Golden Fort Jaisalmer

The Golden Fort Jaisalmer is perhaps the loveliest fort in Rajasthan, if not all of India. It was named so because of its golden appearance, which was the result of the use of yellow sandstone in the construction of the fort. Perhaps the original builders had not really looked at this aesthetic aspect before starting the construction; they simply used the hardiest and most easily available material to build themselves a citadel. The yellow sandstone is a distinct stone found in this region of Rajasthan. Quarrying and transporting it to the site of the fortress was easier and cheaper, and thus the Golden Fort Jaisalmer came to be.

The Golden Fort Jaisalmer stands on top of a 100 meter high cliff. Apart from the sheer thrill that the golden façade gives visitors, what makes the fort such a popular tourist attraction is the presence of architectural styles from various parts of India.

The fort was built in 1156 on the orders of Rawal Jaiswal. This fort happens to be one of the oldest in Rajasthan. After all, “old is gold”, they say.

The Golden Fort Jaisalmer lies in the middle of the desert, braving sandstorms and the desert heat. Even today, it protects the palaces, storehouses, and granaries inside from the desert heat and the eroding sandstorms, though marauding armies are no longer a concern. The Chauhata Square lies in a vantage position inside the fort, and it is easy to imagine this place once bustling with activity and life, all those centuries back. Close to the Chauhata lies the Bhatti Maharwal Palace.

Another landmark within the fort is the metallic tower that shows traces of both Persian and Indian, particularly East Indian, architecture. The Golden Fort also has multiple gates, the entrance to the fort being the Akshay Pol, which leads to another massive gate, the Suraj Pol.

While you allow yourself to be awed by the massive majesty of the palaces, gates, pavilions, and the fort itself, don’t forget to visit the weathervane here.

This simple device was said to have predicted the weather for the entire year. The people then sure had lives easier than us, constantly expressing frustration with the inaccurate forecasts of the weatherman on the local news channel. For trivia lovers, here is something to chew on: the fort was the main protagonist in the movie called “Sonar Quila”, directed by the Oscar-winner, Satyajit Ray.