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Coming out from the heart of the Thar desert, the golden mirage, the city of Jaisalmer and its commanding fort, etched in yellow sandstone, always welcomes you. The place has an interesting legend associated with it. Lord Krishna, the head of the Yadava clan, had foretold that a remote descendant of this clan would build a kingdom atop the Trikuta Hill. The forecast came true in 1156 AD when Rawal Jaisal abandoned his fort at Lodurva and founded this new capital which later became famous as Jaisalmer. The Bhatti Rajputs were the feudal lords and their major source of income was the taxes levied on the merchants carrying caravans laden with silk, spices and dry fruits from Egypt, Persia and Central Asia that crossed the territory.
The wealthy marwari businessmen simultaneously established aesthetic and elaborate havelis and mansions using the best artisans available at that time. The developments in the trade and the opening of subsequent ports saw a decline in the caravan crossing. But the desert fortress seems to be straight out of the Tales of the Arabian Nights for guests and fascinates everyone. The narrow lanes are strewn with magnificent havelis, temples, skilled artisans and camels. The Jaisalmer Fort is the second oldest in Rajasthan after Chittorgarh. About 250-feet-tall and reinforced by an imposing crenellated sandstone wall 30 feet high, it has 99 bastions, 92 of which were built between 1633 and 1647. Wells within the fort are still used to provide a regular source of water. The life within the citadel conjures up images of medieval majesty.
Jaisalmer celebrated a colourful tourism extravaganza in the form of an elaborate three-day Desert Festival from Feb 16-18, 2011. The famous Maru Mahotsava got off to a colourful start with a dazzling Shobha Yatra from the Gadsisar Lake to the the Punam Singh Stadium.
Special attractions of the procession were the melodious band, colourful Moomal-Mahindra participants, dancing school girls, and decorated camels. Proud moustachioed villagers, dressed in their ethnic best, come astride their picturesquely caparisoned camels to join in the extravaganza. The Moomal-Mahindra competition, moustache competition, Miss Moomal and Mr Desert competitions were also held at the stadium. The Mr Desert competitions, which were focused around the length of moustaches, by and large, attracted many hopefuls. Many tourists were also seen at the ground watching and participating in adventure sports events. The other events included camel decoration, races, tattoo shows, turban tying events, folk music and dance presentations, dazzling display by IAF, camel polo, and so on, at the Poonam Singh Stadium and Dedansar.
On the last day, tourists also enjoyed a visit to Kuldhara, a deserted heritage village some 30 km away from Jaisalmer. The three-day extravaganza culminated with a dazzling fireworks display in moonlight.
Tourism official Vikash Pandya said, “Started around 29 years ago to promote the place and its culture, this festival stands today as a special festival of the state. The high points of the festival are that snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers do brisk business. Camels, the lifeline of the desert, play an important role. The characteristic part of Jaisalmer is its rough desert fabric and the variable historical and cultural ingredients.”
The forts and monuments in the place bear testimony to the grandeur of yore and present a magnificent landscape to travellers to carry home wonderful memories of the Thar.