalmer culture with unparalleled flourish. The tranquil sands sparkle in molten gold and spring to life at different times of the year to celebrate other festivals such as Basant Panchami, Teej, Dussera and Holi.

Patwon Ki Haveli

Festivals in Jaisalmer are playful and animated. Almost all fairs and festivals in Jaisalmer accord a special status to camels, the lifeline of desert Rajasthan. Folk dances and open-air music performances, Camel and horse sports, traditional cuisine, ethnic craft stalls and a variety of colorful desert paraphernalia greet you.
Today, Jaisalmer is a lively hub from where one can trek across beautiful stretches of sand, go on camel safaris deep into the desert, or paradoxically, enjoy the nearby lakes and reservoirs. Jaisalmer is also an exciting place for shopping which, inadvertently helps in ascertaining the social fabric of the region. It is famous for its tablecloths in mirror work and trinkets. Puppets and handmade shoes are other popular items.

Part of Jaisalmer Fort