Jaisalmer - The Destination
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Set in the midst of the Thar Desert is the honey-hued
city of valour and colour—the city of Jaisalmer.
Founded at the juncture of profitable trade routes,
this once-remote civilization came to be celebrated
for the gallantry of its rulers, and for the aesthetic
beauty brought forward by their palaces and havelis.
Jaisalmer, with its magical legends and the ‘only
living fort’, will leave you spellbound. A fascinating
blend of the old sophisticated charisma and a dash
of the contemporary, this city, with its latticed
stonework, undulating sands, camels that seem to be
straight out of the pages
of the ‘ Arabian
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Nights’, its tranquil
waters and serene temples, will leave an eternal
impression on your mind.
A major part of Jaisalmer lies outside the Fort
walls and this township is peppered with grand
havelis. The main market outside the
walls is the Manak Chowk (Square). You
can access a number of havelis from lanes leading
off from here. Each one bears a distinctive
air, with unique stone-carved facades. Jaisalmer,
its colourful celebrations and festivals, its
enchanting people and art museums—all
this and much more have placed this oasis firmly
on the world tourism map.
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Jaisalmer - Facts at a Glance
| State
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Rajasthan |
| Area
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126.27 sq km |
| Language : |
Marwari, Rajasthani,
Hindi, English |
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Temperature : |
46° C
- 34° C (Summers)
14° C - 30° C (Winters) |
| Best
Season : |
October to March |
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History of Jaisalmer
The Bhatti Rajput chieftain Rawal Jaisal founded the
city of Jaisalmer in AD 1156. The Bhatti Rajputs were
the feudal chiefs who levied taxes on the caravans
crossing their territory. They were said to be Krishna’s
descendants, valiant and most feared of the desert
marauders, perennially locked in territorial skirmishes
with Jodhpur and Bikaner.
The wealth accumulated by the traders, merchants and
the Prince was invested in the construction of havelis
and temples that draw so many tourists to this city.
Jaisalmer suffered a further fall in fortune when,
following the partition of the country, trade routes
across the border were sealed. But the two wars with
Pakistan revived its strategic importance once again.
National highways, a railway track, and now an airstrip,
have brought Jaisalmer within easy reach of the people.
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