Jaisalmer Fort

Traveler’s Facts

Highlight: The oldest living Fort in the world
Attraction: Architecture, Miniatures and Bazaars
Should I Visit: Yes, its a must visit tourist place
Location: In the very heart of Jaisalmer
Built by: Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal in 1156
How to reach: Better to take an auto-rickshaw or a rickshaw.

Jaisalmer Fort 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. Though you can find historical monuments scattered all over the city, the Jaisalmer Fort will immediately command your attention. Made of sand stones and locally known as Sonar Quila, the Jaisalmer Fort is a dominating structure amidst sands.

The Golden Fort of Jaisalmer

The fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and has been the scene of many battles. Its massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion color during the day, fading to honey-gold as the sunsets, thereby camouflaging the fort in the yellow desert. For this reason, it is also known as the “Golden Fort”.

Major Attractions

• Raj Mahal (Royal palace).
• Jain temples.
• Laxminath temple.
• 4 massive gateways.
• Merchant Havelis. These are large houses often built by wealthy merchants in Rajasthani towns and cities in North India, with beautiful, ornate sandstone carvings. Some havelis are many hundreds of years old. In Jaisalmer there are many elaborate havelis carved from golden sandstone. Some of the most famous have many floors and countless rooms, with decorated windows, archways, doors and balconies. Some havelis are today museums but most in Jaisalmer are still lived in by the families that built them. Among these is the Vyas haveli which was built in the 15th century, the descendants of which still occupy the building. Another example is the Shree Nath Palace which was once inhabited by the Prime Minister of Jaisalmer, and you are invited to stay in these rooms – there are only five available for the hotel – and join the Vyas family in enjoying this architectural treasure. Some of the doors and ceilings are wonderful examples of old carved wood from many hundreds of years ago.

The fort has numerous eateries, including Italian, French, and native cuisines. The famous Indian film director Satyajit Ray wrote a detective novel and later made it into a film, Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress), based on the fort.

Shops outside Jaisalmer Fort

Architecture of the Jaisalmer Fort

Mounted atop Trikuta, the almost triangular triple-peaked hill, the fort rises like a sunbeam from the desert, 250 feet tall, and is reinforced by an imposing crenellated sandstone wall 30 feet high. It has as many as 99 bastions. The view of the 99 bastions of the yellow sandstone fort, the desert citadel of Raja Jaisal, is spectacular to behold. The fortifications have grown exponentially over the centuries, and wells within the confines still provide a regular source of water to the fort of Rajasthan.

The fort contains 3 layers of walls. The outer or the lower layer is made out of solid stone blocks and it reinforces the loose rubble of Trikuta Hill. The second wall, i.e. the middle wall snakes around the fort. From the inner most or the third wall, the Rajput warriors used to hurl boiling oil and water, and massive round blocks of rock as missiles on the enemies when they got trapped between the second and the third walls. The defensive mechanism of the fort is even more enhanced by the 99 bastions of the fort of Rajasthan. Of these, 92 of which were built between 1633 and 1647 to be used as gun platforms. It is approached through Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Bhoot Pol and Hawa Pol. Also, within it are many beautiful havelies and a group of Jain temples of Rajasthan dating from the 12th to the 15th centuries.

What’s So Special

The location of Jaisalmer Fort is considered as one of the factors responsible for its mysterious impression. In the middle of the desert, on top of a hill and with vast stretches of desolate lands provides a perfect backdrop.

Jaisalmer Fort, as a massive structure, features bastions – at least 99, sky pointing turrets, strong walls of encampment and the golden yellow sandstone that looks beautiful from a distance.

The fort complex also homes a small population, shops, mansions and more. The whole place gives an insight of the medieval culture, of which the place boasts about most. The by lanes, colorful mansions, population with their livestock gives impressions of the bygone days. Also located within the complex premises are some ancient Jain Temples.

Celebration of Desert Festival at Jaisalmer Fort

Best Time to Visit Jaisalmer Fort

The perfect time to visit the golden city is during the Desert Festival of Rajasthan held in January – February every year, when the city reverberates to the sound of melodious tunes and rhythms, folk dances, exciting competitions and contest, especially the turban raying contest. Mr. Desert contest and camel races enliven the festivals colorful craft bazaars are setup for the occasion and a sound and light spectacle is organized with folk artistes performing against the splendid backdrop of the famous Sam sand dunes of Rajasthan on the full moon night.