Started the day with a walk to the imposing Jaisalmer Fort. It is positively the most exotic fort that we have ever seen anywhere in the world and it was almost like stepping into the pages of Arabian Nights. Not just us ordinary mortals, it even inspired the legendary Indian film-director Satyajit Ray of international acclaim, to make a movie Sonar Kila (Golden Fort).

Built with local sandstone and without any mortar. the shifting sands of the desert cover the base of its 99 closely-spaced semi-circular bastions creating the fabulous illusion of a fort rising out of the desert.

We explored the still inhabited interiors of the fort - walking through the different lanes and bylanes and saw the Jain Temples, the Palace and the numerous curio shops.

After lunch, we explored the other parts of the beautiful Golden City of Jaisalmer. Sandstone is extremely fascinating - a tawny lion colour in the day, it turns into a magical honey-gold at sunset. Now, just visualize an entire city made with ONLY this stone and you would be able to understand why we were absolutely floored!

It's as if a master-craftsman took one huge piece of sandstone and patiently carved out the entire city. Each and every building is built with yellow sand stone and is very exquisitely carved with intricate jaalis (latticed grilles). Amongst them, the Havelis (mansions) of Diwan Nathmalji, Salim Singh and of Patwa Brothers stand out as architectural masterpieces.