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| Featured Destination |
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KERALA
"God's Own Country..."
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JAISALMER |
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In the middle
of the Thar Desert, lies the honey-hued illusion
of Jaisalmer. The deserted cliff of Trikuta Hills
faced weather-beaten dry winds and a sweltering
desert sun for thousands of years to win an outstanding
fort of yellow sandstone as its tiara in 1156. It
is said that Lord Krishna, the head of Yadav clan,
had prophesized its materialization long before
it was built. Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput, who
established his new capital at Jaisalmer, founded
it after deserting his fort at Lodurva. Once the
trade and commerce center of the ancient silk route,
the city with its breathtaking beautiful scenery
and extreme climate leaves a lasting impression
on every mind. |
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Jaisalmer charms the tourists
with its magical legends and feel of valor and idealistic
zeal and the 'only living fort'. It is the most
intriguing blend of the old worldly charm with the
stirring quality of the contemporary. There are
churning sands and towering monuments with latticed
stonework. The golden sands of the daytime take
on almost fairy-tale facade by the silvery moonlight
of the night along with the mellow music and perfect
rhythmic performances of the multicolored desert
people. There are camels that seem to walk out of
the leaves of the 'Arabian Nights' and there are
unruffled waters and serenity of the divine temples.
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| Location:
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Situated
in Western Rajasthan, Jaisalmer is 413 km
from Jaipur and 630 km from Delhi. |
| Significance: |
It is one
of the cities of the Desert triangle. |
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Climate: |
Typically
a desert climate, the summers in Jaisalmer
are scorching and dry, while winters are stormy
and chilly. In summers the temperatures range
between 41°C to 25°C while, in winters,
temperatures range from 23.6°C to 7.9°C. |
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Shopping
Attractions |
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The elaborate stonework of
Jaisalmer is well known. One may opt for the skillfully
carved wooden boxes instead that replicate the intricacies
of the stone carvers in wood. Tie and dye fabrics,
mirror-work, unique embroidery patterns, typical
Rajasthani silver jewellery, brilliantly hued traditional
rugs, hand-woven blankets and shawls with typical
Rajasthani weave are also good keepsakes to look
out for. The items made out of camel leather are
a specialty. |
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Prime Attractions |
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Jaisalmer
Fort
Suspended on the 250 feet high hilltop, Jaisalmer
fort is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan and
provides an euphoric overview of the desert land
all around. There are three fort walls and four
gates through which one has to pass to reach the
palaces within, namely, Akhai Pol (Ganesh Pol),
Suraj Pol, Bhuta Pol and Hawa Pol. |
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Salem
Singh ki Haveli, Patwon ki haveli and Nathmal
ki Haveli
These 'Havelis' (translated as the 'Rich Merchants'
house') are the gems of the exceptional and grand
architecture of Jaisalmer. Salem Singh Haveli
looks as if a wild flower is blossoming at the
top. Guman Chand Patwa and his five sons who dealt
in brocade, gold and silver embroidery that was
famous from Afghanistan to China built Patwon
ki Haveli. It is said to be the most magnificent
mansion in Jaisalmer. The third Haveli was built
by Nathmal, who was a later day prime minister,
and his brother in 1885, as a gift to the Rawal
but was allowed to retain it. |
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Gadsisar
Lake
The serene waters of this rainwater lake with
its green environs, clusters of small temples
and a picturesque museum at its periphery is more
known for its rich folklore tales than its beauty.
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Sam
Sand Dunes
Situated at the fringes of the Desert National
Park, 42 km away from Jaisalmer are the most pictographic
Sam sand dunes. The best way to travel around
the region is the camel ride. The sunsets and
sunrises in the desert are unexpectedly beautiful.
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Desert
Festival
It is a three-day long festival and is the best
display case where one can see all one wants about
the rich and colorful and rich culture of the
desert region of Rajasthan. The major attractions
of the festivals are Gair and Fire dancers. Camel
polo and camel dance are two exclusive feature
events of the fair just as the turban tying competition
and flaunting of the most glorious moustaches. |
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How
To Reach |
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Jaisalmer
is well connected by the flights to and from
New Delhi, Jodhpur and Jaipur. The Jaisalmer
Airport is in the cantonment area, which is
5 km away from the city center and is managed
by the Indian Air Force. It is operational
only from September to March, the prime season. |
| Significance: |
There are
daily trains to Jaisalmer from Jodhpur, which
is well linked to all the major cities by
the network of trains such as Agra, Jaipur,
New Delhi, Mumbai and many more. The Jaisalmer
Railway Station is just a 10-minute drive
from Gadi Sagar Pol. |
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Climate: |
Smooth
network of roads and luxury coaches connect
Jaisalmer to all the major cities of Rajasthan
such as Bikaner, Jaipur and Jodhpur. The main
Bus Stand is situated near the Railway Station,
but all the major buses are available from
a Bus Depot situated at the city centre. |
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