Jaisalmer - A Jewel of Rajasthan

Jaisalmer was not so much in the public eye before the film "Sonar Kella" by the famous director, Satyajit Ray, in 1974 brought it to popular notice. Set as it is at the extreme western extremity of Rajasthan, about 300 kms from the city of Bikaner and about 280 km. from the great fortress city of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer has not been easy of access. Only in the last decade or so, has it been connected by rail directly to Delhi and even later by flights to Delhi and Jaipur. Of course, the Jaisalmer Fort, the famous "sonar kella" or the golden fort, gleaming in the sun with its yellow sandstone construction is the main attraction. Inside the fort, the palace halls and pavilions have their own attraction, and change colours with the shifting sun-light.

But, equally, one often pauses to listen to the playing of the stringed "ravanahatta" by the local musicians to accompany their lilting folk songs. But most people look forward to the drive to and roaming around or taking a camel-ride amid the sand dunes at Sam that are a couple of hours travel from the city. That is an experience all by itself.