Jaisalmer fort is located in the remote Thar Desert. In the medieval times, the location of Jaisalmer on the trade route made it a prosperous town. Jaisalmer came to be celebrated for the chivalry and bravery of its rulers and also for the aesthetic sense represented by its palaces and Havelis. The rulers and merchants of Jaisalmer engaged craftsmen to work on the sandstone mansions, buildings and palaces, filling up the front with sculptural filigree, screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful balconies. The Jaisalmer fort is two hundred and fifty feet tall and reinforced by an imposing crenellated sandstone wall of 30 feet height. The fort has 99 bastions.
Jaisalmer fort crowns the Trikuta Hill. Within the walls of Jaisalmer fort lays the old city, which is nearly a quarter of modern Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer fort stands almost 30 meters over the Jaisalmer city and houses an entire living area within massive battlements. Jaisalmer fort is approached through many gates. The Akshya Pol is the entrance gate of the fort. Across the road is the Suraj-Pol. The Suraj Pol is embellished with a figure of Sun. The Hawa Pol (Wind Pol) is an enormous Gateway, girdled by palaces and courtyard and was constructed during the 17th century AD.
This majestic fort is visible from all the locations of the town and this fort houses many families and you will have a different feeling while visiting this place. Inside the fort you will find kids going to school, vegetable venders, and milkman's selling milk on bikes and many crafts showrooms selling traditional handicrafts products. This is like any other daily life of a small Indian town. No other forts of Rajasthan have so much regular life within it. In early days the forts were constructed as a protection against outside invaders so all the families along with the king were staying inside the fort. With the population growth and falling of kingdoms people stated staying outside the forts so the city near the forts started developing.
Jaisalmer Fort Palace Museum & Heritage CentreMost of the products sold within the fort have the unique color attached to it. At the entrance colorful puppets hanged on the fort wall attracts many tourists. Tourist caps, toys of leather products are sold at different shops inside the fort.
