The outstanding Jaisalmer Fort with more than 800 years old stands in the heart of the Thar Desert. Crowning Trikuta Hills the fort in better times was an important centre and fell on the ancient silk routes.
The valiant rulers and intricately carved stonework in its palaces and havelis marked the old city of Jaisalmer. Made of sand stones and locally known as Sonar Quila, the Jaisalmer Fort is a dominating structure amidst sands and surrounded by the fortification walls and 99 turrets.
Overlooking the city from 30 meters above, it houses an an entire living area and narrow winding lakes that twist like snake and are a pleasure to walk through.
The four entrances of the fort, Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Bhoot Pol and Hawa Pol, lead you to havelis with the most delicate, latticed windows and a group of Jain temples that date back from 12th century to the 15th century. There are five interconnected palaces in this sandcastle.
Jaisalmer Fort has the distinction of being the second oldest fort in Rajasthan and being the oldest living fort in India. It 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. Visitors can find historical monuments scattered all over the city.
The main attractions inside the fort are Raj Mahal (Royal palace), Jain temples, Laxminath Temple, 4 massive gateways and Merchant Havelis.
These havelis are large houses often built by wealthy merchants in Rajasthani towns and cities in North India, with beautiful, ornate sandstone carvings with many hundreds of years old. Some are elaborate from golden sandstone, and others have many floors and countless rooms, with decorated windows, archways, doors and balconies. Today some havelis are museums too.
Another example is the Shree Nath Palace which was once inhabited by the Prime Minister of Jaisalmer, some of the doors and ceilings are wonderful examples of old carved wood from many hundreds of years ago.
Jaisalmer fort, once time ago was one of the finest in the country but one which looks rather incongruous given the desolation around it.
Located bang in the middle of the Thar desert (literal meaning abode of the dead), it rises like a mirage from the sands, with its huge turrets pointing skywards. Built in 1156, Jaisalmer is the second oldest of Rajasthan’s major forts after Chittorgarh.
Constructed by Raja Jaisal, who was searching for a new capital as the earlier one Lodurva was too vulnerable to invasions, he built the fort and the city surrounding it, thus fulfilling Lord Krishna's prophecy in the Mahabharata