Jaisalmer " Rajasthan
"
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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