Jaisalmer Fort (also known as neemrana fort)

Jaisalmer Fort is at Jaisalmer city of Rajasthan – a “desert state” at northwestern end of the country. Among the largest forts in the world, it ranks one of them and was built by the Bhati Rajput Ruler Rawal Jaisal in 1156 AD from where it conceives its name. The fort lies amidst the Thar Desert’s golden stretches on the lap of Trikuta Hill and has been eye-witness of many battles. Its abundant yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion color during the day and it fades to honey-gold at sun sets, thus the fort is camouflaged in the yellow desert. This natural beauty has also renamed it as the “Golden Fort”. The fort is with 3 layers of walls. The outer layer is made out of solid stone blocks; the middle wall snakes around the fort and the third or innermost wall where the Rajput warriors once threw water, boiling oil and huge blocks of rock at their enemies, who would got entrapped between the second and third walls. This defense includes 99 bastions. The fort’s main gate is of 60 feet tall and carved by Indian rosewood. Three concentric rings of sandstone walls open onto Palaces, stables and homes that once housed Rajput kings. In the plain walls, these bear elaborate designs fruit and flowers emerge from soft marble, carvings of chariot wheels.  Scalloped archways guard the walkways between buildings. Ornamented screens shade royal apartments.

 

In the 13^th Century, Ala-ud-din-khilji attacked and apprehended the fort and was in hold for 9 years. Mughal emperor Human Yun attacked the fort again in 1541. Interestingly, about 25% of the city’s population lives in the fort, as of date, and surprisingly at one point, the entire population of Jaisalmer lived within the fort. With the increase in population, people gradually get scattered at the foot of Trikuta Hill

 

Time to visit Jaisalmer :                                                                                                      Summer (Mar to Aug) is extremely hot, dry and uncomfortable (temperatures run between 25°C to 42°C). Visitors should avoid any “tour plan” and sunstroke is common ailment.

Winter (Nov to Feb) it is marked by cold and dry weather with temperatures not above 24°C.  For sightseeing as well as adventuring outdoor activities, it considers the best.

Monsoon (Sept to Oct) is not very comfortable. Rainfall is about 15 cms annually. Humidity level increases, resulting not the best time for holidaying. To oversee this splendid land on this earth, October to March period is the best, avoiding hot summer days. February is attractive with Desert festivals. Tourists come here because there is no other place on earth as like as Jaisalmer

Eventually, the fort was included in the World Monuments Watch 1996 due to its fabulous increase of Visitors and resident population. Fund has executed major restoration work in 1998 and 2000 where American Express has funded more than one million dollars for conservation of Jaisalmer fort.

Major Attractions

Raj Mahal (Royal palace).  Jain temples, Laxminath temple and  

Merchant Havelis – Havelis are large houses built by wealthy merchants with ornate and beautiful sandstone carvings and have many floors and countless rooms, with decorated windows, archways, doors and balconies of which some are as old as of many hundreds of years. Some are today museums but most of them are still lived in by the families that built them.

Although the local airport is closed to commercial traffic, nearly millions of visitors somehow make their way to the fortress each year.