History
The modern city of Jaisalmer still retains its medieval flavour. The amazing Jaisalmer Fort, that rises spectacularly from the shimmering sands of the Thar desert still throbs with life and houses a quarter of the population even though its prosperity as a city on the caravan route dissipated as trading shifted to sea ports. Its once inaccessible location no doubt has a great deal to do with the unchanging feel of Jaisalmer, where the fort architecture, the grand havelis and camel trains retain the continuum of yesteryears. The first proper road to Jaisalmer was only built in 1958 and the railway line reached here just over three decades ago. Jaisalmer was essentially founded in 1196 AD when Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput who traced his lineage to Lord Krisnna's Yadava clan, shifted his capital from Lodurva (16 km away) to Trikuta Hill. Its strategic location on the most lucrative of trade routes between Central Asian kingdoms and the Far East made it an affluent trading city where the merchants prospered until the trade shifted to the shipping port of Bombay. Jaisalmer's golden fort houses a township with markets, palaces, temples and exquisite carved sandstone havelis. Today, these heritage homes are national treasures and art museums that are still inhabited. Jaisalmer is also known for its stalwart people, its colour and folklore, festivities and craft, arts and culture. The total package is irresistible and even the hardened tourist cannot fail to be moved by this city.