Description
The city of Jaisalmer lies in the heart of the Thar Desert, some 150 kilometres north-west of Jodhpur as the crow flies. It owed its splendour and wealth entirely to the caravans of the Silk and Spice Routes, which travelled here from Central and South Asia towards the Indus Valley in the west. The city is dominated by the mighty citadel, dating from the 12th to the 16th century. Numerous interior rooms are adorned with paintings and mosaics, and the façades also feature interesting ornamentation. In the lower town are 18th-century palaces, the havelis, which were built for wealthy merchants and boast exceptionally beautifully decorated balconies. The most magnificent building, the Patwah-ki-Haveli from the early 19th century, is particularly fascinating for its incredibly varied chiselled window ornaments. – 1990
Description
The city of Jaisalmer lies in the heart of the Thar Desert, some 150 kilometres north-west of Jodhpur as the crow flies. It owed its splendour and wealth entirely to the caravans of the Silk and Spice Routes, which travelled here from Central and South Asia towards the Indus Valley in the west. The city is dominated by the mighty citadel, dating from the 12th to the 16th century. Numerous interior rooms are adorned with paintings and mosaics, and the façades also feature interesting ornamentation. In the lower town are 18th-century palaces, the havelis, which were built for wealthy merchants and boast exceptionally beautifully decorated balconies. The most magnificent building, the Patwah-ki-Haveli from the early 19th century, is particularly fascinating for its incredibly varied chiselled window ornaments. – 1990
