Jaipur, Apr 06: The city of Jaisalmer shimmers like a mirage amidst the desolate beauty of the hot barren deserts of Rajasthan. It is a small city that can be covered within two hours of leisurely strolling through the lanes and by-lanes, and has an extraordinarily medieval feel and incredible atmosphere.
The havelis (mansions of rich merchants) which are the pride of Jaisalmer’s architecture and a part of the national heritage should be seen and admired at an unhurried pace. The Jaisalmer Fort, perched atop the triangular-shaped Trikuta Hills, contains some gems of Jain temple buildings, while beautifully decorated havelis are scattered throughout the town. The city is also famous for its beautiful embroidery.
During the medieval times Jaisalmer made rapid progress due to its strategic location on the camel trade route between India and Central Asia. Even now, especially after the two wars with Pakistan, its strategic importance has led to the building of national highways, a railway track, and an airstrip, and brought Jaisalmer within easy reach of the people.
The climate of this city is of typical desert character. Temperatures range between 46°C and 35.4°C in the summers, and 14°C and 2°C in the winters. The best season to visit is between October and March, especially between January and February when Jaisalmer becomes a hub of tourist activities during the desert festival.
Jaisalmer has a large number of tourist sites of unsurpassed architectural wealth.
The Jaisalmer Fort is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan after Chittaur, and commands the desertscape from its 250 feet high pedestal on the Trikuta Hill. Three strong walls protect the citadel. The fort has five palaces called Sarvottam Vilas, Akhai Vilas, Gaj Mahal, Rang Mahal and Moti Mahal. Jali or latticework screens of excellent craftsmanship shade interiors from the fierce heat and desert winds. The Rang Mahal has some exquisite murals painted on arches and spandrels. The fort contains one-third of the city’s population. Many houses provide budget accommodation to visitors and have curio shops.
The Jain Temples
Three exquisitely sculptured Jain temples dedicated to Rishabhdevji, Sambhavanathji and the Ashthapadi temple are located within the fort. Their ornamentation, done in the style of the Dilwara temples at Mt. Abu, is marvellous. The emerald icon of Mahavira here is an unparalleled gem.
Nathmal-ki-Haveli
This haveli has two identical-looking portions, which are, in fact, two different parts united by a common façade. The projected balconies or jharokhas are a perfect example of jeweler’s art applied to stone carving.
The Desert Culture Centre and Museum has a number of old coins, different kinds of textiles, traditional Rajasthani instruments, and some fossils that were discovered in the desert. It gives a visitor an insight into the history of Rajasthan.
There are plenty of excursion sites of varied character near Jaisalmer.
Lodurva, the ancient capital of the Bhattis, is 16 km from Jaisalmer. Its ruins are visited for the great Jain temple and the Kalpataru, a mythical tree of wish fulfilment. Lodurva has a great number of peacocks that hover around the temple walls lending spectacular colour to the dry and stony landscape. Amar Sagar is a grand artificial reservoir for water with a temple and a promenade on the bank that is a lovely place for a picnic.
The Akal Wood Fossil Park is a 21-hectare preserved area that takes you back to the Jurassic period when the whole Thar region lay under the sea. Fossilized logs of trees trunks lie exposed to view. Innumerable trunks lie buried deep under sand, 25 are seen and 15 are above the ground. The largest log is seven meters in length and 1.5 meters in width.
The ghost village of Kuldhara, the Sam Sand Dunes and the Desert National Park are the other places that must be visited.
Bureau Report
