Jaisalmer stands tall in the desolate beauty of the desert, proudly welcoming visitors to an enchanting world of fable, color, and history. The view of Jaisalmer Fort, first seen from a distance of 15 km is stunning. In the early morning the ramparts, bastions and the long stretching walls dazzle gloriously. The yellow sandstone fortifications look magnificent.
It is one of the most exotic cities of the Orient, standing in the heart of the desert for centuries, weathering with fortitude the vicissitudes of fortune and furious onslaughts of nature. The sudden emergence of the 76-meter high rock in the flat desert country crowned by the most awe-inspiring fort makes a majestic sight.
Today, Jaisalmer is the personification of the old order influence the new. An inherent feel for color and design percolated ever stratum of society, and jewelry, crafts and architecture became objects of delight equally between prince and peasant.
Jaisalmer is a border district of India located in the state of Rajasthan and touching Pakistan. Most of the district is part of Thar Desert and offers excellent camel safari options. Jaisalmer is connected to other cities in the state as well as in Gujarat and some other places in India with National Highway No 15.

History

Jaisalmer is amongst the last of the former princely kingdoms of Rajputana before the border between India and Pakistan. The people of Jaisalmer believe Lord Krishna prophecied to Arjuna that one of his descendants would establish a kingdom on Trikuta Hill. The Lord’s prophecy was fulfilled in 1196 AD when Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput who traced his lineage to Krisnna’s Yadava clan, shifted his capital from Lodurva (16 km away) to Trikuta Hill. Jaisalmer earned great wealth and glory in its heyday, because it was strategically located on the most lucrative of trade routes between Central Asian kingdoms and the Far East. Merchants were valued citizens and their houses or havelis are legendary with ornate, intricately carved façades of sandstone. The Bhatti Rajputs of Jaisalmer grew rich living off the rich caravans that crossed their territory till their days of glory slowly came to an end with the burgeoning of the shipping trade through the port at Mumbai.
Jaisalmer’s past glories can be seen in its impressive golden fort on Trikuta Hill that dominates the horizon. The fort houses a township with markets, palaces, temples and exquisite carved sandstone havelis. Today, these homes are national treasures and art museums that are still inhabited. This last outpost of the Indian Republic is valued for its heritage as much as for its brave citizens, its people and culture, colourful festivals and crafts have placed Jaisalmer on the world tourist map.