A trip To Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is named after its founder Rawal Jaisal who moved from his former capital at Lodhruva (which is situated about 15 km to the south-east of Jaisalmer) and built the new capital at Jaisalmer . "Jaisalmer" means "the Hill Fort of Jaisal". The golden hued fort stands about 80 meters over the city and houses an entire township within its huge ramparts. The famous Indian film director Satyajit Ray immortalised the fort in his detective novel and which he later turned into a film – Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress).

The entrances are called Pols, namely the Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Bhoota Pol and the Hava Pol, they guard the Megh Durbar and the Jawahar Mahal, which were occupied by the royal family. Outside the fort is the main market place called Manek Chowk.

Gadi Sagar Lake: A scenic rain water lake with beautiful shrines is an ideal spot for picnics and boating.
Tazia Tower :The Pagoda like Tazia Tower rises from the Badal Mahal or Palace of Clouds. During Moharram, beautiful 'Tazias'-ornately decorated bamboo, paper and tinsel replicas of a bier, are carried out in procession by Muslims. Each storey of this five-tiered tower has a carved balcony.
The Havelis of Jaisalmer:

Jaisalmer has some of the most exotic mansions or havelis in India with conspicuous facades, these are quite unique.

Nathmalji-Ki-Haveli : One very interesting fact about this late 19th century haveli is that two brothers carved its two sides. Although the motif used by one is not similar to the other, they are in harmony. One has to look very closely to spot dissimilarities. The interior walls are ornate with splendid miniature paintings.
Patwon-Ki-Haveli :This is one of the largest and most elaborate havelis in Jaisalmer. It is five storeys high and extensively carved.

Lodurva (16 km):
This is the ancient capital of Jaisalmer and an important pilgrim spot of the Jain community with some magnificent Jain temples. "Toran" or the ornate arches at the main entrance and splendid carvings are noteworthy. A 'Kalptaru' or a divine tree within is the main attraction of the temple.

Wood Fossil Park, Aakal (17 kms):
Lying on the Barmer Road, this park takes you back to the Jurassic period, when the entire Thar region lay beneath the sea. There are 180 million year old fossils - the geological landmarks for the study of the Thar Desert.
Sam Sand Dunes (42 km):
No trip to Jaisalmer is complete without visiting the picturesque dunes of Sam. The ripples on the wind-caressed dunes, that create an enchanting mirage, are a delight for a trigger -happy photographer. Various cultural programmes are organised against the backdrop of these fascinating sand dunes. It is a great place to see patterns carved out by winds on the sand, which change colours in the sunrise. Camel rides on the sand dunes are an unforgettable experience, as is the sunset. One can spend an enchanting evening on the sands watching the sensuous snake dance of the Kalbeliya gypsies and listening to the full-throated folk songs of the Manganiyars. Exciting camel safaris allow you to get the real feel of the desert on camel back.

A little about the Camel Safari : The camel safaris in the deserts of India are the fastest selling adventure holidays. The hardships in the course of the safari go hand-in-hand with the novel manner of seeing the dry desert areas. In India the camel safari offers a lot more of fun and adventure. The area is a lot more accessible than its counterparts owing to the airports and railway stations close by. The architectural heritage of Rajasthan is best discovered in the camel safari. It is owing to the trade caravans across the desert of India that the trade prospered and made Jaisalmer rich in olden days before sea trade tookover. A typical safari will visit the architectural ruins of Lodurva that are close to Jaisalmer, the oasis at Anasagar, the sand dunes of the Samm and the water source of Moolsagar , which are exquisite examples of the lives of the villagers. After the safari through the day the nights are meant for entertainment and rest. The halts at the night en-route, amidst the desert scrubs the tour/ safari operator can arrange a campfire and local dancers and musicians. This gives one the taste of the rich culture of rajasthan , though the entertainers get a pittance for their exertions.