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Jaisalmer Fort
 This desert fortress close to Rajasthan's border with Pakistan is straight out of an Arabian fairy tale. Founded in the 12th century as a staging post for camel trains travelling between India and Central Asia, Jaisalmer is a golden sandstone city with crenellated city walls, a magnificent fortress and a number of exquisitely carved stone and wooden
havelis. Seen at sunset from afar, it glows with the luminescence of a mirage. Jaisalmer's impressive fort crowns an 80m (260ft) high hill, and about a quarter of the city's 40,000 inhabitants reside within its walls. Little has changed here for centuries, and if ever a record-breaking effort were made to pack as many houses, temples and palaces into a confined space, this would be the result.
The fort is honeycombed with winding lanes, and has formidable gateways, a maharaja's palace, a ceremonial courtyard and beautifully carved Jain temples. The most beautiful of the havelis built by Jaisalmer's wealthy merchants are Patwon ki
Haveli, Salim Singh ki Haveli and Nathmal ki Haveli.
Despite its incredible picturesqueness, you don't have to look very hard to realise that Jaisalmer is crumbling at an alarming rate. Its disintegration has finally brought local, governmental, tourist and archaelogical interest groups together and a
'Jaisalmer in Jeopardy' campaign has been launched in the UK.
Camel trekking is big business in Jaisalmer and it's a great way to experience the desert. Make sure you know exactly what you're getting for your money, because there's ample opportunity to be disappointed. Most treks last three to four days. The best time to go is between October and February.
Rajasthan has a reasonably reliable bus system and a fairly extensive railway system so getting to the city of Jaisalmer isn't too much of a hardship. You may find that some of the railway lines have been disrupted by recent track works designed to get you from point A to point B faster, so check local timetables for updates and changes. If you want to experience how the other half lives, you can book yourself onto the Palace on Wheels which passes through Jaisalmer on its regal route. It's a mobile hotel on wheels decked out like a traditional maharaja's state carriage. Expensive but luxurious. Jaisalmer is 795km from Delhi.
Festive Fun
Desert Festival (Jan/Feb): A spectacular event coinciding with the full moon in Jan. Feb. The rich culture of the region is on display during the three day long festival.
The famous Gair and Fire dances are the major attraction of the celebrations. Interesting contests including a turban tying competition and a Mr. Desert contest further enhance the fun of the occasion. A trip to the Sam Sand dunes marks the grand finale, where one can enjoy camel rides and brilliant performances by the folk artiest under the full moon against the backdrop of picturesque dunes.
Travel Information How To Get There
Air: Jodhpur 285 km is the convenient airport.
Rail: Rail connection with major cities of the country through Jodhpur.
Road: A good network of roads joins Jaisalmer with many destinations in and around
Rajasthan.
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