DELHI

First, the fort itself
It is tough to distinguish between the historical and the
present in the fort - time lies intertwined here. Built in
1156 by Bhati ruler Rawal Jaisal on the Trikuta Hill, it is also
known as Sonar Qila or Golden Fort because of the use of
yellow sandstone which takes on a honey-gold hue in the
setting sun. It has a perimeter of 5 kms (3 miles), rising
76 metres above the surrounding countryside and marked
by 99 bastions. Jaisalmer fell along an important ancient
trading route, doing business with Persia, Arabia, Egypt and
other African countries. With the rise of Bombay during
the British rule, all trade moved away leaving Jaisalmer
isolated. The economy is driven by tourism now.
Within the milieu / ramparts of the fort are beautiful
Jain temples, old havelis or mansions, a palace museum,
restaurants, hotels and shops. The Jain temples are
particularly noteworthy because of their fine carvings,
with each temple boasting its own unique design.
Atop the wall along the entrance gates, you will see
rounded stones which were meant to be thrown at
advancing enemies; this gives a feeling of war-readiness
even today. The central courtyard within the fort is called
Dusshera Chowk, and the royalty celebrated the Hindu
festival of Dusshera here till 1974 after which it was shifted
The Gadsisar Lake
outside the fort. Women would watch the proceedings
from behind the stone-meshed windows.
A visit to the palace and museum gives you an insight into
the times gone by. Most notable are the exhibits of arms
and the throne. You get beautiful views of the city and
beyond from the upper floors; a sun clock on the terrace
tells you the time if you know how to interpret the same.
The chambers used by the kings and queens give you a
peek into their personal lifestyles.
The fort with a view of the city beyond
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