Page 38 - Seniorstoday September 21
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roads. This heritage hotel dates back to ancient trading routes connecting the far
1927 – but it is the artifacts, furniture and away Arabian Sea, the fort was considered
the intricate paintings here which are truly to be impregnable but was ravaged at least
priceless. three times in its long history. The city itself
Just 30 km outside the city, on the main looks like a mirage in the mighty Thar desert.
road to Jaisalmer is one of the most beautiful The dominating fort in the skyline is not the
hunting lodges of Rajasthan – the Gajner only attraction in the city, the havelis which
Palace. The palace is built on the banks dot the old city are the actual stars. The three
of a lake and is one of the oldest heritage famous havelis are Patwon Ji Ki Haveli, Salim
hotels. Besides its panoramic landscape and Ji Ki Haveli and Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli. The
architectural beauty, the palace complex also architecture of each of these three havelis is
has the remnants of a historic railway station. totally different, but what is common to them
This hunting resort was connected to main is the latticework found on them.
Bikaner Palace by rail in 1922. Carvings found on the sandstone havelis
The road to Jaisalmer (330 km – 4-5 hours) are simply marvelous. The chattris at the
is absolutely gorgeous (really good driving Bada bagh lay testimony to many battles
conditions, but more so because of the desert fought here. These cenotaphs are made in
scenery). At some places, you can see sand stone in Mughal and Rajputana architecture
dunes and we were warned that at times you and symbolise Rajput heritage. Late in the
can see sand blowing onto the road – though evening, we visited the Gadsisar lake and
frankly we did not see anything like that. the first thing which strikes you is the very
Phalodi was the first town you will get to after presence of such a large lake in the middle
which you come to Pokharan – the town made of the desert. It is an artificial lake but looks
famous for the atomic test site. Apart from quite natural, specially with artistically
the test site, the fort here is also well known carved chhatris, temples and ghats making it
and apart from Jaisalmer, is the largest in the very pleasing.
region.
Beautiful hand work in a Jaisalmer heritage hotel
The Jaisalmer Fort One of the integral visits of Jaisalmer has
Jaisalmer, very close to the Indo–Pak border, to be the Sam dunes. About 40 km out of
is famous for its absolutely fantastic setting. town, the dunes are a popular site for sunsets.
The ‘Sonar Qila’ rises in the distance and can Short camel rides on the dunes itself are quite
be seen from afar. Being on the path of the exhilarating. There are quite a few nice camps
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