Plan trip to Jaisalmer Chandragarh Desert Camp
- Make Your Vacation Entertaining with A Fascinating Trip Plan in Jaisalmer
- JAISALMER FORT – NATHMALJI KI HAVELII – PATWON KI HAVELI
- Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer – Timings, History, Best Time to Visit
At a distance of 1.5 km from Jaisalmer Railway Station, Jaisalmer Fort locally known as Sonar Quila (Golden Fort) is located in the heart of Jaisalmer city. It is one of the largest forts in India, and among the must include places in Jaisalmer holiday packages.
Jaisalmer Fort is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO under the group hill forts of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer Fort was built atop the Trikuta Hill in 1156 AD by the Bhati Rajput ruler Maharawal Jaisal Singh. It was the center of several historical encounters between the Bhattis, Mughals, and Rathores of Jodhpur. The Fort of Jaisalmer survived several attacks by the Muslim rulers like Aladdin Khilji and Mughal Emperor Humayun. The city also served as a refuge and way-station for caravans and travelers along the Silk Road.
Standing proudly in the middle of the great Thar Desert, this fort is regarded as ‘The Pride of Jaisalmer’, and among the top Jaisalmer places to visit. Its massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion color during the day, fading to honey-gold as the sun sets, thereby hiding the fort in the yellow desert. For this reason, it is also known as the Sonar Quila or Golden Fort.
The Jaisalmer Fort architecture is awe-inspiring and marvelous. The seamless blend of Rajput and Islamic styles, the golden tinge due to the yellow sandstone, and the enthralling carvings & sculptures make it rank among the glorious forts in Rajasthan. It is 1,500 ft long and 750 ft wide and is built on a 250 ft high hill. The basement of the fort has a 15 ft tall wall forming a double line of defense. The fort is protected by a 30 ft tall wall surrounding it on all sides. This fort comprises 99 bastions providing crucial protection to the fort during attacks.
Inside the fort complex, tourists can find several architectural buildings which include palaces, houses, and temples. Jaisalmer fort has narrow winding pathways which interlock several parts of the fort. The complex of the Jaisalmer fort is so expansive that almost one-quarter of the town’s population is located inside the fort itself. There are numerous wells inside the fort that are a regular source of water for residents.
The fort has four entrances namely Ganesh Pol, Rang Pol, Bhoota Pol, and Hawa Pol. The main attraction of the fort is Maharawal Palace popular for its marble throne. The Palace also has a wonderful museum that showcasing arms, dresses, utensils, & ornaments of the Rajput kingdom. An added attraction of this place is a five-storied Tazia tower located parallel to the Maharawal Palace. This tower was constructed by Muslim craftsmen and is made with decorative Bengali-styled roofs. Jain Temple and Lakshmi Temple are also quite famous among the visitors.
Palace Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM
Palace Entry Fee: Rs. 50 for Indians, Rs. 250 for Foreigners, Rs. 50 for Camera.
- Jain Temples – Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer – Timings, History, Best Time to Visit
At a distance of 2 km from Jaisalmer Railway Station, the Jain Temples are one of the oldest temples in Jaisalmer which are situated inside the Jaisalmer Fort complex. These Jain temples are the most important religious attractions in Jaisalmer.
There are seven Jain temples in total which are built during the 12th and 15th centuries AD. These Jain temples are dedicated to different Jain Tirthankaras. Among these temples, the biggest one is the Parsvanath Temple and is most attractive; others being Chandraprabhu temple, Rishabdev temple, Shitalnath Temple, Kunthanath Temple, and Shantinath Temple.
These temples are famous for their Dilwara style paintings and architecture that were predominant in the medieval era. The temples are built out of yellow sandstone and have intricate engravings on them. These temples have archaeological and religious significance attached to them. A huge chain of corridors connecting all the seven temples with numerous captions and stone sculptures is one of the key features of this religious place.
Chandraprabhu temple is dedicated to the eighth tirthankara and is the first temple to be entered while part of Jaisalmer sightseeing tour. It was built in 1509 and features fine sculpture in the mandapa, the intensely sculpted pillars of which form a series of toranas. To the right of Chandraprabhu is the tranquil Rishabdev temple, with fine sculptures around the walls, protected by glass cabinets and pillars beautifully sculpted with apsaras and gods.
Behind Chandraprabhu temple is Parsvanath temple and is dedicated to Jain tirthankara Sri Parsvanath. A door to the south leads to small Shitalnath, dedicated to the 10th tirthankara, whose image is composed of eight precious metals. A door in the northern wall leads to the enchanting, dim chamber of Sambhavanth. Kunthanath Temple is the most famous of seven temples in the fort complex. The Kunthanath temple is almost a replica of the temple in Hastinapur, which is the birthplace of Lord Kunthanath. The architecture and intricate carvings of the temple are the main draw here.
The 16th-century Shantinath temple is one of seven Jain temples within the Golden Fort. It was built in 1536 AD and is dedicated to Sri Shantinath. The beautiful idol of the saint has been majestically carved. The temple is known for its architecture and religious significance. This complex also has a Gyan Bhandar Library which is the best place to get rare manuscripts in India. Travellers can take a rickshaw or shared auto-rickshaw inside the fort for visiting these temples.
Timings: 5 AM to 12 PM.
- Tazia Tower, Jaisalmer – Timings, History, Best Time to Visit
At a distance of 2 km from Jaisalmer Railway Station, Tazia Tower is located in the Badal Palace complex near Amar Sagar Gate inside Jaisalmer Fort. The intricate designs, minarets and architectural fusion of this tower make it one of the top Jaisalmer tourist places.
Tazia Tower was constructed in the form of Tazia that are usually part of Muslim religious festivities. It was constructed in 1886 AD by Muslim carvers who presented it as a gift to the imperial Hindu king, Maharawal Berisal Singh.
The structure is a five-storied complex with each story possessing a unique balcony with an exclusive design of its own. The exquisite design and fine carvings on the walls and ceilings of each floor of the tower reflects the rich artistic creativity and imaginative skills of the local craftsmen of the bygone era.
Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM.
- Nathmalji Ki Haveli, Jaisalmer – Timings, History, Best Time to Visit
At a distance of 500 m from Jaisalmer Fort and 2 km from Jaisalmer Railway Station, Nathmalji ki Haveli is a renowned architectural marvel in the heart of Jaisalmer near Patwon ki Haveli. It is one of the prominent Jaisalmer places to visit.
Nathmalji ki Haveli was constructed by Maharawal Berisal in 1885 CE, to serve as the residence of Diwan Mohata Nathmal, the then Prime Minister of Jaisalmer. The chief architects of this haveli were two brothers, named Hathi and Lulu. There is a very interesting story regarding its construction. It is believed that both the brothers started building the facets of the haveli simultaneously. The two sides are similar, but not identical.
This haveli is famous for its architecture that reflects the fusion of both Rajput and Islamic styles. The building is planned around two courtyards; the one in the front is much smaller than the rear one. The front part of the building is three storeys high and has the main living quarters. The rear portion is two storeys high and contains the ancillary accommodation.
The facade of this haveli includes birds, elephants, flowers, bicycle, steam engine and soldiers. The entrance of the haveli is guarded by two huge elephants carved from yellow stone. The intricately carved jharokha windows and balconies are examples of the illustrious craftsmanship of Muslim silavats who created poetry in stone at the wondrous Nathmalji ki Haveli. In fact the stone-carved screen windows at the Nathmalji ki Haveli are famous for resembling magnified pieces of intricately carved jewelry. In addition to this, there are many pictures engraved on the walls including that of cattle, horses and flowers.
Tourists can either walk or take a rickshaw to reach this haveli.
- Patwon Ki Haveli, Jaisalmer – Timings, History, Best Time to Visit
At a distance of 500 m from Jaisalmer Fort and 1.5 km from Jaisalmer Railway Station, Patwon-ki-Haveli is situated in a narrow lane near the Patwa Complex in Jaisalmer. It is the first haveli to have been erected in Jaisalmer and also one of the top places to visit in Jaisalmer.
The Patwon ki Haveli is considered to be the one of the largest as well as the finest haveli of Rajasthan. This haveli is essentially a cluster of five havelis, which was constructed in 1805 CE by Guman Chand Patwa. A rich trader, Guman Chand Patwa constructed five separate sections for his five sons. The first haveli is the main and also the grandest haveli in the complex. The entire construction took over 55 years to complete.
Located in the center of the city, it is truly an outstanding piece of architecture. It is renowned for its ornate wall paintings, intricate yellow sandstone-carved jharokas or balconies, gateways and doorways. The haveli is built using yellow sandstone and the main gateway is brown in colour. The haveli is five stories high divided into six apartments. The walls also feature beautiful mirror work and several paintings. There is a stunning apartment which is flawlessly painted with beautiful murals. There are about 60 balconies in the haveli.
Amongst the five Havelis which form the entire complex, one has been converted into a museum which displays a vast collection of antique furniture and decorative goods. Besides this, the third Haveli or mansion in the premises also houses rich items that include traditional art and craft work of the local craftsmen. Two havelis are under the authorization of the Archaeological Survey of India and one serves as private accommodation.
Currently, this haveli is maintained by the state government, which uses it for different official purposes. The office of State art and craft department and the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is placed in the haveli.
Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 20 for Indians, Rs. 100 for Foreigners and Rs. 50 for Camera
- Salim Singh Ki Haveli, Jaisalmer – Timings, History, Best Time to Visit
At a distance of 1.5 km from Jaisalmer Railway Station, Salim Singh ki Haveli is an old edifice located at the heart of Jaisalmer city near Jaisalmer Fort. This beautiful architectural building is one of the major tourist places in Jaisalmer.
Salim Singh ki Haveli was built in 1815 CE by Salim Singh, the then Prime Minister of the kingdom when Jaisalmer was the capital. It is said that once the Haveli of Salim Singh had two additional wooden storeys in an attempt to make it as high as the maharaja’s palace but the Maharaja did not take this attempt in good spirit. Currently it has only five stories as the upper two tiers were demolished as per the order of the king.
The architecture of this haveli is unique as compared to the other havelis. This mansion was not created with the help of cements and mortar- the stones are connected with strong iron rods. The architecture of this mansion is inspired by dancing peacock. The mansion has five storeys and every structure is carefully built and carved. It is narrow for the first floors, and then the top storey spreads out into a mass of carving, with graceful arched balconies surmounted by pale-blue cupolas. The beautifully arched roof has superb carved brackets in the form of peacocks. The haveli consists of as many as 38 balconies and they all have distinct designs.
The entrance of the mansion is guarded by two huge elephants carved from stone. This haveli is also called as Jahaz Mahal, as the front facet resembles a ship stern. The walls and balconies are all covered with imperial paintings. The carved windows and grandly designed halls and rooms add to the charm of the haveli. The stone screens and the projecting windows keep the haveli cool even during the scorching summer heat. The mansion is a perfect example of the excellent craftsmanship of the people of that period.
Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 50 for Indians, Rs. 100 for Foreigners and Rs. 50 for Camera