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Jaisalmer Heritage Tour
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A city as magical as Jaisalmer at the first sight appears to be a magnificent sand ship approaching towards you as you enter its rising city. Founded by the prince Jaisal in 1156, this city gradually grew to a strong trade route across the forbidding Thar desert from India to the west. The merchants prospered and invested a part of their wealth in beautifying the city by building temples and beautiful houses with the local sandstone.
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Crenellated Sandstone walls and narrow streets lined with exquisitely carved buildings through which camel carts trundle leisurely - That is Jaisalmer for you. Many of the settlements close to the city have become well used to tourists, so it's worth venturing a little further out to get an idea of life in the desert.
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| Jaisalmer Fort |
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Known as SONAR QUILA or the Golden fort, rising from the sand , the mega structure merges with the golden hues of the desert ambience and the setting suns in its most colourful shades gives it a fairy tale look. Jaisalmer Fort is the most alive of any museum, fort or palace that you are likely to visit in India. It was built in 1156 by the Rajput ruler Jaisala. About a quarter of the old city's population resides within the fort walls.
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| Fort Palace Museum and Heritage Centre |
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The entire palace has been recently renovated, interesting displays have been established including the sculpture, weapon, paintings besides a well presented cultural information.
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The view from the roof is exquisite- highest point inside the fort, The Zenana block (Female block) has false jail work as opposed to the mardana block(Men's block) that has highly detailed murals and mirror decoration.
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| Jain Temples |
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Whilst the Rajputs were devout Hindus, they permitted Jainism to be practiced. The Parsvanatha, Rishabnatha, Shantinatha, Ashtapadi, Mahavir temple , The Sambhavanatha - tell their own distinctive story, each built at a different time, by different ruler and the architecture worth a thousand praises.
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| Havelis |
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There are many exceptional havelis (Mansions of rich merchants) both in the fort and the walled town. Many have beautifully carved facades, jail screens, the ground floor is raised above the dusty streets and each has an inner courtyard surrounded by richly decorated apartments.
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The Badal Mahal, Salim Singh Ki haveli, Nathumal Ki Haveli and Patwon Ki Haveli which stand very different from one another due to their own architecture and decorative style.
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| Desert Cultural Centre |
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Established in 1997 with the aim of preserving the culture of the desert, the museum contains a varied display of Fossila, Paintings, instruments, costumes and textiles which give an interesting glimpse in to the desert life.
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A lovely puppet show is conducted twice everyday.
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| Gadi Sagar Tank |
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Situated Southeast of the the city walls, this was the oasis which led Prince Jaisal to settle here. Now connected by the Indira Gandhi canal, it has water all year.It attracts migratory birds and has many small shrines around it - well worth visiting, especially in the late afternoon. Boats are available for trips around the lake.
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| Thar Desert National park |
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The park primarily was created to protect the 3,000 Sq km of the Thar desert which inhabitats the drought resistant, endangered rare species which have adjusted to the unique and inhospitable conditions. Undulating sand dunes, vast expanses of flat land where the tress are leafless, thorny and have long roots. Fascinating for bird watching, this is one of the few places of India where The Great India Bustard and the migratory Houbra Bustard proliferates.
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Five species of Vultures, six of eage, Indian sand grouse, Falcons, Flocks of Larks at Susadri, Chinkaras - just the place to see the desert fauna in its abundance.
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