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Jaisalmer - Destinations Of India |
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Few cities can match the sheer magical brilliance of Jaisalmer, lying deep in the heart of Thar Desert. It seems as if the miles and miles of formidable sands suddenly disappeared, giving way to a thing of awe-inspiring beauty. Imagine the view of an impregnable fortress of yellow sandstone rising out of the desert haze. Enchanting havelis around the fort below add to the magical luster of this medieval town. Set in the center of lucrative trade routes of yore, this beautiful princely bastion is a marvel of culture, architecture and great festivals.
Jaisalmer came into being in 1156 when King Rawal Jaiswal chose the Trikuta Hill as the site of his new city after abandoning the old capital at Lodurva. The legends has it that, once the usurper seeking for a more secure capital was advised by a saint to built a fort on top of the Trikuta Hill. This in turn is the fulfillment of Lord Krishna's prophecy that a distant scion of his Yadav clan would build a kingdom here. The hilltop offered the safest location for a fort, dominating and guarding the desert for miles. The hill possessed water owing to a miracle performed by Krishna to quenched the thirst of his friend Arjuna.
Due to its extreme remoteness, Jaisalmer remained untouched from outside influences for a long period of time and also it was the last to sigh the Instrument of Agreement during the British Rule. As the city was erected right on the crossroad of lucrative trade routes many caravans loaded with precious cargoes passed through it. These caravans brought immense wealth to the city by means of levy fixed on them. Jaisalmer's prosperity faded when sea trade replaced the old land routes.
Though the glory of this medieval town had long been gone but the air of romance and melody is still haunting over the city. And one can feel it in the many beautiful palaces, havelis, museums, colorful festivals, and the golden hued sand dunes.
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