Jaisalmer Fort, Rajasthan

Located on the Trikutta Hills, Jaisalmer is a fort town built by Rawal Jaisal of Bhatti Rajput king in 1156 A.D. Jaisalmer was once a hugely popular town because its was located on the route from Egypt, Arabia, Persia to India. The town became extremely rich, however, with the opening up of other trade routes like Bombay port, the value of this town declined. It is 30 m above this town that the fort of Jaisalmer was built.

The fort is the second oldest fort in entire Rajasthan and stands at a towering height of 250 m, has 99 bastions and four huge gates. A major portion of the population of Jaisalmer resides inside the fort town. Most of these people are merchants and shopowners. Tourists come from far and wide to see this grand fort right in the heart of Thar desert.


Architecture of The Jaisalmer Fort
The Jaisalmer fort is a five storeyed structure built in a typical Rajasthani style. The fort stands at a height of 250 m and is built of yellow sandstone which is the primary reason why this fort is also called ‘Sonar kila’.There are three strong walls that offer protection to the fort. It has 99 bastions out of which 92 were built during 17th century. The fort is adorned with screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful balconies.

There are also four entrances to the fort are known as Aksya Pole, Ganesha Pole, Suraj Pole (this gate was constructed by Maharawal Bhim) and Hawa Pole (constricted during 17th century) with the first one being the most important.

The fort is a sight to enjoy at every point of time especially during the night. It is at this time when the beauty of the fort becomes all the more prominent with lights highlighting evry nook and corner of the fort.

Inside the Fort
Inside the fort, the narrow lanes lead to numerous shops, houses, palaces and temples. Wells were dug inside the fort and to date, these wells fulfil the water requirements of the people living inside the fort. The temples inside the fort are Jain temples and are dedicated Rishabhdevji, Sambhavanathji and Ashthapadi. One look at the temple reminds tourists of the Dilwara temple in Mount Abu. A statue of Lord Mahavir dominates these temples.

There are five palaces inside the Jaisalmer fort and are known as Sarvottam Vilas, Akhai Vilas, Gaj Mahal, Rang Mahal and Moti Mahal. These Mahals boast of exquisite beauty and are a reminder of the great Rajputana architecture. The most famous of all the palaces, the Rang Mahal also has mural paintings to attract the tourists. Since Jaisalmer is situated right in the heart of the Thar desert, the weather is very hot. The constructor of the fort therefore provided for Jali or latticework screens so as to keep the hot winds outside.

There are also havelis within the fort premises that were built by wealthy merchants of the 1800s who were hugely influenced by the royal architectural style because of their close proximity to noble household. Accordingly, they employed skilled craftsmen to bulid these havelis with richly carved interiors and exteriors complete with screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful balconies. The walls and ceilings were also adorned with intricate carvings resulting in marvellous mansions.

Today, most of these mansions have been converted into shops with only one exception. This mansion houses the museum. A trip to this museum will give the tourists a deep insight into the life and culture of the Rajasthani people in both past and present.


Reaching There
» By Air - At a distance of around 285 kms from Jaisalmer, Jodhpur becomes the nearest place to have an airport.
» By Rail - Jaisalmer has its own railway station, though it is not much developed. Jaisalmer is connected to Jodhpur by meter gauge. Jaisalmer also falls in the route of two luxury trains - The Palace on Wheels and Royal Orient Express.
» By Road - Jaisalmer is connected by regular bus services from Jodhpur. Buses also run to and from Delhi and other cities of Rajasthan.