Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer

The Golden City of India! Jaisalmer is known for housing the only living fort of India called Jaisalmer Fort. It is also referred to as the Sonar Killa (Golden Fort) as the sandcastle is made of golden honey sandstone, giving a shade of golden yellow to the Fort. The Fort consists of shops, hotels, and ancient Havelis, where generations continue to live.

Most of the houses & the architecture are carved from the same sandstone at both the fort and the town below, imbues both with a golden-yellow shade, giving Jaisalmer its unique identity of the Golden City.

History

The Bhati Ruler Rawal Jaisal founded the city in 1156 and named the city after himself, referring to the Hillfort of Jaisal.

Legend says that after the death of the eldest heir of the Rawal clan for the throne of Lodurva, Rawal Jaisal drove out of the kingdom and after that, he went searching for a new place to set up his capital when he met a sage who told him about Krishna’s prophecy that one day a descendant of Yaduvanshi clan would come here and found a new kingdom at the same place. After that, Rawal Jaisal built the mud fort and named it Jaisalmer, and declared it his capital.

Jaisalmer has been notably also known for its Jain community and the beautiful cultural & architectural heritage given by them in the form of the Jain temples, primarily the 16th Tirthankara, Shantinath, and 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanath.

Jaisalmer Fort

If the living style of the bygone era & their people fascinates you then, Jaisalmer fort is your destination to relive the majestic days of the Rajputs & their life. Jaisalmer Fort is an alive fort where the generations continue the legacy of the splendid history.

Gadi Sagar Lake

The Gadisagar lake originally was a manmade water reservoir built by Maharawal Jaisal in 1367 and was a source of water for the people of dry Jaisalmer. Today it houses beautiful shrines, temples, ghats, and Chattris on its bank, making it a perfect location for a romantic walk & a photoshoot.

Camel Safari

Being in the heart of the great Thar desert, Jaisalmer is often referred to as the Sahara of India, and the best place to ride the ship of the desert. Yes, a trip to Jaisalmer is incomplete without a camel safari giving an insight into the rural desert life. The stunning view of the sunset at the dunes will amaze your eyes, so does the soul.

Visit the Havelis

The Havelis in Jaisalmer are the symbol of the richness of the Jain traders and showcase the breath-taking intricate stonework, paintings, artwork & amazing architecture. The must-visit Havelis are the Patwon Ji ki Haveli (cluster of 5 small Havelis), Nathmal Ji ki haveli (known for beautiful gold paintings), & Salim Singh ki Haveli.

Jaisalmer War Museum

Jaisalmer War Museum is a tribute to the brave martyred soldiers of our nation exhibiting their immense strength & their sacrifices in times of war. The idea was conceived by Lieutenant-General Bobby Mathews and developed by the Indian Army’s Dessert Corps. It was opened for public in 2015 only.

Shopping

Whether you are a shopaholic or just adore strolling the colorful lanes of the bazaar, we bet you that you will fall in love with the various bazaars of Jaisalmer famous for their elegant & beautiful items such as the mirror work embroidery, Camel Leather Products, Jewellery, Jaisalmer Fossil Stone. Do explore Manak Chauk, Pansari Bazaar, & Bhatia Bazaar.

Pokharan

Located approximately 110 Km before Jaisalmer, Pokharan is the test site of India’s first successful series of 5 nuclear bomb tests in 1988. Later, the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee led the conference and declared India a full-fledged nuclear state. Pokharan got its popularity after the movie Pokharan starring John Abraham.

Chhatris at Bada Bagh

Bada Bagh (Big Garden) is located 6 Km to the North of the Jaisalmer, featuring the series of the royal cenotaph (Chhatris) of Jaisalmer Maharajas, and depict the honor for the Maharajas. The amazing location of the garden offers a spectacular view of sunset & a place to get some of the legendry photos.

Kuldhara

About 20 Km from Jaisalmer lies the mysterious & abandoned village of Kuldhara. It is said that once open a prosperous village of Kuldhara, was abandoned overnight due to unknown reasons and the villagers cursed that no one would be able to repopulate the village after that, whoever tried, had experienced paranormal activities, leading the village uninhabited, which remain a question till date.

The Wood Fossil Park

The wood fossil park is located 15 Km away from Jaisalmer. It will take you back to 180 million years to the prehistoric Jurassic era, and you can trace the evidence of an entirely different world. It appears that there was a forest that has submerged into the sea, and the tree trunks were preserved in the form of fossils. It is a must to visit while in Jaisalmer, showcasing the remnants of fallen and broken logs that date back to the prehistoric era.