The Golden City: Jaisalmer
The Golden City: Jaisalmer
So
named for the yellow sandstone used in most of its buildings, the Golden City
of Jaisalmer is an oasis of splendid old architecture that rises from the sand
dunes of the Thar Desert. Once a strategic outpost, today the city
is filled with splendid old mansions; magnificent gateways; and the
massive Jaisalmer Fort, also known as the Golden Fort, a daunting
12th-century structure that rises high above the town.
In
addition to its palaces, temples, and fine old homes, the fortress boasts 99
bastions along with massive gates leading to its main courtyard where you'll
find the seven-story-tall Maharaja's Palace. Started in the early
1500s and added to by successive rulers right up until the 19th century, the
palace offers sections open to the public, including areas beautifully
decorated with tiles from Italy and China, and intricately carved stone doors.
There
are also a number of Jain temples dating from the 12th to 16th centuries, each
decorated with fine marble and sandstone images, palm-leaf manuscripts, and
brightly painted ceilings. Be sure to also check out the well-preserved
1,000-year-old library, Gyan Bhandar, with its many 16th-century manuscripts
and antiquities.
Jaisalmer Fort👉
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