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The raja choose Trikuta hill as the new site for his fort as his earlier adobe at
Luderwa (16 km from present Jaisalmer) was too vulnerable to his
comfort.
But it should always be kept in mind that these legends are most of
the time product of conscious minds that are very vulnerable to the
oriental exaggeration.
Jaisalmer fort is the second oldest in Rajasthan. Two hundred and fifty
feet tall and reinforced by imposing crenellated sandstone wall 30 feet
high; it has 99 bastions, 92 of which were built between 1633 and 1647.
Wells within the fort still provide a regular source of water. Even
today, you will find that nearly one fourth of the old city's population
resides within the fort.
If you are a student of cross-cultural merging, the subtle fusion of
Rajput and Islamic architectural styles, visible in this fort, will
catch your fancy. Ganesh Pol, Akshya Pol, Suraj Pol and Hawa Pol are a
must see.
Getting There
Jaisalmer Fort is located in the very heart of Jaisalmer, it can be
reach easily by taking an auto-rickshaw or a rickshaw.
Jaisalmer is well connected to
the rest of state by well-maintained roads and connected to major cities of
India through broad gauge as well as meter gauge railway tracks. Direct
trains from Jaisalmer are available to Jodhpur as well as Delhi. The ‘Palace
on Wheels’ also connects Jaisalmer.
Jaisalmer Airport has had
no scheduled services operating since 2013. The nearest domestic
airport is Jodhpur Airport
situated 283 km away from Jaisalmer. From Jodhpur Airport you can hire cabs
or take a train to reach Jaisalmer.
General transportation in
Jaisalmer consists of auto rickshaw and bicycles because these are good
means to get around. Auto rickshaw is a cheap mode of transportation but
drivers might not be friendly all the times. It is recommended to take
rickshaw when you take congested roads in order to avoid bottlenecks.
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