Jaisalmer : Sunset at the sand dunes

Author - Ekta Sharma

"The Golden city", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located 575 kilometres (357 mi) west of the state capital Jaipur. It is a World Heritage Site. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples are finely sculptured. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert (great Indian desert) and has a population of about 78,000.

Like various other cities of Rajasthan, one will discover different facets of Jaisalmer as one explores this wonderful city. Tough there are historical monuments scattered all over the city, the Jaisalmer Fort immediately command the attention. Made of sand stones and locally known as Sonar Quila, the Jaisalmer Fort is a dominating structure amidst sands. The Jaisalmer city is also known for its old mansions, better known as Havelis. Among many of them one will find Salim ji ki haveli and Nathmal ji ki haveli as the most attractive and fascinating. There are other monuments too, which are equally important because of their distinct and individual architecture. The amalgamation of ancient and the medieval era architecture is simply incredible.

1. Jaiselmer Fort