Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer or "The Golden City" stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several Jain temples attracts visitors to spend cherishing vacations. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert and is the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer District. It is known as the “Golden City” because of the beautiful honey colour, which the sandstones impart when the sun sets. As with various other cities of Rajasthan, once you start discovering Jaisalmer, you will start to explore various facets of it. The city is a prominent educational as well as a cultural hub and regularly showcases vivid cultural aspects of Rajasthan.

Climate

Summers: Max: 41.6 degrees C; Min: 5 degrees C
Winters: Max: 23.6 degrees C; Min: 7.9 degrees C

Fair & Festivals

Desert Festival (next 19th - 21st February, 2008): One of the most popular among the festivals of Rajasthan, the festival highlights the best of Rajasthani desert life. The main attraction is camel dances, camel acrobatics, camel races and camel polo.

How to reach

Air: Nearest Airport in Jodhpur 300 km. from Jaisalmer.

Train: A good connection with major cities of the country through DLI JSM Express (Jodhpur Jaipur Bikaner - Delhi).

PLACES TO SEE

Jaisalmer Fort
It is also known as the "Sonar Quilla" or the Golden Fort, visited by every visitor during vacation trip. The fort stands almost 30 metres over the city and houses an entire living area. Walking through the narrow lanes is an experience worth savouring. It is approached through Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Bhoot Pol and Hawa Pol. Also, within it are many beautiful havelis and a group of Jain temples dating from the 12th to the 15th centuries.

Jain Temples
Jain temples were constructed in the 12th -15th century within the Jaisalmer Fort. They are skillfully carved, and dedicated to Rishabdevji and Sambhavnath. The temple complex boasts of a large library (Gyan Bhandar) containing some extremely old manuscripts. There are also Shiva and Ganesh temples within the fort. Over 800 years old, the Jaisalmer Fort crowns the Trikuta Hill.

Nathmal Ki Haveli
It was built by two architect brothers in the 19th century. While one brother concentrated on constructing the ride side of the Haveli, other concentrated on the left side. In those days there were no instruments to measure the continuity and thus when this building finally came up, it had irregular shape. Except this, the haveli is considered to be a grandeur of Rajasthan culture. The haveli was commissioned to serve as the residence of Diwan Mohata Nathmal, the then Prime Minister of Jaisalmer.

One can find various paintings in the haveli. These consist of horses, cattle, and depiction of floral images among various other paintings. But the most interesting as well as striking aspect of this haveli is the drawing of modern luxuries like cars, fans, etc. It is believed that these things were not seen by the brother, but were engraved only with the help of the descriptions given by people who had seen it.

Salim Singh ki Haveli
It was built 300 years ago and a part of it is still occupied. When Salim Singh was the Prime Minister, Jaisalmer was the capital of the princely state. This is a beautiful mansion with arched roof with superb brackets in the form of peacocks. It is said that once it had two additional wooden storeys, but those storeys were bought down by the Maharaja. This havelis is actually built over the remains of another haveli built in 17th century. The roof of the haveli has been constructed in the form of a peacock. It is situated near the Jaisalmer Fort.
Patwon ki Haveli: It is one of largest and elaborate havelis in Jaisalmer. It is five-storied high and is beautifully carved. It is divided into six apartments, out of which the Archaelogical Survey of India owns two; families who operate craft-shops own two and two are private homes. One can see remnants of paintings on some of the inside walls.
This haveli is a very interesting piece of architecture, and is one of the most important havelis in Jaisalmer. This is because of two reasons, first, it was the first haveli erected in Jaisalmer, and second, it is not a single haveli but a cluster of 5 small havelis.

Mandir Palace
Built in traditional Haveli style, beautiful heritage hotel Mandir Palace is about 2 centuries old. It is an exquisitely carved architectural marvel, which could easily match the carvings of the famous Patwon - ki -Havelis that are prominent in Jaisalmer as elaborately carved mansions. The imposing beauty of Mandir Palace witnesses the centuries old traditions of Rajasthan. The main Portion of the Palace was built during the period of late Maharawal Jawahir Singh. The palatial rooms of this hotel are well ventilated and offer you a unique combination of medieval charm with modern amenities.

Desert National Park:
The city of Jaisalmer also houses the Desert National Park, which is one of the best examples of a natural eco-system. Its inhabitants include the blackbuck, chinkara, wolf, Indian fox, desert fox, hare and desert cat. Flights of sandfrouse start coming to waterholes from sunrise onwards. One also hear the morning call of the grey partridge. Blue tailed and green bee-eaters, drongos, common and bush quail and Indian rollers are birds, which are commonly found around waterholes. The park is also home to the Great Indian Bustard.

HOTELS
Luxury Hotels:

• Hotel Fort Rajawada
  
• Hotel Rawal Kot
  
• Hotel Gorbandh Palace
  
• Rang Mahal

Hotels in Fort:

• Hotel Simla, Kund Para
  
• Castle Jaisal
  
• Sidhartha

Camel Safari:

Destinations Jaisalmer and Bikaner
Rajasthan , India’s westernmost state and famous vacationing place is the very backbone of the modern India. It might look somewhat dull at first glance, but if you look deeper; you will see the real beauty that this desert state beholds. Be it the sound of the beautiful folk music coming from a distant village or the local woman dressed in colorful clothes on their way to distant well, everything has its own charm attached to it.

You can see Rajasthan on a jeep safari, or may be even aboard the “Palace On Wheels”, Rajasthan ’s luxury train. But to really feel the elegance of the state, there is nothing like a ‘Camel Safari’. Camel Safari is the right choice for you in Rajasthan , which will make your vacations a cherishable time. It is a unique and perhaps the only way to explore the small villages of Rajasthan . Riding a camel is not as easy as it seems, neither is it a test of one’s ability. It is a great experience to explore the desert aboard the ‘Ship of the Desert’.

The only thing you will have to get used to, when you do plan on a Camel Safari is your balancing and getting used to the movements of the camel. It is a new and exciting way of projecting one’s footprints across the sands of Rajasthan – literally. Whether one wants a safari that takes only a few hours or the one that is perfect for over 7 days, you have it all. The Safari moves from one place to another following the routes that were once used by the ancient armies. The adventure of a Camel Safari is truly unique and interesting experience and one that you won’t be able to forget your whole life.

It is not a recent phenomenon; Camel Safari is an experience that is happening since ancient times, when no other means of transportation was developed. Camel Safaris are arranged in such a way that tourists can come in contact with local populace and interact with them. It gives them opportunity to learn the vast interesting history Rajasthan These safaris are arranged at the routes of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Pushkar.


Accommodation Can stay in tent or under the sky in an open air.

Safaris Durations The duration of the safari could vary between - ½ Day, 1 Day, 1 Day + 1 Night + 1 Day, 2 Days, 3 Days and more. Few safaris are also undertaken for 1 or 2 weeks

 

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