Discover the Magnificent Lifestyle of the Rajput Princes at Jaisalmer's Golden Fort

Discover the Magnificent Lifestyle of the Rajput Princes at Jaisalmer's Golden Fort

Rising like a golden mirage from the sands of Rajasthan's Thar Desert in India is the Jaisalmer Fort the proudest of Jaisalmer City's many marvels. By star-studded night, it is easy to look upon this great fortification of the by-gone Rajputs and be transported into a time of invading Mughal armies and brave Rajput warriors. The beautiful citadel of sandstone ramparts, high turrets and paved flagstone, known in local tongues as Sonar Quila, was a teeming hub of trade during medieval times, with riches from lands as far flung as Persia, Egypt, Arabia and Africa adding to the exotic allure of the city. Its romance and mystique has made it the subjects of many a literary work, including the cinematic production "The Golden Fort" directed by the famous Satyajit Ray. The fort is said to have been founded by the Bhatti Rajput ruler Raja Rawal Jaisal during the early 12th century; the only other Rajasthan fort older than Jaisalmer is the Chittorgargh. The location of the Jaisalmer fort upon the triple-peaked mount Trikuta was chosen because of its strategic, defensible positioning. Amazingly, the construction of this fort appears to have been foretold in a prophecy of Lord Krishna in the Mahabharata. The crenulated sandstone walls of this fortification rises to a height of 1250 feet, turning honey-gold in the sunlight, which earned it the kenning of "the Golden Fort". This faade camouflaged the citadel among the golden sand drifts of the surrounding desert. Today, it still endures as one of the unrivalled wonders of the Rajput art of stone-carving. The fort is enclosed by 3 layers of walls, from the innermost of whose ramparts the Rajputs soldiers would throw vats of boiling oil, water and rock on the invading enemy hordes, who would become trapped between the other two enclosures. Other defences of the fort have been erected and torn down over the centuries, some of these that still survive include 99 bastions, the majority of which were built during the 17th century to serve as gun platforms. These platforms now afford visitors unparallel views of the Rajasthan city. Although in the old days, the entirety of the city's population was contained within the fort itself, they started migrating outwards during the 17th century and today only one-fourth of the population lives within the citadel. The winding alleyways and narrow streets teeming with activity create a classic picture of old-world urban existence. The intermingled Rajput and Islamic influences seen on the architecture in and around the fort is mirrored in the cross-cultural demographic makeup of the city itself. The balconies and arched windows of the five-storey fort exemplify the finest in Rajput and Islamic stone masonry, while the interiors are a testament to the beauty of classic Rajput art. The inner fort is a beautiful showcase of sculpture, pavilions and balconies with the cluster of 12th to 15th century Jain temples taking pride of place. Other major highlights of the fort include the Royal palace, the Laxminath temple and the four gateways: Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Akshya Pol and Hawa Pol. The town complex within the fort encompasses the main palace complex, ancient temples and the palatial havelis of the old merchant class that rivals the grandeur of the royal dwellings. Some of these have been converted into fascinating museums although the descendents of the old families continue to live in a few. The beauty of its art and architecture notwithstanding, the tales that are tangled in the history of the fort are a saga of war and tragedy, witnessing the Jauhar of the women and children of the Rajput during the invasion of the fort by Ala-ud-din Khilji in the 13th century. Jauhar is a rite observed by noble houses when defeat and invasion become imminent where the noble women and children immolate themselves on a pyre rather than be captured as their husbands and fathers charge out to meet certain death. The strategic military importance of the fort endures to this day, as demonstrated by the Indo-Pakistani wars of the mid-1960s. Due to its proud and magnificent heritage, Jaisalmer has become a centre of cultural tourism. Many Jaisalmer hotels have sprung up in the city, catering to every class of traveller, from luxury tourist to backpacker. Suryagarh Jaisalmer is one of the leading luxury Rajasthan hotels that recreates the grandeur and simplicity of the ancient Rajput lifestyle.

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