jaisalmer fort

Jaisalmer Fort is an ancient fort in the city of Jaisalmer , in the west Indian state of Rajasthan .

It is said to be one of the very few "living forts" in the world – that is, there are people inhibiting it. Nearly one fourth of the old city's population resides within the fort. Few other such places exist in Carcassonne, France.

Jaisalmer Fort is the second oldest fort in all of Rajasthan state. It was built in 1156 AD by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal (from whom the fort and the city also derive the name).

The Jaisalmer Fort was built by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaiswal in 1156 AD, and established his kingdom here.

Around 1293-94 CE, the fort and kingdom, which was then ruled by Rawal Jethsi (one of Jaisal’s successors), were seized by Sultan Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate and but later abandoned, and it remained so before eventually being reoccupied by some surviving people (Bhatis) in the region.

In 1541 CE, the fort was attacked and captured by the Mughals, and it remained in their control till 1762. The fort itself has been the entire city of Jaisalmer for a large part of its 800-year history, and home to its residents. But eventually, to accommodate the growing population of Jaisalmer, outer settlements are said to have come up in the 17th century, slowly making it the city of Jaisalmer that exists today.

The Jaisalmer Fort is 1,500 ft (460 m) long and 750 ft (230 m) wide. It is built on a 250 ft (76 m) hill above the surrounding countryside in Rajasthan. The fort is built completely with Light yellow sandstone.

Jaisalmer fort has 4 massive gateways through which visitors can enter or exit it. The other elements of this fort are –

• The Raj Mahal Palace building, which was the former residence of the Maharawal (ruler) of Jaisalmer.
• Jain Temples: There are 7 Jain temples built within this fort during 12-16th century. These have a total of more than 600 idols and various ancient scriptures.
• The Laxminath temple of Jaisalmer, dedicated to Goddess Laxmi (also known as the goddess of wealth) and her consort Lord Vishnu.
• Merchant Havelis or large houses of the rich local merchants who live in the fort; and the abodes of other inhabitants.

The Jaisalmer fort is open to public and tourists between 8 AM to 6 PM every day, and the best time to visit it, as recommended by locals and tourists is between November and March.

An entry fee of INR 50 per head is applicable for Indian citizens, whereas for foreign national visitors/tourists it is INR 250 per head. To use a still Camera, an additional fee of INR 50 is charged per person, and to use a Video Camera, the additional fee applicable is INR 100.

How to reach:

• By road – Jaisalmer is well connected by roadways to various different cities and buses – including private and Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) ones are easily available. Various nearby cities can also be easily travelled in cabs.
• By air – Jaisalmer does not have any airport of its own, but the nearest airport to Jaisalmer is Jodhpur airport in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan, which is situated at a distance of around 275 kilometres, and is connected with domestic and international flights to and from major cities in India and other parts of the world. From Jodhpur airport, visitors can take a train, bus or cab to reach Jaisalmer, which is around 280 km (174 miles) away and can be travelled to within 4.5 hours.
• By rail – The major train terminal in Jaisalmer is the Jaisalmer Railway station, where direct trains from Delhi , Jaipur and Jodhpur arrive, and the terminal also gets regular trains to other major cities. From the railway station, cabs autorickshaws or buses can be taken to reach Jaisalmer Fort, which is located around 2.5 km away, within just 10 minutes.

Other nearby attractions from here include –

• Kothari’s Patwaon ki Haveli, Jaisalmer
• Jaisalmer War Museum
• Gadsisar Sagar Lake
• Maharaja’s Palace
• Desert National Park