Jaisalmer Fort - Resplendent in its Golden Hue
 Who
would have dreamt in such a vast sand oasis
A castle worthy of an ancient throne, such an art in carven work of
stone
¤ Construction of the Fort
An apt description of the Jaisalmer fort, one of the finest in the
country but one which looks rather incongruous given the desolation
around it. Located bang in the middle of the Thar desert (literal
meaning abode of the dead), it rises like a mirage from the sands,
with its huge turrets pointing skywards. Built in 1156, Jaisalmer is
the second oldest of Rajasthan’s major forts after Chittorgarh.
Constructed by Raja Jaisal, who was searching for a new capital as the
earlier one Lodurva was too vulnerable to invasions, he built the fort
and the city surrounding it, thus fulfilling Lord Krishna's prophecy
in the Mahabharata
¤ Located on a Hilltop
Mounted atop Trikuta, the almost triangular triple-peaked hill, the
fort rises like a sunbeam from the desert, 250 feet tall, and is
reinforced by an imposing crenellated sandstone wall 30 feet high. It
has as many as 99 bastions, 92 of which were built between 1633 and
1647 to be used as gun platforms. The view of the 99 bastions of the
yellow sandstone fort, the desert citadel of Raja Jaisal, is
spectacular to behold. The fortifications have grown exponentially
over the centuries, and wells within the confines still provide a
regular source of water to the fort.
¤ Palaces of the Maharawals
Also, in front of the Chauhata Square lie the palaces of the
Maharawals. Leading up to them is a flight of marble steps topped by
the Maharawal’s marble throne. Nearby lies the five-storeyed
Tazia (metal) Tower, with ornate architecture and Bengali-style roofs.
The five-tiered structure was constructed by Muslim craftsmen who
worked on the building. The outer defences of the citadel are
fortified by another high wall with a pathway running parallel to the
first rampart. Beyond the entrance is the Ganesh Pol, leading up to
the Rang Pol.
There was a time when everyone lived inside the fort itself,
protected by its massive ramparts. As the population of Jaisalmer
expanded, people started emigrating from within the fort’s
precincts from about the 17th century. However, even today the fort is
a hive of activity, and you’ll witness a cross-section of the
populace living within it as you travel through its winding streets
and alleys.
¤ Installation of a unique device
The fort also has a peculiar gadget hoisted on top of its ramparts.
Since Met departments were in short supply in those days, this was
used to forecast the weather. Every year in April a flag would be
placed in its centre and, based on the direction in which it blew, the
weather for the entire year was forecast. If it blew northwards it
indicated famine, and if it went westwards Ho the citizenry could rest
assured that a fine monsoon was in the offing. May seem a bit
primitive today but the system was probably just as accurate or
inaccurate as the Met office nowadays.
¤ Jaisalmer Fort -- A Marvel Built in Sandstone
Just as the Taj in Agra is worth visiting on a full moon night,
Jaisalmer fort by nightfall is a sight to behold, it has all the
romance and suspense of a Hitchcockian mystery. You half expect an
invading army to march up to the castle, over its enormous paved
flagstones, while those defending the fort shoot missiles at them from
the ramparts. Suffice to say the Jaisalmer fort is one of the marvels
of Rajasthani architecture, particularly of the stone-carver’s
art.
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