| Jaisalmer |
| Population 78,000 Altitude 225m Area 5.1 square km Languages Rajasthani, Hindi and Urdu |
| Jaisalmer is situated in western Rajasthan in the heart of the Thar Desert. The town is named after its founder Rawal Jaisal. "Jaisalmer" means "The Hill Fort of Jaisal". Jaisalmer is also called the Golden city of India because the yellow sand gives a golden touch to the city and its surrounding area. It is the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer District. Jaisalmer is almost entirely a sandy waste, forming a part of the great Indian desert. The general aspect of the area is that of an interminable sea of sandhills, of all shapes and sizes, some rising to a height of 150 ft. Those in the west are covered with log bushes, those in the east with tufts of long grass. Water is scarce, the average depth of the wells is said to be about 80m. There are no perennial streams and only one small river, the Kakni, which after flowing a distance of 28 m spreads over a large surface of flat ground and forms a lake called the Bhuj-Jhil. Throughout Jaisalmer only raincrops such as bajra, jawar, motif and til are grown. Spring crops of wheat, barley, etc are very rare. Owing to the scant rainfall, irrigation is almost unknown. While Jaisalmer has always have been remote it is filled with many artistic structures and monuments of local historical importance. Jaisalmer's enormous sandstone fort makes it a popular tourist destination. The surrounding desolate landscape has a stark, austere beauty. Camel safaris through the nearby desert dunes are popular and competition for business is fierce. Jaisalmer city is a prominent educational as well as cultural hub in the region and regularly showcases the vivid cultural aspects of Rajasthan. Among others, it includes folk dances as well as semi classical and folk music. |
| Banks and Internet There are several places in Jaisalmer where you can change money and travelers cheques. There are also ATMs in town. Internet access is available in a number of locations. |
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