About Jaisalmer
The Golden City of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is simply unmatched. It was the part of the famous Silk Route during the days of yore. The splendid Jaisalmer Fort stands proudly on its land and narrates the stories of the valor and chivalry of the Rajput rulers. Jaisalmer still retains its medieval charm, which is evident in its colorful narrow streets, splendid forts and palaces of Rajasthan, opulent havelis and bazaars. The otherwise barren land of Jaisalmer comes alive once every year during winters. It is the time when the festivities of Desert Festival slowly start engulfing the Desert City. During the festival in Jaisalmer, the city displays the wealth of its culture and traditions to the rest of the world. The festival expresses the people's zeal for the life and is a colorful extravaganza of fun, frolic, laughter and adventure.
Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest fully preserved fortified cities in the world. It is situated in the city of Jaisalmer, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site.The fort stands amidst the sandy expanse of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill. Before the days of the British Raj, the fortress city served as a refuge and way-station for caravans and travelers along the Silk Road.
Gadisar Lake
Gadisar Lake is located a kilometer away from the fort. It was constructed by the first ruler of the land, Raja Rawal Jaisal and later reconstructed by Maharawal Garsi in the year 1367 AD. The people of the desert city depended on this tank for their water needs. You will find temples, Holy shrines and Chattris around the banks of this lake. The artistically carved entrance made of yellow sandstone offers breathtaking view.
Salim Singh Ki Haveli
Among all the havelis in Jaisalmer, Salim Singh Ki Haveli is known for its distinctive and eye catching architecture. It was built by the then minister, Salim Singh who wanted to make as high as the fort but was prohibited by the king. It has 38 balconies with their own distinctive style of architecture and a peacock shaped roof. This haveli provides a good glimpse in the past and the photographs taken here would be awe inspiring.
Nathmal Ki Haveli
Nathmal Ki Haveli was built by two Muslim jeweller brothers not stone carvers on the order of the then prime minister. The brothers started working on the opposite sides of the building which lead to a similar but non identical left and right side. Apart from its extraordinary outer carvings, this haveli is known for its beautiful interiors filled with paintings and equipped with modern facilities. An amalgamation of Islamic and Rajputana architecture, Nathmal Ki Haveli is well justified as being one of the most beautiful haveli in Jaisalmer.
Mandir Palace
Jaisalmer, renowned for its magnificent 9th centuries old golden fort, amazing sand dunes and intricate stone carvings in the houses of the ancient city is any visitors delight.A prominent landmark in this spectacular heritage city is Mandir Palace, which had been the residence of the rulers of Jaisalmer for more than two centuries.Mandir Palace is an exquisitely carved architectural marvel of ornate balconies, canopies and delicately carved screens that represent a high point of local craftsmanship in its finest and purest form.A noticeable feature of Mandir Palace is its tower called ‘Badal Vilas’, which stands out as the tallest structure below the hill-top city fort.
Vyas Chhatri
A beautiful example of Rajasthani architecture, Vyas Chhatri as the name suggests, is dedicated to sage Vyaas, the writer of the epic Mahabharata. This local version of a cenotaph, is made up of delicate carvings that are a sight to behold.This is also one of the most scenic spots to catch a sunset in the desert.
Bada Bagh
Bada Bagh means ‘Huge Garden’. Maharawal Jait Singh’s period saw its construction, which was in the beginning of 16th century. His son Lunakaran completed the construction after the death of his father. The garden served as a memorial where the nobles and their families were cremated. The garden offers a stunning view. The place is isolated. If you visit the place during sunrise and sunset, you are guaranteed of beautiful moments, which you cannot avoid clicking.
Lodhurva
An ancient city, Lodhurva was once the capital of Bhati Rajputs before they shifted to Jaisalmer. It is the setting for a romantic folklore and is famous for its Jain temple which was destroyed by Muhammad Ghori but rebuilt in 1615 by Seth Tharu Shah. Tourists flock this place to see the architectural ruins and sand dunes. Some ancient hindu temples like Rishabh Nath Temple and Sambhavnath Temple can also be visited here.The Jain Temples are one of the oldest temples in Jaisalmer, which are situated inside the Jaisalmer Fort complex. These temples have archaeological and religious significance attached to them. The groups of temples in the fort were built between 12th and 15th centuries. These Jain Temples are dedicated to different Jain Tirthankars. The temples are dedicated to Shambhavdevji and Rikhabdevji, who were famous Jain Tirthankars. All these temples are famous for their Dilwara style paintings and architecture. There are beautiful animal and human figures on the walls of these temples. These temples are situated in the same complex as the Astapadhi Temples, which have a similar architecture and construction.
Amar Sagar
Amar Sagar is a small and beautiful lake cum Oasis and is adjacent to a 17th Century palace called the Amar Singh Palace. Maharawal Akhai Singh built this palace in honor of one of his predecessors Amar Singh. Next to the palace are pavilions with a large stairs leading down to the Amar Sagar Lake. This haveli has been constructed in the pattern of apartments. The Amar Sagar is a five story high haveli and is famous for its murals. Wherever you go in this haveli, you will notice beautiful murals painted with delicate efforts. You can find many of wells and ponds in the surrounding which have a royal air about them. There is an old Shiva temple in the complex itself. Amar Singh built this because he was supposed to be an ardent follower of Lord Shiva, a Hindu God related to destruction.
Moolsagar
Situated 8 K.M. west of Jaisalmer, this is another pleasant, but rather neglected, small garden and tank. It belongs to the Royal family of Jaisalmer and was originally built as a cool summer retreat. The major attraction of this place is a Shiva temple, which is said to be constructed out of just two large blocks of sandstones. Maharawal Moolraj II built the Moolsagar complex in 1815 AD. You will find numerous wells, the Moolsagar Garden and a splendid Raj Mahal built on its premises. Maharaja Moolsagar was known for his patronage to art and artisans and that becomes pretty evident when you come across some great murals on the palace walls. He definitely had a considerable influence on the wazirs and land-lords. Therefore his patronage to the art and architecture was resonated among his nobles and subjects. It was mainly due to his efforts that so many lovely palaces and structures were built in that period which was influenced by both the Mughal and Rajput schools of art.
Jaisalmer War Museum
‘Jaisalmer War Museum’ has been set up by the Indian Army to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers, specifically during the 1965 Indo-Pak War and the 1971 Longewala battle. Here’s a look at the pristine structure.Established in the Military Station of Jaisalmer, the unique museum has been designed with the view of honouring the contributions and sacrifices of war heroes, and to highlight their bravery. It also traces the evolution of the Indian ArmyThe museum was inaugurated by Lieutenant General Ashok Singh, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Command, on Monday. Several officers and other people joined in to be a part of the occasion..
Kuldhara Village(Haunting Village)
Kuldhara is an abandoned village in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, India. Established around 13th century, it was once a prosperous village inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins. It was abandoned by the early 19th century for unknown reasons, possibly because of dwindling water supply, or as a local legend claims, because of persecution by the Jaisalmer State's minister Salim Singh. A 2017 study suggests that Kuldhara and other neighbouring villages were abandoned because of an earthquake. The former village site is located about 18 km south-west of the Jaisalmer city. The village was located on a 861 m x 261 m rectangular site aligned in the north-south direction. The township was centered around a temple of the mother goddess. It had three longitudinal roads, which were cut through by a number of latitudinal narrow lanes. The remains of a city wall can be seen on the north and the south sides of the site. The eastern side of the town faces the dry-river bed of the small Kakni river. The western side was protected by the back-walls of man-made structures
Khuri Desert
Khuri sand dunes are slowly picking up in the must visit charts of tourists. If you find Sam sand dunes a bit crowded then you can very well opt for Khuri sand dunes. Situated just 40 K.M. off the town, Khuri is a must visit for tourists seeking solitude in the desert. It is a peaceful place with houses of mud and straw decorated like the patterns of Persian carpets. The Khuri sand dunes offer you a memorable experience in the land of the Rajputs. Enjoy the ride on camel back and let the place itself take you to its mesmerizing heights. Get closer to the local way of living with a close view of thatched straw roofs, camels, narrow streets and the local bazaar. At the night, organize a campfire with the fellow tourists (if any) and listen to the songs of 'Kalbeliyas'.
Desert National Park(Subhashari)
Desert National Park, Rajasthan, India, is situated in the west Indian state of Rajasthan near the town of Jaisalmer. This is one of the largest national parks, covering an area of 3162 km². The Desert National Park is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert. Sand dunes form around 20% of the Park. The major landform consists of craggy rocks and compact salt lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes. Despite a fragile ecosystem there is an abundance of birdlife. The region is a haven for migratory and resident birds of the desert. Many eagles, harriers, falcons, buzzards, kestrel and vultures. Short-toed eagles, tawny eagles, spotted eagles, laggar falcons and kestrels are the most common among these. Sand grouse are spotted near small ponds or lakes. The endangered great Indian bustard is a magnificent bird found in relatively fair numbers. It migrates locally in different seasons. The most suitable time to visit the area is between November and January. The Desert National Park has a collection of fossils of animals and plants of 180 million years old. Some fossils of dinosaurs of 6 million years old have been found in the area.
Tanot Mata Temple(Longawala)
Tannot Mata is a temple in western State of Rajasthan in District Jaisalmer of India. As per the oldest Charan literature Tannot Mata is new clone of divine goddess Hinglaj Mata, and than after Tannot Mata becomes Karni Mata, And known as Goddess Of Charan's. Tannot Basically The village is close to the border with Pakistan, and is very close to the battle site of Longewala of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, indeed some credit the temple for the outcome of the battle. Tourists cannot go beyond this temple to see the Indo–Pak Border unless one gets the relevant documentation in advance from the District and Military Authorities. It is now a tourist destination in India. The area is said to have oil and gas reserves. The temple has a museum which has collections of the unexploded bombs that were shot by pakistani tanks. In 1971 again when Pakistan and India went to war this area was again targeted by the Pakistani Tanks for 4 days but again all the tanks were stuck in the sand and the Indian Air Force picked them out easily by bombing them where they stood as they were unable to move even one inch. Over 200 pakistani tank troops were killed here and the majority actually left their stuk tanks and ran for their lives.
