Jaisalmer Notebook

Of forts, fossils and desert whispers.

- By Bindu Saxena

The mysticism of the legendary city, Jaisalmer, made sense for the second time this month.

The moment we booked our flight, the magic began to draw us in. Memories of the dunes, the haunted town of Kuldhara, the vibrant Desert Festival, the jaw-dropping architecture of havelis, the peaceful Gadisar Lake, and innumerable memorabilia of yesteryears resurfaced soon. This visit, our sole purpose was to explore the previously unexplored. Let me walk you through my experiences and observations. The City: In Brief

Though its golden glow typifies my experience, it is not something one can pin down to alone. This desert city truly captures the essence of the Land of Kings. The people here are warm, welcoming, and simple, justifying the tagline of Indian culture where the “Guest is God.”

I sat down to write about my experiences, but I struggled to translate my thoughts onto the keyboard. It was not because I had little to say—in fact, there was too much that seemed to overflow like a cascading waterfall. It required my focused attention to arrive at the first word, which is always the most difficult, they say.

Jaisalmer was founded in 1156 AD by Jaisal Singh. Yellow sandstone covers everything here, and when the sun hits it just right, it glows like actual gold. Hence, it earned its nickname, “The Golden City.”

The monuments, temples, resorts, palaces, and desert camps all speak the same golden language. This realisation helped me understand the allure of the Jaisalmer Fort, a legendary historical monument.

My interests may or may not align with every generation. Nonetheless, as we traverse, these fascinating facts would surely nudge your thoughts to add it to your bucket list. I invite you to follow my journey and discover the earthy essence and quiet wonder that Jaisalmer evokes.