Coordinates: 26.913°N 70.

915°E

Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer pronunciation , nicknamed "The Golden city", is a city in the
Indian state of Rajasthan, located 575 kilometres (357 mi) west of the state
Jaisalmer
capital Jaipur. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, and is City
crowned by the ancient Jaisalmer Fort. This fort contains a royal palace and Jaisalmer
several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples of both the fort,
and of the town below, are built of finely sculptured sandstone. The town lies in
the heart of the Thar Desert (the Great Indian Desert) and has a population,
including the residents of the fort, of about 78,000. It is the administrative
headquarters of Jaisalmer District. Jaisalmer was once the capital of Jaisalmer
State.

Contents View of the Jaisalmer Fort in the

evening.
Origin of name
Nickname(s): The Golden city
Location
Geography and climate
Economy
Transport
Places of interest Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer Fort
Jain heritage of Jaisalmer
Museums
Other
In neighbourhood
Desert festival Location in Rajasthan, India

See also
Cultural references
Further reading
Jaisalmer
References
External links

Origin of name
Jaisalmer is named after Rawal Jaisal, a Bhati ruler who founded the city in
1156 AD.[2] Jaisalmer means the Hill Fort of Jaisal. Jaisalmer is sometimes
called the "Golden City of India" because the yellow sandstone used throughout
the architecture of both the fort and the town below, imbues both with a certain Jaisalmer (India)
golden-yellow light.

Location
It is the largest district of Rajasthan and 3rd largest district by territorial region
in the country, hugged on the west & south-west by the Pakistani border. The
length of the international border attached to Jaisalmer District is 464 km
(288 mi). It is located 790 kilometres away from the national capital Delhi.
Geography and climate
Jaisalmer, being an arid desert region, is prone to extremes in terms of
temperature. The temperature varies greatly from day to night in both summer
and winter. The maximum summer temperature is around 49 °C (120 °F) while
the minimum is 25 °C (77 °F). The maximum winter temperature is usually
around 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) and the minimum is 5 °C (41 °F). The average rainfall Jaisalmer
is 209.5 millimetres (8.25 in).[3] Highest ever recorded temperature was 50.0 °C
(122.0 °F);[4] the lowest ever recorded temperature being −5.9 °C (21.4 °F).[5]
Temperatures of up to 52.4 °C (126.3 °F) have been recorded near the
international border close to Pakistan, but standard conditions of this
Jaisalmer (Asia)
temperature recording remain unverified.[6]
Coordinates: 26.913°N 70.915°E
Country India
State Rajasthan
District Jaisalmer
Founded by Rawal Jaisal
Government
• Member of Kailash
Parliament Choudhary
• Member of Rooparam
Legislative
Assembly
• District Namit Mehta, IAS
Collector &
District
Sand dunes near Jaisalmer. Magistrate
• Superintendent Kiran Kang, IPS[1]
of Police
Area
Economy • Total 5.1 km2
Tourism is a major industry in Jaisalmer. (2.0 sq mi)
Elevation 225 m (738 ft)
The Government of India initiated departmental exploration for oil in 1955–56 Population (2011)
in the Jaisalmer area.[7] Oil India Limited discovered natural gas in 1988 in the • Total 65,471
Jaisalmer basin.[8]
Languages
Musicians and dancers are also a major cultural export from Jaisalmer to the rest • Official Hindi and
Rajasthani
of the world. Merasi (formerly Manganiyar, a derogatory term meaning
"beggar"[9]) musicians have played the world over, and Queen Harish,[10] the Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
dancing desert drag queen, has toured the world over and has featured in PIN 345 001
international movies. Telephone code 02992
ISO 3166 code RJ-IN
Jaisalmer is also known for its leather messenger bags, made from wild camels Vehicle RJ-15
native to the area. registration
Website jaisalmer.rajasthan
.gov.in (http://jaisal
mer.rajasthan.gov.i
n)

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Official name Jaisalmer Fort
Part of Hill Forts of
Rajasthan
Criteria Cultural: (ii)(iii)
Reference 247rev-006 (http://
whc.unesco.org/e
n/list/247rev-006)
Inscription 2013 (37th
session)
 Area 8 ha (0.031 sq mi)
Buffer zone 89 ha (0.34 sq mi)

Religions in Jaisalmer
Religion Percent
Hindus 89.93%
Muslims 8.20%
Sikhs 0.54%
Christians 0.50%
Jains 0.46%
Buddhists 0.07%

Bada Bagh and windmill farms

of Jaisalmer.

Transport
Jaisalmer is connected to the rest of Rajasthan by buses provided by Rajasthan State Transport Corporation as well as other
private bus operators.

Jaisalmer Airport is located 17 kilometres southeast of Jaisalmer. Flights serve Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Surat
and Jodhpur.

Jaisalmer railway station runs daily trains between Jaisalmer and Jaipur, through which it is connected to Delhi and other
cities all over India. This station comes under Jodhpur (JU) division of the Northwestern Railway (NWR). Additionally,
there exists a luxury tourist train known as Palace On Wheels, which covers the major tourist destinations of Rajasthan,
including Jaisalmer.

Places of interest

Jaisalmer Fort

The Jaisalmer fort in Rajasthan.

Built in 1156 by the Bhati Rajput ruler Jaisal, Jaisalmer Fort, situated on Meru Hill and named as Trikoot Garh has been the
scene of many battles. Its massive sandstone walls are a tawny lion colour during the day, turning to a magical honey-gold as
the sun sets. The famous Indian film director Satyajit Ray wrote a detective novel and later turned it into a film − Sonar
Kella (The Golden Fortress) which was based on this fort. About a quarter of city's population still live inside the fort. The
main attractions inside the fort are: Raj Mahal (Royal palace), Jain temples and the Laxminath temple.

Jain heritage of Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer has been enriched by its Jain community, which has adorned the city with beautiful temples, notably the temples
dedicated to the 16th Tirthankara, Shantinath, and 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanath.

There are seven Jain temples in total which are situated within the Jaisalmer fort built during the 12th and 15th centuries.
Among these temples, the biggest is the Paraswanath Temple; the others are Chandraprabhu temple, Rishabdev temple,
Shitalnath Temple, Kunthunath Temple, and Shantinath Temple. Known for their exquisite work of art and architecture that
was predominant in the medieval era the temples are built out of yellow sandstone and have intricate engravings on them.

Jaisalmer has some of the oldest libraries of India which contain rarest of the manuscripts and artefacts of Jain tradition.
There are many pilgrimage centres around Jaisalmer such as Lodhruva (Lodarva), Amarsagar, Brahmsar and Pokharan.

Lodhruva Jain Patwon Ji Ki Haveli Chhatris at Bada Chandraprabhu Jain Chandraprabhu idol
Temple Bagh Temple inside the inside
Jaisalmer Fort Chandraprabhu Jain
Temple of Jaisalmer
Fort

Jain Temple inside Parshvantha, Shantinatha, Ceiling of Jain Carving on the wall
the Jaisalmer Fort Lodhruva Jain Lodhruva Jain temple inside the of Jain Temple,
Temple Temple Jaisalmer Fort Jaisalmer Fort

Museums
Desert Culture Centre & Museum
Jaisalmer Folklore Museum
Government Museum
Jaisalmer Fort Palace Museum
Jaisalmer War Museum
Akal Fossil Park Museum
Cactus Park Museum, Kuldhara
Tanot Museum
Other
Ramdevra a village in Jaisalmer is named after Baba Ramdevji, a Tanwar Rajput and
a saint who took Samādhi in 1384 CE, at the age of 33 years. He is worshiped today
by many social groups of India as Ishta-deva.

Gadsisar Lake – Excavated in 1367 by Rawal Gadsi Singh, it is a scenic

rainwater lake surrounded by the small temples and shrines of Amar
Sagar. Earlier, this lake was used to be the main water source of
Jaisalmer. Due to an increased water demand for agriculture, the lake is Gadsisar Lake
increasingly threatened to dry out.[11]

In neighbourhood
Bada Bagh, a complex with chhatris of Jai Singh II (d. 1743) and
subsequent Maharajas of Jaisalmer
Lodhruva
Desert National Park
Bhaniyana
Gadsisar lake, Jaisalmer
Lanela
Battle of Longewala point

Desert festival
Desert Festival of Jaisalmer is the most awaited and famous cultural and colourful
event of Rajasthan. Camel races, Turban-tying and Mr. Desert competitions are
organised. It is held in the month of February every year. The festival showcases
Rajasthani folk songs and dance and it is very attractive to foreign tourists. Gair and
Fire dancers which are the major attraction of the Jaisalmer desert festival
Ganga Sagar
celebrations. This is the best time to visit Jaisalmer to witness performing arts like
Kalbelia dances and folk songs and music.

See also
Paramara, Dalvi-Deshmukh of Nasik originating from Jaisalmer
Indira Gandhi Canal
Pokhran
Baba Ramdevji
Tanot Mata
Kuldhara Remains of houses in Kuldhara –
The deserted village of Rajasthan

Cultural references
Gupi Gayen Bagha Bayen (1969), a Bengali film, directed by Satyajit Ray, was partly shot at Jaisalmer Fort.
Sonar Kella (1974) (Golden Fortress) Satyajit Ray's Bengali film, based on his eponymous novel featuring his
creation, the detective Feluda, was based in Jaisalmer and surrounding areas.[12][13]
Hothat Brishti, a Bengali film was shot in Jaisalmer.
Goray Gondogol (2012), a Bengali film was partly shot in Jaisalmer.
Kishore Kumar Junior (2018), a Bengali film was partly shot in Jaisalmer.
Soul of Jaisalmer (Hindi non-feature film 2016) made by Abenezer Inder. This film is based on traditional
water step well of Jaisalmer and was filmed in Gadsisar, Amar Sagar, Bada Bagh and many more far location
of Jaisalmer.
 Full shot of Shot of
documentary film documentary film
Soul of Jaisalmer Soul of Jaisalmer
(2016) (2016)

Further reading
Bhati, Hari Singh. 2002. ANNALS OF JAISALMER: A Pre-Mediaeval History. Kavi Prakashan, Bikaner.
Gahlot, Sukhvirsingh. 1992. RAJASTHAN: Historical & Cultural. J. S. Gahlot Research Institute, Jodhpur.
Somani, Ram Vallabh. 1993. History of Rajasthan.
Tod, James & Crooke, William. 1829. Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan or the Central and Western Rajput
States of India. 3 Vols. Reprint: Low Price Publications, Delhi. 1990. ISBN 81-85395-68-3 (set of 3 vols.)

References
1. India, Press Trust of (15 September 2019). "Australian man found dead at Jaisalmer guest house" (https://ww
w.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/australian-man-found-dead-at-jaisalmer-guest-house-1190915004
08_1.html). Business Standard India. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
2. Balfour, Edward (1885). The encyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia (https://books.google.c
om/books?id=3U0OAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA406&dq=%22Rawal+Jaisal%22). Original from Oxford University: B.
Quaritch. p. 406.
3. "India Meteorological Department – Weather Information for Jaisalmer" (http://worldweather.wmo.int/066/c015
93.htm). Worldweather.wmo.int. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
4. "Border areas in Jaisalmer boil at 50°C, no respite in city" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Border
-areas-in-Jaisalmer-boil-at-50C-no-respite-in-city/articleshow/47409961.cms). The Times of India. 27 May
2010.
5. "JAISALMER" (https://web.archive.org/web/20091226032052/http://www.imd.gov.in/section/climate/jaisalmer
2.htm). Archived from the original (http://www.imd.gov.in/section/climate/jaisalmer2.htm) on 26 December
2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
6. Singh, Anuradha (2 May 2016). "Blistering Heat Wave Continues Across India; Jaisalmer Swelters At 52.4
Degrees" (http://topyaps.com/jaisalmer-temperature-heat-wave-india). Topyaps.com. Retrieved 5 August
2016.
7. "2nd Five Year Plan" (https://web.archive.org/web/20060414235126/http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/pl
anrel/fiveyr/2nd/2planch18.html). Archived from the original (http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiv
eyr/2nd/2planch18.html) on 14 April 2006. Retrieved 30 March 2006.
8. [1] (http://oilindia.nic.in/ourcomp_spread_rajasthan.htm) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20060630062
216/http://oilindia.nic.in/ourcomp_spread_rajasthan.htm) 30 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine
9. "Desert Drummers" (http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/desert-drummers). Caravanmagazine.in. 27
August 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
10. Sandip Roy, Special to The Chronicle (5 July 2008). "Queen H A R I S H" (http://www.queen-harish.blogspot.c
om). Queen-harish.blogspot.com. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
11. "Jaisalmer, Rajasthan - Don't Complain Travel" (http://www.dont-complain.com/2014/03/06/jaisalmer-rajastha
n/). Dont-complain.com. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
12. "Sonar Qila" (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/sonar-qila/48364/0). Financial Express. 9 January 2004.
13. "Jaisalmer Photos"
(https://archive.is/20121218152627/http://virajbhansali.blogspot.in/2012/11/jaisalmer.html). Archived from the
original (http://virajbhansali.blogspot.in/2012/11/jaisalmer.html) on 18 December 2012. Retrieved
27 December 2019.
External links
Jaisalmer travel guide from Wikivoyage
Geographic data related to Jaisalmer (https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/1798847) at
OpenStreetMap
"Jaisalmer" (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Jaisalmer). Encyclopædia
Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jaisalmer&oldid=942225431"

This page was last edited on 23 February 2020, at 11:42 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to
the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.