Introduction
Jaisalmer is a city in the state of Rajasthan with a population of 2,00,000. It is also known as Golden City due to its rich history and culture. It has been made particularly famous because of its sandy dunes which have earned it the title ‘the Golden City of India’. The main attractions include desert safari rides, camel rides, polo matches (camels), sand sculptures and camel parades. The city became one of the largest cities in India during this time period because of its gold trade with other countries such as China and Persia (Iran).
History
Jaisalmer was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1564 AD. The city was initially named “Jaipur” after the peach fruit, but it was later renamed “Jaisalmer” on November 25th, 1727, by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh II. This was after he captured a fort from Mahmud Khan, who had occupied it earlier during his campaign against Bikaner State from 1608-1622.
There were many battles between them until they finally agreed upon peace terms, which included handing over some areas including Jalore Tehsil near Kota City along with other parts around the city itself like Kotputli village.
This made the area independent from Mewar Kingdom and instead became part of its own kingdom called Mewar-Jaisalmer State. This state was ruled directly under Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who was ruling Delhi at the time when the empire expanded towards the southeast Asia region. It is also known as the Golden City of India because it has many palaces and forts built by Rana Sanga.
Geography
Jaisalmer is a desert city in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India. It is located about 500 km from Jodhpur and about 100 km from Bikaner on National Highway 1A (old NH1) which connects it to Delhi via Jaipur.
Jaisalmer is also known as “Golden City” due to its golden dunes, which attract visitors from all over India and even abroad. These dunes are considered one of the most beautiful places in Asia with their golden hue reflecting off them during sunrise or sunset hours each day!
Demographics
Population
- The population of Jaisalmer is 1,085,000.
- 711,000 people speak different languages in Jaisalmer. This includes Hindi, Punjabi and Marwari as well as other languages like Gujarati and Rajasthani.
- 87% of the population lives in urban areas and 13% live in rural areas.
Weather
The average temperature in Jaisalmer is around 40 degrees Celsius. It rains twice a year, during the monsoon season from July to September and dries up in winter. The rainfall here can be quite unpredictable; it may rain for days or weeks on end, but then there will be no rain for months at a time before it starts again. This means that if you plan to visit during droughts, come prepared!
Culture and Festivals
Jaisalmer is a city with a rich culture. It has many festivals, which are celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people. Some of these are:
Dussehra Festival: This festival is celebrated on the tenth day (Dussehra) after Vasant Panchami according to the Hindu calendar. During this time, people make offerings in fire joss sticks and light lamps at night. A procession is also taken out with Ravan’s effigy being burnt in front of the main gate of City Palace as per old tradition. The celebrations include Mela (fair), illumination processions etc., all leading up to Dussehra when Ravana’s effigy is set on fire by worshippers who come from faraway places such as Udaipur and Ajmer to see this spectacle!
Fairs and Festivals in Jaisalmer
Some of the festivals are:
- Sam Sand Dunes Festival
- Marwar Festival
- Summer Festival
- Gangaur Festival
- Teej Festival for women in July/August and
- Ramdevra Fair.
Jaisalmer also has some great festivals like Holi Festival which takes place every year during March and April when people come together to celebrate colours and happiness while they enjoy many games such as “chakli” or “Gulab Jorani”, which means “flower throwing”.
The Desert Festival is a festival held every year in Jaisalmer. It celebrates the victory of Raja Jay Singh over his enemies and his return to power. This event will take place on the last day of June and lasts for three days. The festival includes cultural performances, music concerts, dance shows and other games like camel racing or bullfighting. It also features food stalls serving traditional Rajasthani dishes like biryani (rice cooked with spices), dum pukht (sweet bread fried in ghee) or kabab (meatballs cooked on skewers).
One of the most prominent festivals that are celebrated by the natives is Desert Festival. This festival represents the true culture and tradition of the state of Rajasthan. The main highlights are spectacular fire dance, camel polo and camel rides. The festival also has other activities like a Mr. Desert pageant, turban tying competition and a Mr. Mustache competition; it is organized usually in January or February every year and is a three-day event with activities for all age groups including children between 0-5 years old, 6-12 years old etc.
Other important festivals include the Sam Sand Dunes Festival which is held during December and January, the Marwar festival which commemorates various heroes of Rajasthan who were born in the Marwar region, the Summer Festival in May, the Gangaur Festival in March /April, Teej Festival for women in July/August and Ramdevra Fair to honour the famous saint Ramdevji Maharaj who was believed to have performed miracles for his devotees.
The main objective behind organizing such events was to create an atmosphere where people could learn about their heritage while enjoying themselves at the same time.
Conclusion
Jaisalmer is a city that makes you want to visit it again and again. It is a place full of history, culture, and beauty. Do not forget to check out the festivals that are celebrated in Jaisalmer because they are sure to make your trip more memorable!
