Jaisalmer Tourism, Rajasthan
About Jaisalmer
575 km from the state capital Jaipur, situated amidst picturesque Thar Desert, close to Indo-Pak boarder, the Jaisalmer town is a popular tourist destination of Rajasthan state of India. It is the largest district of Rajasthan bordered by Bikaner on the north, Pakistan on the west & south-west, Barmer and Jodhpur on the south, and Jodhpur and Bikaner Districts on the east. The town stands on a ridgepole of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort. Named after its founder Raja Jaisal- a Rajput king, Jaisalmer has now become a major tourist destination of India, especially famous for its old mansions or Havelis. The city consists of the palace complex, the intricately carved havelis of rich merchants, several temples and the residential complexes of the armies and traders.
History of Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer has glorious past. History says that this area was part of Gurjar - Pratihara Empire until the 11th century. In 1156 Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput ruler, founded the fort and city of Jaisalmer, and made it his capital. In 1293, Ala-ud-din Khilji and his army captured and despoiled the fort and city of Jaisalmer, so that for some time it was quite deserted. After that during the reign of Rawal Sahal Singh, the Rawals of Jaisalmer agreed to pay an annual tribute to the Delhi Sultans. During the British Raj, Jaisalmer was the seat of a princely state, ruled by the Bhati clan of Rajputs. At present the city of Jaisalmer is under the Government of India, a lot of welfare work is carried out by Royal Family still today.