Riding the Thar - India’s North West frontier - Jaisalmer and beyond
Jaisalmer has the nickname golden city for a good reason. All buildings be it commercial, residential or public utilities are short stature and made of the characteristic yellow sandstone typical of this desert region. It shimmers with the blistering sun and hence reflects a golden like color. Jaisalmer will enthrall you with its old narrow cobbled roads, haphazard traffic, the open drainage system, shops selling silverware , local textiles , handicrafts and local snacks and food items on both sides. Taking a walk down these ancient streets is an experience in itself. A must do and something you must spend a half day on is the vast “Jaisalmer fort”. The only inhabited fort in the world , the fort covers an area of 35 sq kms and there are close to 5000 people living within its walls , mostly descendants of those living from the time the fort city was constructed back in 11 AD. While the city has expanded outside, the old city within the fort walls remains fossilized largel...