Jaisalmer Sightseeing (By Surface)
After a relaxed breakfast, proceed for a full-day sightseeing tour of The Golden City - Jaisalmer, located in the heart of the Great Indian Desert. Its temples, fort, and palaces are all built of yellow stone. The city is a mass of intricately carved buildings, facades, and elaborate balconies.
Visit the Jaisalmer Fort: The oldest living fort in the world. (This is the highlight of the tour)
The fort stands almost 30 meters over the city and houses an entire living area within its huge ramparts. Walking through the narrow lanes is an experience worth savoring. It is approached through Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Bhoot Pol, and Hawa Pol. Also within it are many beautiful havelis and a group of Jain temples dating from the 12th to the 15th centuries. The golden-yellow sandstone of Jaisalmer Fort, over 800 years old, crowns the Trikuta Hill. Within its walls, defended by 99 turrets, lies the old city, nearly a quarter of modern Jaisalmer. Seen from outside, the sight must be almost identical to what was seen by merchants on their overland camel caravans to central Asia. Once, this desert outpost was an important gate for the trade route, and Jaisalmer grew wealthy on the proceeds. But the advent of commercial shipping relegated the town to relative obscurity. Known as SONAR QUILA, rising from the sand, the mega structure merges with the golden hues of the desert ambience, and the setting sun in its most colorful shades gives it a fairy-tale look. It's simply magic; the bastions envelop a whole township that consists of a palace complex, various security sources, and the havelis of rich merchants carved with an incredibly light touch, several temples, and the residential complexes of the armies and traders placed strategically on the trade route, from where the ancient caravans passed. Enjoy the sightseeing of the following places, among which the JAIN TEMPLES are inside the fort.
Nath Kamal Ki Haveli: Two architect brothers built it in the 19th century. Interestingly, while one concentrated on the right, the other concentrated on the left, and the result is a symphony epitomizing side-by-side symmetry during construction. Paintings in miniature style monopolize the walls in the interior. Mighty tuskers carved out of yellow sandstone stand guard at the Haveli.
Salim Singh Ki Haveli: This Haveli was built about 300 years ago, and a part of it is still occupied. Salim Singh was the prime minister when Jaisalmer was the capital of the princely state, and his mansion has a beautifully arched roof with superbly carved brackets in the form of peacocks. The mansion is just below the hill, and it is said that once it had two additional wooden stories in an attempt to make it as high as the maharaja's palace, but the maharaja had the upper storey torn down.
Patwon Ji Ki Haveli: This is one of the largest and most elaborate Havelis in Jaisalmer and stands in a narrow lane. It is five stories high and is extensively carved. It is divided into six apartments: two owned by the Archaeological Survey of India, two by families who operate craft shops, and two private homes. There are remnants of paintings on some of the inside walls as well as some mirror work.
Tazia Tower: The delicate pagoda-like Tazia Tower rises from Badal Mahal (Cloud Palace). Rising in its five-tiered splendor, with each storey graced by a delicately carved balcony, the tower is of historical significance. Muslim craftsmen built it in the shape of a Tazia and gifted it to their royal patron.
Godi Sagar Lake: This tank, south of the city walls, once held the town's water supply. Befitting its importance in providing precious water to the inhabitants of this arid city, it is surrounded by small temples and shrines. The beautiful yellow sandstone gateway arching across the road down to the tank is the Tilon-ki-Pol, said to have been built by a famous prostitute, Tilon. When she offered to pay to have this gateway constructed, the Maharaja refused permission, feeling it would be beneath his dignity. While he was away, she built the gate, adding a Krishna temple on top so that the king could not tear it down.
Jain Temples: These fine Jain temples were built in the 12th to 15th centuries within the Jaisalmer Fort. They are beautifully carved and dedicated to Rikhabdevji and Sambhavnathji. The Gyan Bhandar, a library containing some extremely old manuscripts, is within the temple complex.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
