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 The
city has an interesting legend associated with it, according to
which, Lord Krishna-the head of the Yadav Clan, foretold Arjuna
that a remote descendent of the Yadav Clan would built his
kingdom atop the Trikuta Hill. His prophecy was fulfilled in
1156 A.D. when Rawal Jaisal, a descendent of the Yadav Clan and
a Bhatti Rajput,abandoned his fort at Lodurva and founded a new
capital - Jaisalmer,perched on the Trikuta Hill.
Places to Visit at Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer Fort
 The
golden hued fort is a sentinel to the bleak desertscape from its
80 metre high perch on the hill, housing the entire township
within its ramparts. It has an enchanting cow-web of narrow
lanes dotted with some lovely havelis, three beautifully
sculptured Jain Temples of the 12th-15th century A.D. and five
interconnected palaces.The fort is approached through four
gateways-Akhaiyal Ganesh Pol Suraj Pol and Hava Pol.
Patwon -ki-Haveli
The most elaborate and magnificent of all the Jaisalmer havelis.
It has exquisitely carved pillars and extensive corridors and
chambers.One of the apartments of this five storey high haveli
is painted with beautiful murals.
Gadsisar Lake
A scenic rain water lake with numerous beautiful shrines around
and a spectacular avian variety. The lake is an idyllic spot for
outings.
Jain Temple
The fort has three exquisitely carved jain temples dedicated to
the Jain Tirthankars-Rishabhdev,Sambhavnath and Paraswanath.Gyan
Bhandar or Library: Some of the oldest manuscripts of India are
found in this library established as a part of Jain temples.
Nathmalji ki Haveli
This haveli was built in late 19th century with elaborate
architecture a display of sheer craftsmanship. The left and
right wings of the mansion, which were carved by two brothers
are not the same but very similar and balanced in design. The
interior walls are elaborate with wonderful small paintings.
Salim S ingh
ki Haveli
This is a 300-year-old haveli of Jaisalmer’s Prime Minister
Salim Singh. It has beautiful carved brackets in the form of
peacocks. This amazing mansion in yellow stone is covered with
intricate carvings and has an elaborate balcony on the top
storey.
Sam Sand Dunes
No trip to Jaisalmer is complete without a trip to the most
picturesque dunes of Sam situated 42km from Jaisalmer. The waves
on the wind -caressed dunes, that create a charming mirage, are
surely a delight for a trigger -happy photographer.
Fairs & Festivals at Jaisalmer
Desert Fair
About the Fair
Jaisalmer exercise immense charm, but with the staging of the
annual Desert Festival (January - February), it has also become
one of the more important events on the annual calendar.
Essentially, it is a showcase of the performing arts of the
region on the stretching sands around this desert citadel. A
number of amusing turban tying competitions and camel races.
Activities
The perfect time to visit the golden city is during the Desert
Festival, held in Jan/Feb. every year, when the city
reverberates to the sound of melodious tunes and rhythms. Folk
dances, exciting competitions an contests, especially the
turban-tying contest. Mr. Desert contest and camel races enliven
the festivities. Colorful craft bazaars are set up for the
occasion and a sound and light spectacle is organized wit folk
artists performing against the splendid backdrop of the famous
Sam sand dunes on the full moon night. Surely a not-to-be missed
event.
How To Get To Jaisalmer
By Air :
Flights are not the best way to reach Jaisalmer. Jodhpur is the
nearest airport at a distance of 500 km. Indian Airlines has a
twice-weekly service to Jodhpur from Delhi.
By Rail:
From Jodhpur there is a direct train to Jaisalmer for overnight
journey, except on Wednesday. The journey takes approximately
ten hours. The Palace on Wheels is the most luxurious way to
travel to Jaisalmer, recreating within the coaches the ambience
of the legendary palace comforts. Advance reservation required.
By Road:
Jaisalmer is 897 kilometers from Delhi; 638 kilometers from
Jaipur; 285 kilometers from Jodhpur; 500 kilometers from Ajmer,
and 330 kilometers from Bikaner. Most of these places are
connected to Jaisalmer by National Highway
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Rajasthan is one of the 26 states that, along, with
seven union territories forms the republic of India. Rajasthan
is one of the 26 states that, along, with seven union
territories forms the republic of India. Located in the
north-west, it shares its borders with Punjab, Hariyana, Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and and Gujarat, The Complete Rajasthan
-- Take a desert- burning sand in the long summers, large tracts
of dune-decked plains, with scarce water and even scarcer
vegetation and create a habitation with the mind's eye, if you
can. And the come to Rajasthan to see if you imagination can
begin to match where reality takes over.
History
Archaeological and historical evidence shows a continuous human
habitation of the area dating back 100,000 years. Between the
7th and the 11th century AD, several dynasties arose, with
Rajput strength reaching its peak at the beginning of the 16th
century. Emperor Akbar brought the Rajput states into the Mughal
Empire; by early 19th century, they allied with the Marathas.
Later, the British established supremacy in the region.
Rajasthan soon emerged as a centre of Indian nationalism. When
the new constitution went into effect in 1950, Rajput princes
surrendered their powers to the Indian Union.`
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