Hotel Booking India - Jaiselmer History and Excursions

Jaiselmer History

The modern city of Jaisalmer still retains its medieval flavour. The amazing Mehengarh Fort rises spectacularly from the shimmering sands of the Thar desert and dominates the town below. The town still throbs with life in the norrow streets and markets even though its prosperity as a city on the caravan route dissipated as trading shifted to sea ports.

Its once inaccessible location has had a great influence on the timeless atmosphere of Jaisalmer,where the fort architecture, the grand havelis and camel trains have altered little over the centuries. The first proper road to Jaisalmer was only built in 1958 and the railway line reached here just over three decades ago.

Jaisalmer was founded in 1196 AD when Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput moved his capital from Lodurva (16 km away) to Trikuta Hill. This strategic location on the most lucrative of the trade routes between Central Asian kingdoms and the Far East made it an affluent trading city where the merchants prospered. They built golden fort houses, palaces,temples and exquisitley carved sandstone havelis.

Today, these heritage homes which are still inhabited, are preserved as national treasures and art museums.

Jaisalmer is also known for its arts and culture, festivals and craft, colour and folklore.

Jaiselmer Excursions

JThe sifting sand dunes at Sam, on the edge of the Desert National Park are a dramatic sight as they relentlessly move and change. It is a breathtaking experience to watch the sun sink below the dunes and the spectacular sunset flame the sky.

JThe three-day Desert Festival in January attracts many visitors. The evening entertainment includes captivating performances by snake charmers, puppeteers, folk dancers and musicians. There are also camel races & camel polo. During the festivities the campfires burn till dawn among the dunes.

Lodurva is the ancient capital of Jaisalmer. Its complex of splendid Jain temples makes it both a tourist attraction and an important Jain pilgrim centre.

This 3000 km stretch protects the fragile desert ecosystem and its natural environs. The native flora consists of cacti, thorny shrubs, bushes and trees and hardy vegetation and the local fauna constitutes animal species such as the monitor lizard, desert foxes, porcupines and herds of black buck.

Akal Wood Fossil Park is the fossillised remains of a forest that grew 180 million years ago. Close by is another pre-historic site - Kandiala - where there are undated fossilised rocks with tiny sea shells embedded, evidence that this desert was once part of the ocean bed.

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History and Excursions for Jaisalmer Hotel