Jaisalmer, the desert citadel, is truly a golden fantasy in the Thar Desert straight out of an Arabian Nights fable showcasing a dramatic picture of the utter magic and brilliance of the desert. The hostile terrain notwithstanding, the warmth and color of its people is simply overwhelming. The daunting 12th century Jaisalmer Fort and the beautiful havelis built by wealthy merchants are the great attractions of the desert city, as are the sloping sand dunes. Bhatti Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, after whom the city is named, founded Jaisalmer in 1156 and moved there abandoning his vulnerable old fort at Luderwa just 16 km northwest. In Medieval times, Jaisalmer’s prosperity was due to its location on the main trade route linking India to Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Africa and the West.
