Jaisalmer Fort
About Jaisalmer Fort
This desert fortress close to Rajasthan's border with Pakistan is
straight out of an Arabian fairy tale. Founded in the 12th century as a
staging post for camel trains travelling between India and Central Asia,
Jaisalmer is a golden sandstone city with crenellated city walls, a
magnificent fortress and a number of exquisitely carved stone and wooden
havelis. Seen at sunset from afar, it glows with the luminescence of a
mirage. Jaisalmer's impressive fort crowns an 80m (260ft) high hill, and
about a quarter of the city's 40,000 inhabitants reside within its
walls. Little has changed here for centuries, and if ever a
record-breaking effort were made to pack as many houses, temples and
palaces into a confined space, this would be the result.
Jaisalmer fort was built in 1156 and is the second oldest
in Rajasthan. Known as SONAR QUILA or the Golden fort, rising from the
sand , the mega structure merges with the golden hues of the desert
ambience and the setting suns in its most colourful shades gives it a
fairy tale look .
Architecture of Jaisalmer Fort
The architecture of the Jaisalmer fort is exquisite. The ramparts,
bastions and the long stretching walls of the fort dazzle gloriously
during early morning and at the sunset. The fort is two hundred and
fifty feet tall and reinforced by an imposing crenellated sandstone wall
which is 30 feet high. The fort has 99 bastion, out of which 92 bastions
were built between 1633 and 1647. The fort stands almost 30 metres over
the city and unbelievably houses an entire living area within huge
ramparts. It is approached through Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Bhoot Pol and
Hawa Pol.
The five storey fort adorns itself with balconies and windows that
displays some of the finest masonry work, while the interior is painted
and tiled in typical Rajput style. The bastions envelops a whole
township that consist of palace complex, the havelis of rich merchants,
several temples and the residential complexes of the armies and
merchants. These merchants served and acquire a great deal of power and
noble status in the royal courts of Bhatti Rajputs who founded the state
in the 12th century and proceeded further. But the rich merchants
inspired by the classic style of the royals, constructed huge mansions
or havelis. These merchants engaged stone - craftsmen who worked
delicately on the sandstone mansions. They filled up facades with
sculptural figures, screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful
balconies. The main attractions within the fort are a group of
beautifully carved Jain temples built between the 12th and 15th century.
