Why is a Golden city of Jaisalmer

Histroy of Jaisalmer

The Jaisalmer state was founded on the ruins of the Shyamarajya ruled by the Bhati dynasty. The Bhati rulers ruled over a large empire stretching from Ghazni in modern Afghanistan to Singalkot, Lahore and Rawalpindi in modern Pakistan to Bathinda, Muktsar and Hanumangarh in modern India. The empire deteriorated over time due to frequent invasions from Central Asia. According to Satish Chandra, the Hindus of Afghanistan allied with the Indian rulers of Multan because they wanted to end the siege of Ghazni by the Turks. The alliance was defeated by the Turks in 1177. With time the Bhati dynasty shifted its location southwards to Jaisalmer, the new capital of which was founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156, and the state was named after the capital. On 11 December 1818 Jaisalmer became a British protectorate in the Rajputana Agency. Traditionally, in the Middle Ages, the main source of income for the kingdom was levies on caravans, but the economy was heavily affected when Bombay emerged as a major port and sea trade replaced the traditional land routes. Ranjit Singh and Bairi Sal Singh attempted to turn around the economic decline but the dramatic reduction in trade impoverished the kingdom. A severe drought and the resulting famine from 1895 to 1900, during the reign of Salivahan Singh, only made matters worse by causing widespread loss of the livestock that the increasingly agriculturally based kingdom relied upon. The attempts of Jawahir Singh (1914–1949) at modernisation were also not entirely successful in turning the kingdom's economy around, and the drylands of Jaisalmer remained backward compared with other regions of Rajputana, especially the neighbouring state of Jodhpur. Nonetheless, the extensive water storage and supply, sanitation, and health infrastructures developed in the 1930s by the prime minister Brijmohan Nath Zutshi provided significant relief during the severe droughts of 1941 and 1951. During 1930–1947, Jawahir Singh and his ministers also promoted technical education and the academic disciplines of civil and mechanical engineering in the state. After the departure of the British from India in 1947, Jawahir Singh signed an Instrument of Accession to the new Union of India, while retaining some internal autonomy until the 1950s. 

Famous Place in Jaiselmer

1. Jaisalmer Fort
2. Kothari's Patwon Ki Haveli / Patwa Haveli
3. Gadisar Lake
4. Jaisalmer War Museum
5. Desert Cultural Centre (puppet show)
6. Basant Art Emporium - Jaisalmer
7. Shri Tanot Mata Temple
8. Longewala War Memorial
9. Nathmal Ki Haveli
10. Salam Singh Ki Haweli (Moti Mahal)
11. The Thar Heritage Museum
12. Hotel WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace
13. Tazia Tower
14. Government Museum Jaisalmer
15. Chandraprabhu Jain Temple - Jaisalmer

1. Jaisalmer Fort

Why the fort of Daanti was built by Rawal Jaisal a Bhati Rajput in 1156. The story goes that it was Lodhuruva I who left behind an earlier construction which was Jaisal Ujushti and thus a new capital was established when Jaisal founded the city of Jaisalmer. Around 1299 Rawal Jit Singh I faced a long siege by Alauddin Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate. He is said to have been infuriated by Bhati raids on his treasury. By the end of the siege, facing mixed forces the Indian Rajput women committed jauhar and the male warriors under the command of the Mughal king met their fate in battle with the Sultan. After the successful siege the fort remained under the Delhi Sultanate for some years. However, it was again captured by some of the surviving Bhatis. During the reign of Rawal Lunkaran around 1530 to 1551 the fort was attacked by an Afghan chieftain Amir Ali. When Rahul realised that he was fighting a pitched battle he slaughtered his own palace men as he did not have time to arrange for jauhar. Unfortunately soon after the deed was completed he was defeated and the army of Jaisalmer was defeated. In 1541 Rawal Lunkaran led a battle against the Mughal emperor Himayu when Himayu attacked the fort while on his way to Ajmer. He also proposed his daughter in marriage to Akbar The Mughals retained control of the fort until 1762 The fort remained under the control of the Mughals until 1762, when Maharawal Mulraj took control of the fort A treaty signed between the native state and the East India Company on 12 December 1818 allowed the Mughal state to retain control of the fort and granted protection from invasion After the death of the native state in 1820, his grandson Gaj Singh inherited control of the fort.

2. Kothari's Patwon Ki Haveli / Patwa Haveli

The word haveli is derived from the Arabic word haveli which means partition or private space. The term was popularized during the Mughal Empire. The early havelis served the Indian Muslim rulers and became an important architectural form of the urban environment under the Mughals. The small havelis originated from the Islamic architecture of the city but the existence of multi-storey houses and enclosures in the region is claimed by the Haveli. Courtyards are a common feature of traditional houses found in the Indian subcontinent whose earliest examples date back to the Neolithic period whether it is a haveli or a farmhouse. The actual structure of these structures was very different from the traditional havelis developed under Muslim rule which had a blend of Saniya and Islamic traditions. Traditional houses on the Indian subcontinent are built around a courtyard and all family activities revolve around this courtyard. Additionally the courtyard serves as a light pool and helps to ventilate the house in the humid and humid climate of the region. During the medieval period the term haveli was also used by some sham sects to refer to temples in Gujarat like the Mughal Empire and Rajputana states. The general term haveli is also used to refer to temples in the Mughal Empire and Rajputana states. came to be recognised as the location of town houses and mansions of the mercantile class.

3. Gadisar Lake

Gadisar lake is an artificial lake. It is located in the southern part of Jaisalmer city. This lake was built by the founder of Jaisalmer, King Rawal Jaisal. This is why it was earlier called Jaisalmer lake. At that time it was the only source of water in the region. Later, Gadsi Singer got this lake completely built and after that its name was changed to Gadi Jail. At present, many tourists from abroad come here. This jail also has stories of Hindu gods and goddesses, chhatris and temples.

4. Jaisalmer War Museum

The Jaisalmer War Museum was conceived by Lieutenant General Bobby Mathews, AVSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Desert Corps and constructed by the Desert Corps of the Indian Army. include vehicles and equipment captured during the course of operations in 1965 and 1971. The Jaisalmer War Museum, popularly known as JWM, has an Honour Wall engraved with the names of the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra gallantry award winners, two large Information Display Halls - Indian Army Hall and Laungewala Hall, an Audio Visual Room, a souvenir shop and a cafeteria. A Hunter Aircraft of the Indian Air Force, which destroyed enemy tank columns during the Battle of Laungewala is also displayed. The Jaisalmer War Museum is located 10 km short of Jaisalmer on the Jaisalmer - Jodhpur Highway. The inauguration of the Museum took place in the Golden Jubilee Commemoration Year of the 1965 India Pakistan War.

5. Desert Cultural Centre (puppet show)

6. Basant Art Emporium - Jaisalmer

7. Shri Tanot Mata Temple

According to the records of traditional history, Hinglaj Mata took her full birth as Tanot Mata and later reborn as Karni Mata in Pune. Long ago, there was a person named Mamadji Charan who had no son or daughter. To get a child, he travelled to Hinglaj Mata seven times on foot. One night, when Hinglaj Mata asked Mamadiya Charan in his dream whether he wanted a son or a daughter, Charan said that you should take birth in my house. By the grace of Hinglaj Mata, he was blessed with seven daughters and a son. He had a great mother who is known as Tanot Mata. The temple was built and the idol of the state deity was installed by Indian Rajput king Tanu Rao in 828. Since then, the temple has been revered and worshipped by the Bhati Rajputs and the people of Jaisalmer. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Pakistan attacked Tanot, during which 30 shells were fired towards the temple. According to the local accounts, Hinglaj Mata was also revered by the Bhati Rajputs and the people of Jaisalmer. So it missed its protector or did not get torn at all. After the 1965 war the Border Security Force of India took over the responsibility of the care, restriction and maintenance of the temple. During the Indo Pakistan War of 1971 the temple was attacked again but this time the attacking tanks got trapped in the rate which destroyed them. After the 1971 war the Indian Army built a Vijay Stambh inside the temple complex to commemorate the victory in the Battle of Longewala. A company of 120 infantry soldiers of the Indian Service defeated a division of 2000 Pakistan Army which included a Pakistan tank squadron.

8. Nathmal Ki Haveli

9. Salam Singh Ki Haweli (Moti Mahal)

Salim Singh's Haveli is situated in the heart of Jaisalmer city. It is a beautiful building. It is one of the main attractions built in the ruins of an old mansion in the late 19th century and was built by the then Prime Minister of the state, Salim Singh. It also has another beautiful name, Jahaz Mahal, because the front part of the mansion looks like the back part of a ship. Made of strong iron rods made of cement and ass, this mansion is famous for its real beauty. The mansion is about 300 years old and is in the shape of Chhath Ma. Famous for its unique architecture, this mansion has 38 beautiful carved Bal Kanyas on which light blue Gorbands are worn and all have their own different designs. The entrance is guarded by two stone carved elephants. The inner wall of Salim Singh's mansion is built on the ruins of an old mansion which was built in the late 19th century. The mansion also has a beautiful Moti Mahal where dances were organized for the entertainment of the Jat class and the royal court. This piece of Bhaat was later occupied by the most influential Mehta family of Jaisalmer.

10. The Thar Heritage Museum

Arna Jharna Museum (or Arna Jharna – The Thar Desert Museum) is a folk museum located in a village called Moklawas near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The museum opened in 2000 under the aegis of Rupayan Sansthan. It is a Museum of Folk Culture envisioned by eminent folklorist and ethno-musicologist, Padma Bhushan Komal Kothari (1929 – 2004). Arna Jharna literally means Forest and Spring. Its location showcases the terrain of Marwar region through rocky outcrops, desert cacti, and ravines. 

11. Hotel WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace

WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace in Jaisalmer, India, is a heritage hotel built within a two-century-old palace. It offers a blend of medieval charm with modern amenities, including a museum exhibiting royal artifacts and a rooftop restaurant with views of the Jaisalmer Fort.

12. Tazia Tower

The Tajia Tower in Jaisalmer is a five-storey structure located within the Badal Palace complex. It is a classic example of Islamic architecture in Rajasthan. The tower's unique design features a natural tomb of a Muslim Imam intricately carved with salamat tak veer. It was built in 1886 as a gift to the royal Hindu ruler Maha Rawal Beri Sal Singh.

13. Government Museum Jaisalmer

The Jaisalmer Government Museum, established by the Department of Archaeology and Museums in 1984, offers a glimpse into the region's history and culture. It showcases a diverse collection of artifacts, including traditional textiles, ancient coins, wooden carvings, and archaeological finds, housed in an old fort. The museum is a popular tourist attraction, offering a tranquil setting for exploring Jaisalmer's heritage.

14. Chandraprabhu Jain Temple - Jaisalmer

The Chandraprabhu Jain Temple in Jaisalmer is located within the Jaisalmer Fort, a complex of seven Jain temples built during the 12th to 16th centuries. It is one of several temples dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras, revered figures in Jainism, and is constructed from yellow sandstone. The temple is known for its beautiful carvings and intricate designs, showcasing the fine architecture and craftsmanship of the era.

Famous Food in Jaisalmer

1. Dal Baati Churma
2. Ker Sangri
3. Gatte ki Sabzi
4. Ghotua Ladoo

Famous Temple in Jaisalmer

1. Shri Tanot Mata Temple
2. Chandraprabhu Jain Temple
3. Raj Mahal Temple
4. Laxminath Temple

Famous Museum in Jaisalmer

1. Jaisalmer War Museum
2. The Thar Heritage Museum
3. Government Museum Jaisalmer