Golden City

Jaisalmer really looks golden in colour. The city kinda blends into the colour of its surroundings which is nothing but empty barren stretches of golden sand. The colour is because almost all the houses are made from sandstone which is also golden in colour.

The cost of sandstone is very cheap in Jaisalmer. Cheaper than bricks. So people resort to building their houses with Sandstone as it is cheaper and also looks very pretty.

The fort is built on a small hill at the centre of the city. This gives us a beautiful view of the fort from anywhere in the city. The fort is a living fort which means that there are houses, shops and hotels still inside the fort allowing people to stay inside.

The King does not live in the fort however. It is super densely populated and it feels like a huge continuous market area. No cars and autos are allowed inside the fort. You either walk or use a two wheeler.

The Kings palace inside the fort is open to visitors and it’s maintained as a museum. There are also other Havelis inside the fort which are converted to museums. A walk inside the fort gives a perfect touristy feel with a combination of shops, eateries, historical sites and temples

Many of the building in Jaisalmer old or new have some really nice carvings on the wall. Since they are made from sandstone no paining or plastering is done. Over that when it’s carved, it really gives a grandeur and richness to the building.

Old Havelis have been converted into Hotels in Jaisalmer. The buildings looks very beautiful and grand from the outside. However there are some logistical challenges when converting a Haveli into a hotel. For example every room in a Haveli won’t have an attached bathroom. However, in a hotel every room needs a bathroom.

You can feel the awkwardness when you are in a Haveli as the rooms would either feel too large or too small.

It’s a nice place to walk around and shop too. I am not really aware of the cost of various items such as carpets and wall hangings which are apparently made in Jaisalmer. However most items made from brass which have m an antique look to them comes from Uttar Pradesh is what I was told. If you want a touristy place to visit, then Jaisalmer is a go to place.