Trip to India Jan-Feb 2013 Jaisalmer- Mandir Palace

 Right around the corner from my hotel was the Mandir Palace- now a 5 star hotel

 It was the home of the local royal family, who still occupy part of the hotel

 Cooking must have been important

 I don't think one carried these keys around in their pocket

 The Palace is the tallest building in the city

Trip to India Jan-Feb 2013- Jaisalmer- The Fort

The next day I hired the same tuk-tuk driver to take me to the Fort. 

Our first stop was one of the Jain Temples.

Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest forts in the world. It was built in 1156 AD by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rao Jaisal, from where it derives it name. The fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and has been the scene of many battles.

Its massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion color during the day, fading to honey-gold as the sun sets, thereby camouflaging the fort in the yellow desert. For this reason, it is also known as the "Golden Fort".This fort, popularly known as the 'Sonar quila' by the locals, is located in the very heart the city, and is one of the most breathtaking monuments in the locality.

An antique rifle waits for more action.

A silver throne.

Antique German tiles.

A silver carrier

This bed didn't look terribly comfortable

As you might imagine, there were lots of souvenir sellers in the Fort.

You can see a rooftop of one of the expensive hotels inside the Fort to the right.

A card game

Trip to India Jan-Feb-2013, Jaisalmer- A Jain Temple

 Then we stopped at a Jain Temple, right smack in the desert with no houses or other buildings in sight. 

 I was taking this tour around town with a really nice tuk tuk driver who spoke fair English and thought this might be a nice stop.

 Although Jains number less than 1% of the population my driver insisted that it was well visited.

 The Jains believe in ahimsa (non-violence) and follow a rigorous discipline to avoid harming all living substances.

 This includes humans, animals, plants, water, fire, earth and air.

 Like Hindus they believe in kharma and reincarmation.

 Jainism was founded by Mahavira in the 500's BC.

Worship in the temples consists of prayer and puja before images.

Trip to India Jan-Feb 2013-Jaisalmer

 Then we drove 6 kilometers out of town to the verdant area of Bada Bagh and the cenotaphs built in honor of the city's rulers.

 Most were built in the 16th to the 18th century.

 Modern windmills stand oddly on the next hill.

 The dedication to some king or other.

Much of the cities produce is grown in this area.  The rest of the area is mostly Thar Desert.

Trip to India, Jan-Feb 2013- Jaisalmer

 My next stop was Gadi Sagar, the source of Jaisalmer's water until 1965.

 There are now paddleboats on the lake and its a favorite area for picnics

A view of the back of the fort from the road near the lake.  You can see someone's laundry on the left.  There are about 2000 people living in the fort.