The Jaisalmer Fort is a Symbol of the Royalty & Glory of Rajputana

The Jaisalmer Fort (Golden Fort) is well known for its status as a living fort or as one of the oldest continually inhabited forts in the world. It can be found in the Golden City of India.

This wondrous building is nothing short of an architectural marvel; it is a majestic structure that proudly sits atop Trikuta Hill at a significant height of 250 feet.

The fort is more comparable to a small town than it is to the surrounding Thar Desert because of its 30-foot-high fortifications, many access gates, houses, stores, hotels, restaurants, and temples.

Even in modern times, there are still close to three thousand people living there, making it one of the most well-known tourist destinations in the state.

The History of Jaisalmer Fort

The Jaisalmer Fort is famous for its extensive history and has a long list of combatants on its roster, including the Mughals, the Tughalaqs, the Khiljis, and the Rathore Kings. In the year 1156 A.D., Raja Rawal Jaisal was the one who constructed the fort.

However, in 1276 AD, following two assaults by the Sultan of Delhi Alauddin Khilji, Rawal Jethsi erected a fortified defense building to it that was called Rang Burj.

Approximately eight or nine years passed as Sultan Alauddin Khilji’s troops besieged the fort. The Sultan finally succeeded in conquering Jaisalmer Fort from the Bhati Rajputs in the year 1294, after a number of failed efforts.

Because of this, around 25,000 women were forced to conduct Jauhar, also known as self-immolation, in order to maintain their honor.

After having control of the fort for close to two years, Khilji’s army finally decided to give up and evacuate the castle. After some time had passed, those Bhatis who had survived began to settle there once more, and the kingdom eventually reclaimed its former splendor.

Jaisalmer was assaulted by Delhi’s Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq in the late 14th century, and the fort was the scene of yet another Jauhar during this time.

During the reign of Rawal Lunakaran in 1541, Humayun launched another assault on Jaisalmer Fort. This time, he was supported by Rawal Lunakaran.

Rawal’s stubbornness was eventually overcome, and he was compelled to offer the hand of his daughter in marriage to Akbar, who was Humayun’s son and the subsequent ruler. Up to the year 1762, the Mughal monarchs were in charge of the fort.

At that point, it was taken over by Maharawal Mulraj, who eventually made a peace agreement with the British East India Company. As a result, Jaisalmer became recognized as one of Rajasthan’s most prominent princely republics.

However, after the country achieved its independence, the city became a part of the Union of India. This enormous fort has, at various times in Jaisalmer’s history, also functioned as a place of habitation for the city’s entire population.

Prior to the invasion by the British, it served as a major hub for commercial activity and trade during the middle ages.

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How to Get an Indian Visa: If you want to visit this amazing Golden fort or Jaisalmer Fort, then you should get your Indian visa and you should know about what are the Indian visa documents required for a tourist eVisa.

If you are interested to visit India for business purposes, then instead of a tourist visa, you need to apply for an Indian business visa for US citizens.

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Jaisalmer Fort Current Status

The Jaisalmer Fort is the only fort in India that is still inhabited, and the people who live there are mostly descended from Rajput and Brahmin families.

In spite of the fact that the fort is no longer an important military garrison or trading center, it continues to be one of Jaisalmer’s most popular tourist attractions. In the year 2013, the location was also acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Visitors have the option of purchasing tickets to enter the fort and touring it on their own, or they can hire a local guide. In addition, audio tours can be found in the area close to the ticket counter.

You shouldn’t just stop at admiring the architecture of the fort; you should also go to the Fort Palace Museum, the Jain Temples, the Havelis, and any other sites that you find interesting.

Activities and Locations to Visit

• The marble throne and many other antiques may be found in the Maharwal Palace or the Raj Mahal.
• The Tazia Tower, which has five stories and is located across from the Maharwal Palace
• The jaw-dropping designs and structures of the palaces in the fort, include Jawahar Palace, Sarvottam Vilas, Zenana Mahal, Gaj Mahal, Bada Vilas, and Moti Mahal, among others.

• The two magnificent halls, known as Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas, were used to host public and private gatherings, respectively.
• The Laxminath Temple is a holy site in Hinduism, and it is devoted to the gods Vishnu and Lakshmi.
• The seven Jain temples that were constructed between the years 1250 and 1650 — Parsvanatha
• Sambhavanatha Temple, the Temple of Chandraprabha, the Temple of Sitalanatha, and the Temple of Sambhavanatha
• Rishabhanatha Temple, Santinatha Temple, Kunthunatha Temple, and other temples in the area
• The enormous Sambhavanatha Jain Temple is home to 600 statues.
• Rare manuscripts can be found in the Gyan Bhandar library, which is located in the Jain temple complex.
• A variety of restaurants featuring mouthwatering regional specialties can be found in Dussehra Chowk.
• Local stores that sell a variety of goods, including lahariya sarees, camel leather bags, patchwork bedspreads with eye-catching themes, wall hangings, and ethnic silver jewelry from many regions of India, including Rajasthan.
• Within the walls of the fort are winding alleyways. The rooftop of the fort offers a vista that encompasses all directions in 360 degrees.