Jaisalmer Fort is a monument worth visiting and worth retaining in your conscious mind. Like various other cities of Rajasthan, in Jaisalmer too you will find different facets of its own glorious heritage. Though you can find historical monuments scattered all over the city, the Jaisalmer Fort will immediately command your attention. Made of sand stones and locally known as Sonar Quila, the Jaisalmer Fort is a dominating structure amidst sands.
The city is said to be founded by one Raja Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput ruler, in approximately 1156 A D. Legends go by that he did it on the behest of a local hermit named Eesaal. The raja choose Trikuta hill as the new site for his fort as his earlier adobe at Luderwa(16 k.m from present Jaisalmer) was too vulnerable to his comfort. But it should always be kept in mind that these legends are most of the time product of conscious minds that are very vulnerable to the oriental exaggeration.
Jaisalmer fort is the second oldest in Rajasthan. Two hundred and fifty feet tall and reinforced by imposing crenellated sandstone wall 30 feet high; it has 99 bastions, 92 of which were built between 1633 and 1647. Wells within the fort still provide a regular source of water. Even today, you will find that nearly one fourth of the old city's population resides within the fort. If you are a student of cross-cultural merging, the subtle fusion of Rajput and Islamic architectural styles, visible in this fort, will catch your fancy. Ganesh Pol, Akshya Pol, Suraj Pol and Hawa Pol are a must see.
History
Built in the second half of twelfth century, when Jaisalmer was under the rule of the Rajputs, the fort caught the eyes of many rulers prevailing in the other parts of India. This included the Islamic ruler, Ala-ud-din Khilji, who in a battle to win the fort and the city, got a hold of it in the 13th century.
Nearly about 2 centuries later, Mughal emperor Humayun decided to start his quest to win the fort. Owing to his success in his efforts, the fort remained the property of the Mughals till 1762. Later on, it got transferred to ruler Maharwal Mulraj.
How To Reach Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer city in the south-western part of Rajasthan resides in the heart of the Thar Desert and is well accessible from various parts of the state and the country. Following are the means to reach Jaisalmer
By Air:Jaisalmer do not have a commercial airport, only a military airport that allows only chartered flights. Thus, one can rely on Jodhpur domestic airport for this, which is the closest and is well connected with the major cities of India.
By Rail: However, Jaisalmer do have a well-established network of railway system that covers most of the prominent Indian cities like Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur. Regular trains that run to and fro here are the Howrah Jaisalmer Express, Lalgarh Jaisalmer Special and Delhi Jaisalmer Express.
Br Road: Road travelers can make use of bus service from Jaipur, as there are no direct buses from New Delhi.