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Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer: Visit to the city of Hill Forts

The natural treasures of India are mesmerising. From the dusty snow trenches, mystic ravines of spirituality, frisky beaches to captivating lush forests, India truly defines raw shades of beauty. The royal state of Rajputs, Rajasthan is on the must visit list of every traveller. The majestic forts, places, temples and tempting lakes in the scorching desert, added to it is the royal Rajputana tradition of warm hospitality that imprints Rajasthan with indescribable charm.

The dazzling golden desert city of Jaisalmer is the pride of Rajasthan luring tourists from across the globe.

Today, join us on this astounding trip to the sun kissed desert city of Jaisalmer.

Jaisalmer

A dream city in the desert

Jaisalmer is the city which gives every traveller a chance to relish the perfect blend of old traditional culture and ancient architecture. The city is as ravishing as the mirage of a thirsty traveller. The ethereal sandstones forts rising from the desert sing the glory of the bygone era and have left the city with eternal beauty. The magnificent city is the gateway to the Thar Desert.

Jaisalmer lies in the western sentinel of India, south to it is the beautiful city of Bikaner, west to it is Pakistan, and east to it, is the vibrant city of Jodhpur.

History of Jaisalmer

The ancient city mumbles the tales of geologic tragedies that occurred in the Thar Desert 180 million years ago. The city was founded by Bhatti Rajput Rawal Jaisal, the eldest heir of the Rawal of Deoraj. He was denied the throne of Lodurva, so he went on looking for a new location to set up his capital. It was during his search that he met sage Eesul who told him about Krishna's prophecy which said that a descendant of his Yaduvanshi clan would found a new kingdom at this same spot. It was in 1156 that Rawal Jaisal constructed a mud fort, named it Jaisalmer after himself and declared it his capital.

Jaisalmer

Best time to visit Jaisalmer

The Golden City in the heart of Thar Desert is best suited for trios during winters. The summers here can be petrifying given the scorching heat of the desert. The months from November to March are ideal for sightseeing and other outdoor activities like camel ride, desert safari The maximum temperature in winters is 24 degree Celsius during the day, while the nights can be chilling.

How to reach Jaisalmer?

The city is an important tourism centre in Rajasthan and is easily accessible by different modes of transportation.

  • By air : Jaisalmer airport is a military airport and support only chartered planes. The nearest favourable airport to Jaisalmer is in Jodhpur.
  • By rail : This is the most suitable way of reaching Jaisalmer. The city is connected to all the major Indian cities. From the railway station, visitors can avail the taxi and bus services to reach desired destinations.
  • By road : Roadtrip to Jaisalmer can be an exciting yet tiring idea. No direct bus services are available to reach here. But from neighbouring cities, one can easily reach Jaisalmer as state run bus services ply around the city.
Jaisalmer

Places to Visit in Jaisalmer

There are hundreds of places to visit in Jaisalmer. The city has numerous forts, temples, natural beauty to explore. Let us look closely at the golden sandstone city.

1) Jaisalmer Fort

Arising from the golden sand itself is the enthralling Jaisalmer Fort, popularly known as 'Sonar Quila'. When translated Sonar Quila means the Golden Fort. The name is apt for the fort as its colour resembles the golden hues of the sand. The classic architecture is the bounty of local craftsmen of the place. Tourists across the globe, visit this celebrated world heritage site to get the glimpse of setting sun casting its spell on the golden fort.

2) Bada Bagh

Literally, "big garden", Bada Bagh is an unkempt garden erected in honour of the city's royal rulers from the 16th to 20th centuries is spread over 5 kilometres. The garden complex is the adobe for chhatris or royal cenotaphs of the Maharajas of Jaisalmer state. Most famous of it is that of Maharaja Jai Singh II.

3) Akal Wood Fossil Forest

let's get beyond the timeline of present and witness the pre-historic Jurassic era. The 28 hectare Akal wood fossil forest narrates the story of a long lost forest which existed at the same spot 180 million years ago. The place has great geological importance as it houses many fossils and remnants of fallen and broken logs that date back to the pre-historic times.

These locations are just a peek at the beauty of Jaisalmer. The place is worth visiting as the golden ray of the setting sun draws a heavenly picture on the sands of Jaisalmer striking the heart of every visitor.