Jaisalmer Fort

Jaisalmer Fort is situated in Jaisalmer, also known as the Golden City, which is situated in the royal state of Rajasthan India. Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest forts in the world which was built in 1156 AD by the Bhati Rajput ruler Raja Rawal Jaisal. It is made of golden yellow sandstone and is also known as "Sonar Quila" which means Golden Fort. Jaisalmer Fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill with many Havelis and a group of Jain temples. The massive yellow sandstone walls of the fort are a tawny lion color during the day, fading to honey-gold as the sun sets, thereby camouflaging the fort in the yellow desert. This is the reason why it is also known as the "Golden Fort".

"Rajput forts were not easy to build," says Vikramaditya Prakash, an architecture professor at the University of Washington. "The palaces and temples are filigreed in unbelievable detail." Although it has been generations since any Rajput kings ruled here, Jaisalmer Fort still houses some 2,000 residents, which makes it India's last "living fort." (India's other famous forts are abandoned, except for tourist guides.) This, too, draws visitors to Jaisalmer.

The Jaisalmer Fort is a spectacular construction built in the desert and a starred attraction for tourists coming on India tour package and Jaisalmer tour packages. Yellow sandstone lends the golden colour to the fort that lures tourists from all over the world.