Jaisalmer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 61.0.205.51 (talk) at 14:57, 26 September 2005 (entered name of jaisalmer mayor). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:India city infobox

A Haveli in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is a city in Rajasthan, India. It is sometimes referred to by the epithet "The Golden City". It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert, and has a population of about 78,000.

History

Its strategic position along the camel routes of trading Indian and Asian merchants once made it into a prosperous oasis. When Mumbai grew into an important harbour city, Jaisalmer lost its importance as a merchant city. When the country was divided in 1947, trading through Pakistan was stopped, and along with serious drought, the story about Jaisalmer was about to end. However, the skirmishes between India and Pakistan proved Jaisalmer to have a strategic position. The Rajasthan Canal revived the desert. Roads and railroads were built, bringing the city together with the rest of Rajasthan.

Tourism

Jaisalmer is a popular tourist destination for its magical medieval fortress and township. It is perhaps the world's oldest inhabited fort and a few quiet days spent wandering around the fort and city can be a wonderful way of decompressing after the chaos of bigger Indian cities. Visitors can stay in the many guest houses and hotels inside the fort itself (Killa Bhawan is one of the best midrange options, while Moti Palace is a good low budget option). However eco-conscious tourists might prefer staying outside the fort to avoid putting additional pressure on the fort's archaic sewage system (three of the 99 bastions have already crumbled because of water seeping into the foundations). See Jaisalmer In Jeopardy for more information.


References

  • Gahlot, Sukhvirsingh. 1992. RAJASTHAN: Historical & Cultural. J. S. Gahlot Research Institute, Jodhpur.
  • Somani, Ram Vallabh. 1993. History of Rajasthan. Jain Pustak Mandir, Jaipur.
  • Tod, James & Crooke, William. 1829. Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan or the Central and Western Rajput States of India. 3 Vols. Reprint: Low Price Publications, Delhi. 1990. ISBN 81-85395-68-3 (set of 3 vols.)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jaisalmer&oldid=24081688"