About Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer, a mystical city in the state of Rajasthan, is situated on the westernmost frontier of India and rises from the heart of the Thar Desert. Also attributed as the “Golden City of India” owing to the yellow sand and yellow sandstone used in the architecture of the town that gives it a golden look, Jaisalmer is famous all over the world for its palaces and forts of spectacular opulence.
The city covers a total area of 5.1 square kilometers and is located at an altitude of 225 meters above sea level amid the scenic Thar Desert. Jaisalmer was earlier surrounded by an extensive wall but at present nothing remains except the gates and the huge fort, which crowns the city and is considered the soul of Jaisalmer.
Jaisalmer, which was once a sleepy desert city, has transformed itself into one of India’s key tourist destinations as well as claims an important position among the tourist attractions spread all over the desert land of Rajasthan.
History of Jaisalmer
The origin of Jaisalmer city dates back to the 12th century when a Bhati Rajput King named Rao Jaisala decided to shift his capital from Ludharva to a safer place. Thus the birth of Jaisalmer city in the year 1156 AD. In 1949, the city was included in the state of Rajasthan and granted the status of a district. Jaisalmer slopes towards the Rann of Kutch and is surrounded by the international border that runs for 471 kilometers. Click here for the history of JaisalmerClimate of Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer basically being a desert city experiences extreme climatic conditions, with summers being extremely hot and winters equally cold.Summers are extremely hot in Jaisalmer with the season stretching from April to August. During the daytime, the temperature is usually very high and generally shoots up to 42° Centigrade, while nights are comparatively cooler typical of arid desert climate with the temperature falling down to as low as 25° Centigrade.
Monsoon is as good as negligible in Jaisalmer due to its positioning in the Thar Desert. The city remains dry for most parts of the year, however, western disturbance bring approximately 15 centimeters of annual rainfall.
Jaisalmer witnesses much cooler winters, which start at around mid-November and last until the end of February. The temperature remains pleasant during the daytime at around 24° Centigrade, while nights are chilly with temperatures dropping to as low as 7 to 8° Centigrade.
Economy of Jaisalmer
The economy of Jaisalmer is largely dependent on its industries. At present, the key industries in the Jaisalmer district are:- Tourism and travel
- Stone-cutting and sculpturing
- Khadi Industry
- Mineral-oriented Industry
Tourism in Jaisalmer
The city’s tourism industry is one of the most booming and profitable sectors in Jaisalmer. The desert city’s scenic beauty attracts thousands of tourists every year from within the country and abroad. A majority of Jaisalmer’s revenue comes from its tourism industry, while the city also earns foreign exchange in huge numbers from the international tourists who are welcomed by the warm and friendly natives.The government of Rajasthan has provided sufficient infrastructure to support Jaisalmer’s tourism industry. The city’s transportation is well connected by railways, roads and air routes to the major cities in India, while the city homes numerous accommodation facilities that fits every kind of pocket.
The key tourist attractions in Jaisalmer are:
- The Jaisalmer Fort
- Havelis - Nathmalji-ki-Haveli, Patwon-ki-Haveli, Haveli Shreenath and Salam Singh-ki-Haveli
- Gadsisar lake
- Government Museum
- The Folklore Museum
- Desert Culture Center & Museum
- Desert Festival
- Kuldhara - The remains of a 100 years old deserted town
- Sudhasari - A desert national park that is home to the great Indian Bustard and other wild life creatures of the desert
- Khuri Sand Dunes and Sam Sand Dunes
Click here for more information on Jaisalmer tourism