Jaisalmer Fort

Jaisalmer Fort

 Jaisalmer fort, the second oldest fort in Rajasthan was built in 1156 A D. It was   founded by the Bhatti Rajput chieftain Rawal Jaisal. The fort perched on the Trikuta hill at a height of 250 feet stands as protector over the desert with its long stretching walls following the curves of the hills. The colossal wall 250 feet tall has 99 bastion has a confined meandering lanes and four mammoth gateways.

Almost one quater of the town's population resides inside the fort. Outside the fort, is the main market place called Manek Chowk. Architecture Jaisalmer Fort is a five story architectural monument embellished balconies and windows that exhibition some of the foremost

artistic works typical of Rajput style. Cluster of exquisite carved Jain temples built between the 12th and 15th century are the main source of attraction.

It is engaging to meander around the place. The fort walls offer marvelous views over the Old City and adjoining desert.

The Aksya Pole is the entrance gate of the fort.

Across the road lie the gate names Suraj-Pole constructed by Maharawal Bhim. The topmost part, a curvilinear Toran is embellished with a figure of Sun. There is a figure of Ganesh and Sun installed in 1679 AD. on the outer wall

between Suraj Pole and the Ganesha Pole. Hawa Pole also called as a Wind Pole was constructed during the 17th century AD is a enormous gateway girdled by carved palaces and courtyard.

Population of merchants and shop owners living within its walls crowds the fort. The small lanes are surrounded with number of houses, temples, and shops.

History -

The majority of the inhabitants of Jaisalmer are Bhati Rajputs, named for Bhati, who was renowned as a warrior. This area was part of Gurjar - Pratihara empire and until the 11th century was ruled by a powerful Bargujar King. Deoraj, a famous prince of the Bhati family, is esteemed the real founder of the Jaisalmer dynasty, and with him the title of rawal commenced. In 1156 Rawal Jaisal, the sixth in succession from Deoraj, founded the fort and city of Jaisalmer, and made it his capital as he moved from his former capital atLodhruva (which is situated about 15 km to the north-west of Jaisalmer). In 1293, the Bhattis so enraged the emperor Ala-ud-din Khilji that his army captured and sacked the fort and city of Jaisalmer, so that for some time it was quite deserted. Some Bhatti's migrated to Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib in Distt. Nankana Sahib (Punjab, Pakistan) and others settled in Larkana (in Sind, Pakistan)under the name of Bhutto. In Nankana Sahib, the Bhatti Clan can be traced from the lineage of Rai Bhoe and Rai Bular Bhatti. After this there is nothing to record until the time of Rawal Sahal Singh, whose reign marks an epoch in Bhatti history in that he acknowledged the supremacy of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The Jaisalmer princes had now arrived at the height of their power, but from this time till the accession of Rawal Mulraj in 1762 the fortunes of the state rapidly declined, and most of its outlying provinces were lost. In 1818 Mulraj entered into political relations with the British. Maharawal Salivahan, born in 1887, succeeded to the chiefship in 1891.

The Maharajas of Jaisalmer trace their lineage back to Jaitsimha, a ruler of the Bhatti Rajput clan. The major opponents of the Bhati Rajputs were the powerful Rathor clans ofJodhpur and Bikaner. They used to fight battles for the possession of forts, waterholes or cattle. Jaisalmer was positioned strategically and was a halting point along a traditional trade route traversed by the camel caravans of Indian and Asian merchants. The route linked India to Central Asia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Africa and the West.

---

District : Jaisalmer
State : Rajasthan
Coordinates : 26°55′N 70°54′E

View Larger Map