Information AboutJaisalmer |
|
native_name=Jaisalmer | image_map=WikiprojectIndiacities_jaisalmer.png | latd = 0.0|longd=0.0| state_name=Rajasthan | district= Jaisalmer | leader_title=Mayor | leader_name=Sang Singh Bhati | altitude=225| population_as_of = 2001 | population_total = ? | population_density = ? | area_magnitude=1 E? | area_total=5.1| area_telephone= 02922 | postal_code= 345 00x | vehicle_code_range= RJ 15 | footnotes = | }} Jaisalmer ("The Golden City") is a town in the India n state of Rajasthan . The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jam temples. Many of the houses and temples are finely sculptured. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert and has a population of about 78,000. It is the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer District . Origin of name Jaisalmer is named after its founder Rawal Jaisal (see History ). "Jaiaslmer" means "the Hill Fort of Jaisal". History The majority of the inhabitants of Jailalmer are Bhatti Rajput s, who take their name from an ancestor named Bhatti , renowned as a warrior when the tribe were located in the Punjab. Shortly after this the clan was driven southwards, and found a refuge in the Indian desert, which was thenceforth its home. Deoraj, a famous prince of the Bhatti family, is esteemed the real founder of the Jaisalmer dynasty, and with him the title of rawal commenced. In 1156 Rawal Jaisal, the sixth in succession from Deoraj, founded the fort and city of Jaisaimer, and made it his capital as he moved from his former capital at Lodhruva (which is situated about 15 km to the south-east of Jaisalmer). In 1294 , the Bhattis so enraged the emperor AlA-ud-din that his army captured and sacked the fort and city of Jaisalmer, so that for some time it was quite deserted. After this there is nothing to record till the time of Rwal Sahal Singh, whose reign marks an epoch in Bhatti history in that he acknowledged the supremacy of the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan . The Jaisalmer princes had now arrived at the height of their power, but from this time till the accession of Rawal Mulraj in 1762 the fortunes of the state rapidly declined, and most of its outlying provinces were lost. In 1818 Mulraj entered into political relations with the British. Maharawal Salivahan, born in 1887 , succeeded to the chiefship in 1891. The Maharaja s of Jaisalmer trace their lineage back to Jaitsimha , a ruler of the Bhatti Rajput clan. The major opponents of the Bhatti Rajputs were the powerful Rathor clans of Jodhpur and Bikaner . They used to fight battles for the possession of Fort s, Waterhole s or Cattle . Jaisalmer was positioned strategically and was a halting point along a traditional trade route traversed by the camel caravans of Indian and Asian merchants. The route linked India to Central Asia , Egypt , Arabia , Persia , Africa and the West. Medieval period During the Islamic Invasion Of India , Jaisalmer escaped direct Muslim conquest due to its geographical situation in the desert region. The Rawals of Jaisalmer agreed to pay an annual tribute to the Delhi Sultans . The first siege of Jaisalmer occurred during the reign of Allaud-din Khilji . It was provoked by Bhattis' raid on a caravan filled with treasure. According to local ballads, the Bhattis defended the fort for seven years until the enemy army forced beached the ramparts. Bhattis, facing certain defeat, proclaimed the rite of Johar . Later, Sultan Ferozshah also sieged Jaisalmer after the rulers of Jaisalmer raided his camp at Anasagar lake near Ajmer . The siege led to another johar. Jaitsimha's son Duda perished in the attack. Duda's descendants ruled over Jaisalmer for about two centuries. Duda's descendant Lunakarna had a fight with Humayun when the later passed through Jaisalmer en route to Ajmer . Mughal emperor Akbar was married to one of the Jaisalmer princesses. Later, Jaisalmer was ruled by a noble called Sabala Simha, who won the patronage of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for services rendered in his Peshawar campaign. Princely Jaisalmer Jaisalmer was one of the last states to sign a treaty with the British. During the British Raj , Jaisalmer was the seat of a Princely State of the same name, ruled by the Bhati clan of Rajput s. The present descendant is Brijraj Singh. Though the city is under the governance of the Government Of India , a lot of welfare work is carried out by him and his family. The Royal Family still commands a lot of respect from the people. Traditionally, the main source of income was the levies on the Caravan s. However, the glory of Jaisalmer faded when Bombay emerged as a port and the sea trade replaced the traditional land routes. The Partition Of India in 1947 lead to closing of all the trade routes on the Indo-Pak border and rendered Jaisalmer a drought-prone desert backwater on the international border. Ironically, skirmishes between India and Pakistan gave Jaisalmer a strategic importance and made it serviceable as an army supply depot. Later, the Rajasthan Canal served to revive the surrounding desert areas. Roads and railroads were then built, knitting the hitherto remote town with the rest of Rajasthan . Later, the Government of Rajasthan decided to promote Jaisalmer as a tourist destination. Geography Jaisalmer is situated on the border of India and Pakistan in West Rajasthan . The are of Jaisalmer is 5.1 km2. The maximum summer climate is around 41.6 degree C while the minimum is 25 degree C. The maximum winter climate is 23.6 degree C while the minimum is 7.9 degree C. The average rainfall is 15 cm. {Link without Title} Jaisalmer is almost entirely a sandy waste, forming a part of the great Indian desert. The general aspect of the area is that of an interminable sea of sandhills, of all shapes and sizes, some rising to a height of 150 ft. Those in the west are covered with log bushes, those in the east with tufts of long grass. Water is scarce, and generally Brackish ; the average depth of the wells is said to be about 250 ft. There are no perennial streams, and only one small river, the Kakni , which, after flowing a distance of 28 m., spreads over a large surface of flat ground, and forms a lake Orjhil called the Bhuj-Jhil . The climate is dry and healthy. Throughout Jaisalmer only raincrops, such as Bajra , Joar, motif, Til , etc., are grown; spring crops of Wheat , Barley , etc., are very rare. Owing to the scant rainfall, Irrigation is almost unknown. Distances: New Delhi (864 km), Jaipur (558 km), Mumbai (1177 km), Ahmedabad (626 km). Economy Tourism is a major industry in Jaisalmer. The Government of India initiated departmental exploration for oil in in 1988 in the Jaisalmer basin {Link without Title} . Demographics The main part of the population lead a wandering life, grazing their flocks and herds. Large herds of camels, horned cattle, sheep and goats are kept. The principal trade is in wool, ghee, camels, cattle and sheep. The chief imports are grain, sugar, foreign cloth, piece-goods. It suffered from famine in 1897, 1900 and other years, to such an extent that it has had to incur a heavy debt for extraordinary expenditure. Tourism While Jaisalmer may always have been remote, it is filled with many artistic structures and monuments of local historical importance. Jaisalmer's medieval mud fortress and walled township make it a popular tourist destination. The surrounding desolate landscape evidences a stark, austere beauty. Camel safaris through the nearby desert dunes are popular with tourists; competition for business is fierce. A few quiet days spent wandering around the town and the surrounding desert can be a wonderful way of unwinding from the chaos of larger Indian cities. Tourist accommodation is available inside the fort itself. However, eco-conscious tourists might consider staying outside the fort to avoid putting additional pressure on the fort's archaic sewage system (three of the 99 bastions have already crumbled because of water seeping into the foundations). Visitor attractions Jaisalmer Fort Built in ), Jain temples and the Laxminath temple. Havelis The main Haveli s in Jaisalmer are:
Museum s
Other
Excavated in 1367 by Rawal Gadsi Singh it is a scenic rainwater lake surrounded by small temples and shrines. In neighbourhood
Desert Festival This is held over three days in Jan/Feb every year. This is the best time to visit Jaisalmer to witness many performing arts like Kalbelia dances and folk songs and music. Gallery Image:Désert-du-Thar.jpg Image:Jaisalmer-1.jpg Image:Jaisalmer-2.jpg Image:Jaisalmer-3.jpg Image:IMG_2512.JPG Image:Jaisalmer forteresse.jpg See also Further reading
External links
References
|