JAISALMER Jaisalmer is a desert city of Rajasthan. There is shore less views of sands. The city is guarded by walls made in 1750 and four pole or gates --- Malka in the North, Amarsagar in the West, Gadi sagar and Baron ki Pole in the South-East. The two other poles are closed now. Golden yellow dune and walls of yellow sandstones make this city golden. Minakari ornaments are famous here. Desert Festival takes place for 3 days in February. HEIGHT: 793m WEATHER: Weather is rough and there is no rain for years. Highest temperature is 45C and lowest temperature is 3C. FAVOURABLE SEASON: From October to March. PLACES OF INTEREST: The golden fort made of Jurrassic yellow sand stone, Patwan ki Haveli, Nathmalji ki Haveli, Selim Singhji ki Haveli, Raja ka Mahal, Gadisar, Fokrole Museum, Jawahar Nivas, Tajia Tower, Amar Sagar, Bara Bag, Desert National Park, Kuldhra etc. MARKET: Central market is famous for needle work, mirror work dresses and ornaments, stone made objects, woolen blanket etc. CHITORGARH FORT Foundation : 1156, Height : 76m, Area : 457x129m, Height of Wall : 405m. It is the second oldest fort of Rajasthan. It has no ditch and surrounded by walls. There are 99 bastions, some of which has cannons. It has few gates --- Akshay pole, Ganesh pole, Suraj pole, Hawa pole. The death well is after the second gate and the main chowk starts after fourth gate. MAHARAWAL : This seven storied umbrella shaped palace has five sections or mahals. Presently there are museum and heritage centre. Time : 10am – 3pm. Juna mahal, Jenana mahal, Chauhata chowk, Mardana mahal are also nice. Glass and mural painting decorated Rang mahal is above Hawa pole. Sarvottam Vilas has high foundation, blue tiles and glass mosaic. Excellent Gaj Vilas and Moti mahal attract tourists. Another unique thing is Badal Vilas or the clouds palace. Tajia Tower is on the roof of Badal Vilas. The throne of Dewan-e-Aam and Narayan and Shakti pillars are good as well. 7 Jain temples and 4 Hindu temples are there inside the fort. There are 6666 Jain idols which are jewel studded, emerald made idol of Mahaveer, dancing idols, painting of mythological stories, painting on ceilings, nice sculptures, Rishavnath, Shantinath, Sambhavnath etc. in these temples. Time : 7am – 12 noon. Leather is not allowed intemples. JEENBHADRA SURI GYAN BHANDER Jeenbhadra Suri was an acharya in 12th century. Collections : 1126 plam leaves manuscripts, 2257 paper manuscripts, the logest plam leave manuscript is 0.9m or 331/3 inches long and has a wooden cover. Time : 9am – 6pm, Entry fee – Rs.30. PATWAN – KI HAVELI Foundation : In 1805 by textile nad metal trader Guman Chand. Attraction : Mural paintings in walls and balcony, guilted ceiling, hanging lattice work in window. NATHMALJI – KI – HAVELI Foundation : 1885, Attraction : Miniaturre painting in walls, statue of two elephants in the front door, net work on the stones and wonder full .It is closed now. SELIM SINGHJI – KI – HAVELI Foundation : 1800, Attraction : Arches in roof, peacock shaped bracket. It had two stories made in wood. But the Maharaja destroyed it as its height was more than the royal palace. Raja -- ka – mahal is also a nice haveli. GADISAR LAKE It is like an oasis in the desert. There is a chattis in the centre of the lake. Attraction : Beautiful archway, temples surrounding the lake,temple of Ld. Krishna on the archway, boating on lake and migrated birds inwinter. Foundation : By Rawal Ghat Singh in 1367. FOKROLE MUSEUM Collector : N K Sharma, Time : 9am – 12 noon & 3pm – 6pm, Entry fee : 5. TAJIA TOWER Muslim sculptors gifted this five marble tower to Rana. AMAR SAGAR It is an oasis. But the garden is almost destroyed and there is shortage of water in the lake. Pleasure Palace (1661-1703) and beautiful Jain temple are situated on the bank of the lake. DESERT NATIONAL PARK Area : 3025 sq km, Favourable Season : October to March, Attraction : Leafless trees, Indian Bustard Bird, Chinkara, Black Buck, Gazel, Jackel. Permission is required to visit the park. SAM SAND DUNES Area : 3km, Attraction : Sand storm “Aandhi”, Endless dunes, Camel safari, Nice sunset. Weather : Excessive heat in day time and much cold at night. MOOL SAGAR Foundation : King of Maharawal Mool. It is man made oasis. The garden and lake are surrounded by endless wave of golden sands. Crevasse is also here. Sunset is very nice. You can see Lodurwa Palace, Pareshnath Jain Temple, Rupasi Village, Ramkund, Fruit garden of Barabagh, Vatiyani Chattis, museum city Kuldhra, heritage village Kuldhra and another beautiful oasis Khuri.

JODHPUR Jodhpur is known as blue city. Once upon a time it was the capital of Marwar. Apart from lots of historical places this city is also famous for tie and die print and shoes. It was founded in1459 by Rathore Rajput Rao Jodha. LANDSCAPE: Jodhpur is situated on sand stone hills. Its height is about 236m. WEATHER: The temperature is 36.6°C – 42.2°C in summer and 15.5°C – 27.5°C in winter. Average rainfall is 12 mm. FAVOURABLE SEASON: From October to March. PLACES OF INTEREST: Meherengarh Fort, Moti Mahal, Jaswant Thada, Ummaid Bhawan Palace, Railway Carriage, Government Museum, Balsamand Lake, Mandor, Hall of Heros. MEHERANGARH FORT This fort is situated on a basalt rock heighting 121m and surrounded by 9.5km long, 6m to 36m high and 3m to 21m wide wall. This fort is 457m long and 228m wide. There were 121 round or quadrangular domes in the wall of the fort in past. Tourists get a royal welcome with music in this fort. It has seven pole or gates (Fateh pole, Gopal pole, Bhairo pole, Toti pole, Dodhkangra pole, Jai pole and Iron pole made by various kings as the symbol of their victory). Temple of Nagchenji is inside the fort at Singer chowk after crossing Suraj pole. A museum is also there. There are a lot of halls(mahals) in the fort where tourists can see (1) stone made karonation throne in Moti Mahal, (2) design of flowers of gold in gold pillars, curve of arches and roof of Flower Mahal made by Maharaja Abhay Singh with 80kg of gold metal, (3)dresses of warriors and exhibition of weapons, paintings, (4) locks weights 17.5kg, (5) gifts of Shah Jahan wrapped by silk worked with gold, (6) Royal Harem, (7) Cradle, (8) silver made seat enclosed with elephant, (9) sandal wood ceiling, (10) mirror wall, (11) palace of tents of Shah Jahan, musical instruments etc. There are two ponds(Talaw) in the fort --- Sagar and Gulab. At the south rampart of the fort there are collection of cannons and Temple of Devi Chamunda. 360 types of lattice works in the windows make this fort very beautiful. Time : 9am – 5pm Entry fee : Rs.35, Camera charge extra, Elevator is free. JASWANT THADA It is the memorial of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II and is made by his widow in 1899. In the past sunlight passed into it through delicate stone. Time : 9am – 7pm, Entry fee : Rs.10. UMMAID BHAWAN PALACE This pink Italian Architecture is made by Last Ummaid Singhji in 1942. It started in 1929 with engagement of 3000 labors. It is made by marble and red sandstone. H V Lanchester and J R Lodge planned this joint less interlocking system to make this 347 room palace. Interiors are done by Julius Stephen Norblin. In the museum inside the palace, there are Dewan-e-Aam, throne room, library, collection of watches --- watches on ring, tiara, birds cooing, model aeroplane, weapons, furniture etc. The 195x103m central dome is 32m high. Ummaid Bhawan Palace Hotel has been started in one portion of this palace in recent past. You can have lunch there. Time : 9am – 5pm, Palace entry fee : Rs.120, Museum entry fee : Rs.20. RAILWAY CARRIAGE Evolution of rail of Jodhpur can be seen here. Tourists can also see silver plate fittings and personal railway compertment of Mahabaja here. The first train of Jodhpur, which was startedin 1836 was camel run train. Stream engine came in 1924 and the rail line extended to 2400km. SADAR GOVERNMENT MUSEUM This museum is inside the Ummaid Public Garden at High Court Road. There is a collection of local craft, rock salt curving, stuffed animals, wingless desert bird (camel) and archeological objects. There is also a zoo inside Ummaid Public Garden .Museum Time : 10am – 4.30pm, Zoo Time : 9am – 6pm. BALSAMAND LAKE This garden surrounded lake was dug in1159. Summer palace was made in the barrage of lake in 1936. MAHA TEMPLE The shrine here is Ld. Shiva. The temple is on 84 sculptured pillars which displays various forms of Yoga. KAILANA LAKE This 84 sq. km extended lake was dug by Sir Pratap Singh in1872 and is an ideal picnic spot. The water supply of the city comes from big Pratap Sagar Lake. Irrigation Bunglow is situated on its bank. MANDOR It was the capital of Parihar Rajputas and Rathore Raj Chauhan. Chattis has been made in temple style with red sand stone curved with beautiful sculptures. There are also temples, fountains,museum and the sculpture of 33 crores of Hindu gods and goddesses curved in one single stone of 18th century i.e. Hall of Heroes. Marwar festival starts here in October.