Day 1
The semi-circular bastions of
the breathtakingly beautiful
Jaisalmer Fort provide the
perfect backdrop to the
Tazia Tower. |
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.
Jaisalmer's bazaars are evocative of the
medieval days when the town flourished because of its position on
the main caravan trail up through Afghanistan. Walking through the
narrow winding lanes flanked by carved havelis, we were
transported back to the time when this was the place where the
products of India and China were exchanged for those of Persia,
Arabia, Africa and Europe.
Jaisalmer is a great place to pick up chunky rustic silver
jewellery, colourful embroidered and mirror-worked fabrics, camel
leather goods, wood carvings and various delicately carved
sandstone items.
We had dinner at the ethnic Narayan Niwas Palace Hotel with folk
music and dance against the backdrop of the dazzlingly lit Fort.
Day 2 >>
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