Jaisalmer Fort

Jaisalmer Fort is a monument worth visiting and worth retaining in your conscious mind. Like various other cities of Rajasthan, in Jaisalmer too you will find different facets of its own glorious heritage. Though you can find historical monuments scattered all over the city, the Jaisalmer Fort will immediately command your attention. Made of sand stones and locally known as Sonar Quila, the Jaisalmer Fort is a dominating structure amidst sands.

The city is said to be founded by one Raja Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput ruler, in approximately 1156 A D. Legends go by that he did it on the behest of a local hermit named Eesaal. The raja choose Trikuta hill as the new site for his fort as his earlier adobe at Luderwa(16 k.m from present Jaisalmer) was too vulnerable to his comfort. But it should always be kept in mind that these legends are most of the time product of conscious minds that are very vulnerable to the oriental exaggeration.

Jaisalmer fort is the second oldest in Rajasthan. Two hundred and fifty feet tall and reinforced by imposing crenellated sandstone wall 30 feet high; it has 99 bastions, 92 of which were built between 1633 and 1647. Wells within the fort still provide a regular source of water. Even today, you will find that nearly one fourth of the old city's population resides within the fort. If you are a student of cross-cultural merging, the subtle fusion of Rajput and Islamic architectural styles, visible in this fort, will catch your fancy. Ganesh Pol, Akshya Pol, Suraj Pol and Hawa Pol are a must see.

History of Jaisalmer Fort
An important hub of the Rajput Bhati rule was the Jaisalmer Fort. Raised by the Rajput ruler Raja Jaisal in the year 1156, this yellow sandstone regal structure, is also more popularly known as the Golden Fort or Sonar Quila. The Fort of Jaisalmer was the centre of a number of historical encounters between the Bhattis, the Mughals of Delhi, and the Rathores of Jodhpur. The history of Jaisalmer Fort also talks of multiple attacks on the fort by the Muslim kings like Ala-Uddin-Khilji and Mughal Monarch Humayun.

Architecture of the Fort:
The fort is about 1500 feet in length and 750 feet wide and the hill that it resides on is about 250 feet above the valley. The base of the fort has a 15 feet tall, which is the outermost wall of the fort. There are two other walls within. There are 99 bastions in all and there are four fortified gates, and one of them was guarded by a cannon. The visitors have to pass the four massive gateways before they can make their final entry into the fort.

Inside the fort, there are many places of interest as well. Of them, perhaps the most beautiful is the Raj Mahal Palace, which was once the residence of the Maharawal of Jaisalmer. There are also 7 Jain temples inside the fort and they are built with the same yellow sandstone from which the fort is made. They were built between the 12th and 16th century. There is also a huge temple that is dedicated to Sambhavanatha and there are more than 600 idols inside the fort.

The Laxminath temple is still worshipped in, with the idols of Lakshmi and Vishnu residing inside it and festivals are held around it. Perhaps the most important and the fantastic sights inside the fort of Jaisalmer is the Havelis of the merchants who once lived here. Since Jaisalmer was built at a strategic point when trade and commerce flourished in this region, the merchants here had built splendid homes for themselves and they are complete with arched doorways, balconies, and jharokhas. Some of them have been converted into museums while some are still resided in by the future generations of the merchants of the bygone eras. Visiting these museums is a real treat for the eyes. The Vyas haveli, built-in 15th century is one such haveli and it is still lived in by the future generations of the family. The Shree Nath Palace is another beautiful haveli which was once resided in by the Prime Minister of Jaisalmer.

Jaisalmer Tourism

Jaisalmer Tourism will mesmerise you with its beauty the moment you step in. It is also known as the Golden City is that Sonar Quila because of the yellow sandstones that make up most of the buildings in this fort city, This picturesque city in the middle of the Thar Desert witnesses the maximum tourist footfall among all cities in Rajasthan. Its ancient customs and charming traditions have still to fall to the vagaries of time. In fact, stepping inside Jaisalmer is like stepping back in history. Here beautiful architecture rubs shoulders with common people, and heritage accompanies you everywhere you walk. Allow Jaisalmer tourism to sweep you off your feet and show you how the wealthy people of the past lived. Besides sightseeing of major attractions, such as Fort Rajwada, Sam Sand Dunes, Jaisalmer Fort and many more, tourists can also indulge themselves in dune bashing, jeep safari, and camel safari for a thrilling experience.