Jaisalmer

Places of Interest - India


Jaisalmer-Fort-Rajasthan-India-Hilltop


introduction


Jaisalmer lies in the eponymous district in the Thar Desert, on the border between India and Pakistan. The city owes its origins, in 1156, to the strategic location on the famous camel route between India and Central Asia. Rich traders built palaces, forts and houses with beautiful sand- and stone operations. Jaisalmer grew in importance and has not lost any of its luster; high towers, one of the most beautiful fortresses in India while many haveli adorn the city as well.

 

With the rise of Bombay, the interest in the city declined, although Jaisalmer was again highly regarded during the Pakistan wars in 1965 and 1971. You can also visit many interesting museums in Jaisalmer and many tourists will book a camel safari to the Sam sand dunes in the nearby desert. In February, the popular "desert festival" is organized here.


highlights


Old town:

The fort complex of Jaisalmer can be seen as the literal and figurative highlight of the city. The whole was built in 1156 by Jaisala (Rajput leader) on the 80 meter high hill Trikuta. It houses a palace, temples, houses with havelis and numerous small alleys and streets. Until today, about a quarter of the local population of the old city lives in the complex.

 

The most important building of the fort is the palace that you can (partly) visit as a tourist. After a number of gates and a courtyard where once (military) parades were held you come to the seven-storey palace which gives you a beautiful view of the city. The highlight is the small but very elegant Grade Mahal mirrored and painted gallery with, among other things, 15th century sculptures.

 

Take a look at at least one of the seven yellow sandstone Jain temples in the forts complex that together form a labyrinth. These were built between the 12th and 15th century and contain beautiful stone treatments. 

 

Jaisalmer contains several places with beautiful havelis. The most admirable must be the Patwa-ki-Haveli in the heart of the old city. It was built between the years 1800 and 1860 by five Jain brothers who were all jewelers by profession. Even though the work is the most beautiful from the outside you have also a beautiful view over the Jaisalmer fort. In addition, the house is decorated with 19th century furniture.


Thar desert:

The Thar desert with all its legends and myths lies on the border between India and Pakistan and is mostly visited as a camel safari from Jaisalmer. The desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert lies for a third in Pakistan and the rest in the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan (60%).

 

The largest part is rock and a small part in the extreme west of the desert, consists of sand. The emergence of the Thar Desert is uncertain. Some geologists believe that the desert is four to ten thousand years old, but others think that desertification started much earlier.

 

The area is characterized by the extreme temperatures of 45°C in the summer to below the freezing point in the winter. The rainfall is uncertain and irregular, and the annual total varies between 120 mm in the far west and 375 mm to the east. See the tours to the desert. 

 

Other attractions:

  • The Desert Culture Center Museum, Tilon-ki-Pol (Gadi Sagar lake) and the alim Singh-ki-Haveli.


tips & advice (2004)


Jaisalmer airport has been closed for years because of the (terrorism) threat from Pakistan. About a kilometer east of the center is the train station. From here you can travel to Delhi via Jodhpur. Just south-west of the center is a bus stop from where buses go to, among others, Bikaner, Jodphur and Jaipur.

 

Jaisalmer - Jodphur: there are several trains going to and from Jodphur. The express train (number 4809) leaves at 23:15 and arrives in Jodphur at 05:15 in the morning. Costs are 122 Rs for a "sleeper" but you can also reserve an AC place. There is a train reservation office at the station.


  • Name: Hotel Golden City

Address: north of Gandhi Chowk

Price: 60Rs (single)

Phone nr. : 251664

Email: hotelgoldencity@hotmail.com

 

Content:

Quiet and yet in the middle of the city; this hotel is a great choice if you want to stay in the city of Jaisalmer for a few days. There is a choice of rooms - I stayed in a small very cheap room - but there are also better and larger rooms for rent with balcony and TV.

 

In the garden there is a small swimming pool and safaris can be arranged to the nearby Thar desert.


Jaisalmer-Thar-Dessert-Rajasthan-India-Resting

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