Jaisalmer Fort - The Living Fort

It was a beautiful morning in the Golden City, Jaisalmer. I was all set and excited to visit the Jaisalmer Fort. I've heard a lot about it and I've seen a few videos and photographs of the fort which looked amazing. I, along with a group of friends checked out from the hotel and headed forward to see it. On the way, we had some breakfast. 

We were pretty close to the fort now, there was a cluttered parking and narrow streets. We got down from the cab and walked towards the fort gate. There it was, a huge ancient and historical architecture, with an entrance gate. It looked amazing and gigantic.

This beautiful Golden City, Jaisalmer with a history of 800 years, has been one of the favorite tourist destinations around the world. The Jaisalmer Fort is situated in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan, built in 1156 AD by Bhati Rajput ruler, Rawal Jaisal, from whom it derives its name.

The fort's massive yellow sandstone walls during the day, fades to honey-gold as sun sets. For this reason it is also known as Sonar Quilla or Golden Fort. The fort stands amidst the great Thar Desert on Trikuta Hill.

There was a small market as one enters the fort gate. There were shops of leather bags, blankets, eatables and jewelry all around. I saw this guy playing an instrument. He looked perfect for making a click. I clicked a photograph of him while he was playing the thing that he was playing. He asked me for a Rs. 50/- for taking his photograph. I paid him the same. 

Further to my surprise, he offered to sell me a CD of his. He said that the CD has his videos playing the music of Jaisalmer. He was selling it in Rs. 200/-, which was pretty ok with me. But he was almost forcing it on me, and I already heard his musical stuff, so I dropped the idea and walked ahead. 

As I walked ahead, I saw this beautiful lady, smiling around. She was selling some jewelry. She had this grace on her face. She was very ethnic and belonged to the real core of the city. I clicked a few of her.

While walking further in the fort, I found the reason why it is also known as a "Living Fort". The fort still retains a resident population of 4000 people who are largely the descended from the Brahmin and Daroga communities. These two communities once served as the work force for the fort's one time Bhati rulers. 

The fort architecture is a treat to the eyes.The beautiful carvings on the yellow sandstone all around, gave it a majestic look. There were people all around the uphill streets of the fort. I was totally amazed to see this that the fort is their home and they have been residing here for years. I took a few photographs of the fort from different angles. 

I walked up the stairs of Jaisalmer Fort, to see other stuffs around. The view from the top of the fort was amazing. The whole city was visible from there. I clicked a few photographs from there. 

There on the top of the fort, there were certain cafe's and shops, where people were hanging out and were shopping around. There were many tourists from all parts of the world. There were certain passages within the fort. They were beautiful.

I got down the fort and wandered again in the streets. I clicked a few photographs of the people and arti-facts staged on the shops all around.

As I walked a bit further, I saw a guy, he was some tourist from some other country. He was playing an instrument, I would say, he was trying to learn. how to play the instrument from a resident of the fort. It was pleasing to see this. It defined, there are no boundaries to learning.

Walking further, I saw a cafe. The cafe was selling Apple Pie. I loved to see it and just a thought of it made the taste of apple pie rolled over inside my mouth. i asked my friends to come along and try it. I wasn't so sure for if they'd like it as I guess they haven't tasted it before. An Apple pie has been a delicacy at my home, as my mother prepares extremely tasty ones. That was one of the reasons, I wished t taste it. There was this lady. an old lady who was preparing and selling these pies. 

We ordered one. Yes definitely it was tasty. I loved the extra cooked sugar in it. It gave it a different taste altogether. I asked my friend to take a photograph of mine. I took a few pics of the market from the cafe. 

I then finally reached the entrance gate again. Here I saw this lady, extremely charming and gracious. I have seen her in many photographs of Jaisalmer Fort. She had these beautiful cat eyes. She looked gorgeous, one of the best faces I've seen and captured so far. She was smoking a local cigarette called 'Bidi'. I clicked a few photographs of her. I just loved her eyes.

This was the last photograph I took as a part of my travel memory inside the fort. We finally reached to our cab, and drove back to my city, Udaipur.

On the way while we were still in Jaisalmer, there were these huge windmills all around as if the city was waving us a goodbye and a wish for a happy and a safe journey ahead. 

We traveled a long way back home, but this experience was amazing. The Sam Sand Dunes, The Jaisalmer Fort, these were the two best things that I saw and relished in this Golden City. I will surely love to visit here again after a few years. 


- The Travel Wanderers