A fort? A hotel? It’s both! – Jaisalmer Fort, Rajasthan
The 800-year-old Jaisalmer Fort stands atop the Trikuta Hill. This desert fort is located at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The old city lies within this fort and is surrounded by 99 turrets. It was built by Rawal Jaisal in the 12th century. The fort, which steeps 30m over the city, has a hotel inside it. It is the Garh Jaisal. The hotel houses seven rooms within the fort complete with brightly-coloured curtains and mirrored tapestries. The wooden furniture is hand-carved and the linen, too, is handmade.
The city of Jaisalmer is known for Rajasthani embroidery, Rajasthani mirror work textiles, rugs, blankets, tie-and-dye dresses and antiques. The fort is one of the largest in India. Satyajit Ray has even written a novel on it, which was later made into a movie. The walls are so thick that in some parts of the hotel, it is more than four foot thick. The fort has seen many battles and has been captured by many later kings. Almost half the population of the city still lives inside the fort today. It also has a palace, a jain temple and many shopping havelis. The fort is known as Golden Fort as it has a yellowish hue in the evenings during sunset.
The rooms on the second floor are reached via a carved stone staircase. The rooms are unique as each has a theme colour. Scarlet, purple, blue, green and more. Each of the rooms look out on to balconies and small sit-outs. You can sit here and gaze at the sprawling city beneath, take in the view from the fort, read books or just relax. There are western-style bathrooms with hot water showers.
You can have breakfast on the rooftop terrace until 12 noon. Lunch and dinner are available on request, and you have a choice of having a candlelight dinner. You have the option of having authentic Rajasthani cuisine or Nepali and Chinese cuisine. The hotel also serves juices and beer. The hotel arranges camel safaris into the desert areas. The guides will pitch your tent in a likely location and prepare dinner, too.
You can go for walks in the city streets and buy handicrafts, jewellery, curios and clothes. The hotel will arrange for transfers within Rajasthan for free. The Jaisalmer airport is close by-only 10km from the hotel.
