Introduction 
Rajasthan, the land of the kings, in India at its exotic and
colourful best with its battle-scarred forts, its palaces of breathtaking
grandeur and whimsical charm, its riotous colours and even its romantic sense of
pride and honour. Jaisalmer is a great place to simply wander. The old city was
once completely surrounded by an extensive wall, much of which has sadly been
ripped away in recent times for building material. Some of it remains, however,
including the city gates and, inside them, the massive fort which rises above
the city and is the essence of Jaisalmer. The main market area is directly below
the hill, while the banks, the new palace and several other shops and offices
are near the Amar Sagar Gate to the west.
History
The 'Golden City' of Jaisalmer was founded in the year 1156 by
a Bhatti Rajput prime Jaisala named the city from the vulnerable former capital
of Lodhruva, 15 kms to the southeast. The succession of Maharajas of Jaisalmer
trace their lineage back to the ruler of Bhatti Rajput Clan Jailasimha. It was
in fulfillment of Lord Krishna's prophecy that a distant scion of his Yadav clan
would build a kingdom here. There was water on the hill, a miracle performed by
Krishna to quench the thirst of Arjuna. The hilltop offered the safest fort
location, dominating and surveying the desert for miles. The Lunar clan of
Bhattis is Krishna's descendant, valiant and most feared of the dessert
marauders, perennially locked in territorial skirmishes with Jodhpur and Bikaner.
One Bhatti scion-Gaj Singh had founded the city of Ghazni in Afghanistan but
ultimately lost it to forces from Khorasan. One of his grandsons reclaimed
Ghazni, embraced Islam, and came to be called Chagattas (Mughals). They later
plundered the land of their ancestors between 1000 and 1025 A.D. Again, led by
Babar they came to found the Mughal Empire in India. Today,
tourism will soon rival military bases as the pillar of the city's
economy. The military bases hardly impinge at all on the life of the old city
and only the occasional sound of war planes landing or taking off in the
distance ever disturbs the tranquillity of this desert gem.It's not always been
so peaceful, of course, since fortresses have rarely been constructed for
aesthetic reasons and medieval desert chieftains were not known for their
pacific temperaments. Chivarlic rivelry and ferocity between the various Rajput
clans were the order of the day and the Bhatti Rajputs of Jaisalmer were
regarded as a formidable force throughout the region. While Jaisalmer largely
escaped direct conquest by the muslim rulers of Delhi, it did experience its
share of sieges and sackings with the inevitable jauhar being declared in the
face of inevitable defeat. There is perhaps no Rajasthani city in which you can
more easily conjure up the spirit of those times.
Festival
Desert Festival
Desert Festival is the perfect occasion to take a glimpse
into the royal past and affluent cultural heritage of Jaisalmer. The festival
offers a breathtaking spectacle of folk dances, traditional songs and various
competitions that virtually set the deserted land of Jaisalmer on fire. The
festival exudes a delightful spirit and for three days the entire town is
clustered with colorfully dressed people.
Best Season
At an altitude of 793 meters, maximum
temperature is 46 degrees Celsius and minimum 354 degrees Celsius. In winter
the highest is 14 and lowest is 1-degree Celsius. Therefore the best season
to visit Jaisalmer is between October and March.
Travel Links For
Jaisalmer
News Papers Links
For Jaisalmer
Palace On Wheels
Links
www.palaceonwheelstours.com/
www.india-palaceonwheels.com/
|
|
