Rajasthan is the land of kings and queens and the forts bear testament to the might and the bravery of the Rajput ruler who once walked this land. The forts in Rajasthan all have their own story to tell and there are a number of them strewn all along with this huge state in western India. Of them, the Jaisalmer Fort holds a special position, not just because of its expanse, but because of the rich history and stunning architecture as well. Jaisalmer is a little farther away into the desert and this is why it is still less urbanized and commercialized than the other cities of Rajasthan like Udaipur or Jaipur. And this is exactly why history truly comes alive when you walk into the fort.

The Jaisalmer Fort was perhaps portrayed in popular culture by the eminent director Satyajit Ray, in his film, Sonar Kella, or The Golden Fortress. Based on a book that he himself written, the film portrays the adventures of well-known Bengali detective, Feluda, his cousin Topshe and companion Jatayu as they embark on a journey in the heart of Rajasthan, to rescue a young boy Mukul, who was kidnapped because he claimed that he could remember incidents from his past life because he lived in the Golden Fortress and that there was treasure in his house. The fort turned out to be the Jaisalmer Fort and the naming of the fort is significant. The Jaisalmer Fort is made of yellow sandstone, and when sunlight hits the fort, it really does blaze like gold, giving Mr. Ray the name for his book.

What is more significant is that the Jaisalmer Fort is one of the few forts in the world that is still lived in. About one- fourth population of the old city still lives within the fort and the 800-year-old fort still stands formidable. The fort is the second oldest in Rajasthan and was built in 1156 AD by the Rana Jaisal, from whom the fort city derives its name. The fort stands on the Trikuta Hill in the middle of the Thar Desert and is wonderfully camouflaged by it. In 2013, the fort was declared as a UNESCO along with five other forts of Rajasthan.

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Architecture of the Fort:

The fort is about 1500 feet in length and 750 feet wide and the hill that it resides on is about 250 feet above the valley. The base of the fort has a 15 feet tall, which is the outermost wall of the fort. There are two other walls within. There are 99 bastions in all and there are four fortified gates, and one of them was guarded by a cannon. The visitors have to pass the four massive gateways before they can make their final entry into the fort.

Inside the fort, there are many places of interest as well. Of them, perhaps the most beautiful is the Raj Mahal Palace, which was once the residence of the Maharawal of Jaisalmer.

There are also 7 Jain temples inside the fort and they are built with the same yellow sandstone from which the fort is made. They were built between the 12^th and 16^th century.

There is also a huge temple that is dedicated to Sambhavanatha and there are more than 600 idols inside the fort.

The Laxminath temple is still worshipped in, with the idols of Lakshmi and Vishnu residing inside it and festivals are held around it.

Perhaps the most important and the fantastic sights inside the fort of Jaisalmer is the Havelis of the merchants who once lived here. Since Jaisalmer was built at a strategic point when trade and commerce flourished in this region, the merchants here had built splendid homes for themselves and they are complete with arched doorways, balconies, and jharokhas. Some of them have been converted into museums while some are still resided in by the future generations of the merchants of the bygone eras. Visiting these museums is a real treat for the eyes. The Vyas haveli, built-in 15^th century is one such haveli and it is still lived in by the future generations of the family. The Shree Nath Palace is another beautiful haveli which was once resided in by the Prime Minister of Jaisalmer.

Exploring the Jaisalmer fort is like an adventure because the alleys and nooks of the fort reveal a whole new world and a new glimpse of architecture with every turn.

Best Time to Visit Jaisalmer

The best time to visit Jaisalmer is between September to March as after that it starts to get very hot. About two to three days would be ideal if you want to explore the fort completely.

Jaisalmer Fort Timings:

The fort is open for tourists from 8 am to 5: 30 pm.

Entry Fee:

The entry fee is INR 50 for Indians and INR 250 per person for the foreign nationals. Photography charges are INR 50 for still photos and INR 100 for videos.

What is Jaisalmer Famous for?

Sightseeing in Jaisalmer is a riot of colors and textures. Apart from exploring the havelis and the temples for their history and architecture, as mentioned above, exploring the culture of Jaisalmer is the next thing to do that should be on your list. And the best way of doing so is to visit the local market and find out about the way of life of the people here.

The Gopa Chowk is the central market here and it is frequented by tourists in large numbers. Most of the items sold here are handmade and made by the residents living inside the fort, in their homes. Bedsheets, exquisite handmade silver jewelry, handcraft, jholas and jootis, scarves, glass bangles, wooden puppets, and many more such items are to be found here.

Be sure to check out the Battle Gun situated at the top of the fort which was once used by the Maharajas to protect the fort during an invasion.

The marketplace still has the local artists perform Ghoomar and Kalbelia dance. The Katputli dance, or the puppet shows, never gets old. The fort is perhaps the only one in India that has people residing in it and once you interact with them, they will regale you with stories of the past and the traditions and rituals that they still continue to follow.

How to Reach Jaisalmer Fort?

Jaisalmer has its own airport which makes it easy to reach directly from cities like Delhi, Surat, Jaipur, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Others can fly in to Jaipur and get a cab or a train to the Jaisalmer station. The airport is located about 17 km out of the city but there are cabs to take you to the fort as it is a popular tourist destination. There are also tourist guides waiting for you and they charge about INR 400 to show you the fort.

Where to Stay in Jaisalmer?

Jaisalmer has a number of guest houses and budget hotels though always finding accommodation inside the fort can be difficult, unless some local residents rent out rooms. Most of the hotels and guesthouses are located just outside the main fort, in the valley below the Trikut Hills where the extended population of the fort has spilled on to. Going to the main fort from here is quite easy and you can book rooms from the OYO app with ease.