Golden sands of Jaisalmer:
Jaisalmer
You know you are in Jaisalmer when there is an earthy scent of chulha cooked food in the air and the sight of locals in attires that literally create a riot of colours all around.
As the city is a popular tourist hub, you will find a lot of taxi and auto drivers hovering around when you alight at the Jaisalmer Railway Station.
On entering the city, you will discover an unusual charm in the way the city seems to be taking baby steps towards modernity.
While the hotels, cafes and restaurant owners are still learning about the importance of their reviews on the World Wide Web, the historic mansions and castles that decorate the skyline of the city stand upright with pride and grandeur, welcoming you into the Golden city of the country.
The royal era of brave kings, beautiful queens and their stories of grandeur, affluence, war and love come alive on a visit to the magnificent Jaisalmer Fort, while the Sam Sand Dunes will give you a sneak peak in to the life of people living in the desert.
A boat ride at sunset in the Gadisar Lake and shopping in the buzzing main market will leave you wanting for more.
Places of Interest
Jaisalmer Fort
Inhabiting a quarter of the city’s population, it will not be wrong to call this majestic fort the lifeline of the city.
Unlike other forts, here when you enter the fort premises through a steep pavement, instead of walls shrouded in silence, there is life all around.
A small city in itself, as you move forward you will find the place buzzing with hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops and temples.
Not much far from the entrance is the Laxminath Temple, one of the main attractions in the fort.
The intricate detailing on the temple walls will leave you awestruck. Explore the fort meandering through the lanes, some of which are flagged by shops selling artefacts and souvenirs and other are lined by houses on both sides.
Coming to food, one will not be disappointed with the myriad of choices available in the fort premises.
Restaurants and cafes, serving Italian, Indian and Chinese are galore. But then do not enter a restaurant or café with high expectations to enjoy authentic Chinese or Italian, most of the dishes are cooked to please Indian taste buds.
While here, do not miss to treat your eyes to the spectacular view of the city from the famous spot where the centuries-old cannon is placed.
Patwaon-Ki-Haveli
With its stunning architecture, the Patwon Ji ki Haveli is a star among the many Havelis in the city.
Even years after its construction, the Haveli stands testimony to the affluent life of the city traders. A cluster of five, this was constructed in 1805, by Guman Chand Patwa, a rich trader of those times. A
Ask the locals and they will tell you that the merchants living in these Haveli used to deal in gold and silver threads that were used in dresses of different kinds.
That explains how these kinds of Havelis came to be known as “Mansion of brocade merchants”. On further digging, you will also get to know some other theories on how the city merchants gathered enormous wealth by lending money and smuggling Opium.
But then there are no proofs and the only thing left today is this and other hundreds of years old Havelis that give an insight into the life of the rich and the famous during the early period.
This yellow sandstone building can be entered through a brown coloured gateway. Adorning the walls of the Haveli are colourful paintings and mirror works that leaves you all praises about its spectacular architecture and décor.
Salim Singh-ki Haveli
The quest to know more about the opulent life of the merchants of the city during the royal era will grow many folds stronger when one visits the Salim Singh ki Haveli.
Built during the 17th century, this Haveli was owned by Mehta family, a very influential family during that time.
Two tuskers guard the entrance of this Haveli. With the roof in the form of a peacock and the front depicting a ship stern, the architecture is quite amusing.
There are more than thirty balconies in this building and all of them have beautifully carved eaves.
The grandeur of this Haveli tells many things about the lifestyle and taste of its owner. He must have been a man who loved art and lavish life.
The locals describe the man as shrewd and very ambitious. Nonetheless, the opulence with which he lived might have made even the then ruler insecure.
One shall not miss to take a guide along who will help explore its several hidden corners, which were used by the merchant to store treasures.
The unique architecture and stories about the place are the two things for which one must visit the place.
Kuldhara Abandoned Village
Whether or not, you believe in the supernatural or stories about ghosts, Kuldhara village must not be missed when in Jaisalmer.
Situated around 20 kilometres from Jaisalmer, the village can be reached within half an hour’s drive.
A flourishing village two hundred years ago, it lies in ruins today. It is believed that the entire community, inhabiting the village, vanished overnight, leaving behind a curse that anyone who tried to live there would be eventually be devoured to death.
Since then, bats seem to be the only inhabitants that can be found in the remnants of the houses that once accommodated life.
Legend has it that a powerful ruler of the times wanted to marry a beautiful girl who lived in this village. The village chief’s daughter, the girl and her family denied the ruler’s proposal.
Furious, the ruler threatened the girl’s family and the entire village. So the village chief along with people from adjoining eighty four villages left the town.
Nobody knows where the villagers went, but they left behind a curse with heavy hearts as they left their homes behind. It is fascinating to hear the stories and spot the well, temple and house of the village chief that stand mute witnesses to the happenings of the past.
The Sam Sand Dunes & Desert Camping
For experiencing life in the desert, stay in camps on the outskirts of the city.
Make an advanced booking for the complete tour that generally includes a camel safari to the Sam Sand Dunes, cultural programs in the evening and traditional Rajasthani meals.
Most of the camps are away from the hustle and bustle of the city and they do offer pick-up services. Living in tent houses with the basic necessities in the midst of the desert rejuvenates one to the core.
With its head held high, the ‘Ship of the Desert’ arrives and a ten minutes ride takes one to the sand dunes. Small hills of sands spread far and wide; the sand dunes look charming on the backdrop of the setting sun.
After the visit one will be transported back to the camp where all the arrangements for the cultural programme have already begun.
Most of the camps provide a traditional welcome to their guests. While enjoying the folk dance and music show during the cultural programme, snacks are served to satiate one’s taste buds.
While in the camp do not miss to have a look at the night sky, which seems to be a galaxy of millions of stars that is so close by.
Sacrificing sleep and getting up to witness the sunrise on the backdrop of the blue horizon with windmills around, is equally rewarding for the eyes.
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