Map of Jaisalmer
Once a quiet desert city, Jaisalmer has changed itself greatly into an important tourist destination in India. Located amidst the scenic and quaint Thar Desert, the city of Jaisalmer counts among the top destinations in Rajasthan. As you explore this interesting city of Jaisalmer, you would get to know the different facets of this city. Rich havelis, historical forts and monuments abounds Jaisalmer. Among these, the Jaisalmer Fort is the most famous and beautiful. The blend of the ancient and medieval period architecture is surely to catch your imagination.
History tells us that once, the head of Yadav Clan, Lord Krishna, predicted to Arjuna that a distant descendent from the Yadav Clan shall set up his kingdom on top of the Trikuta Hill. In 1156 A.D. a descendent from the Yadav Clan, Rawal Jaisal and Bhatti Rajput discarded the fort near Lodurva, thereby founding a new capital city, Jaisalmer atop the Trikuta Hill. Thus the prediction was fulfilled.
The historic city of Jaisalmer brings with it immense charm. The city is famous for being the site of the very popular desert Festival, which takes place every year.
As the winters break into the tranquil city of Jaisalmer, the much eagerly “wait” for the lovely “Desert Festival” starts. The grandeur and craze of the festival is unparalleled and something to envy at. The empty sands of the Thar Desert suddenly seem to be enhanced with beauty and color. The quaint and serene city of Jaisalmer all of a sudden seems to be filled with life, music and joy.
The folk culture in the region is on a high as the local men and women get dressed in their gorgeous Rajasthani costumes and involves in merry making. The traditional music of Rajasthan at the Desert Festival of Jaisalmer would surely touch your hearts. Camel and horse sports, variety of competitions, traditional cuisines, beautiful desert belongings and artwork welcomes you to the Jaisalmer Desert Festival.
This 3 day festival, which happens in the month of February and ends on a Full Moon Day, glorifies and upholds the rich culture of the region to people outside the regional boundaries. The main aim behind starting this desert Festival was to draw the foreigners into the region as they are very interested in exploring the many facets of Rajasthan.
Organized by Rajasthan Tourism, on the backdrop of the amazingly gorgeous Jaisalmer Fort, the Jaisalmer Desert Festival takes the help of the medium of dance and folk songs to promote the tradition and culture of Jaisalmer. People decked in beautiful costumes, dance along and sing the touching ballads of romance, bravery and tragedy. Snake charmers, acrobats, puppeteers, folk artists are there to enchant and charm you.
Many eminent musicians from different corners of India come to the Jaisalmer Desert Festival to fill your mind and soul with some great performances. The festival is also a great platform for the budding talents to showcase their skill and art to the large number of people. From gymnasts to scary snake charmers, puppet shows to captivating folk recitals, you will get it all at the Jaisalmer Desert festival.
Every year in February Jaisalmer becomes alive with vivacious colors, melody and harmony of camels. The time is absolutely the best time to be in the city of Jaisalmer if you are interested in experiencing the extravaganza, vibrancy, culture and music of Rajasthan.
The preparation for the Festival starts well in advance. Musicians, performers, dancers and artists from different corners of Rajasthan and the country, moves into the golden city of Jaisalmer in multi-colored caravans. The entire city of Jaisalmer looks gorgeous and it’s a magical experience. Apart from the display of diverse performing arts, you would also get a glimpse of other interesting events taking place at the Jaisalmer Desert Festival. You can engage yourself in shopping amidst the exquisite hand-woven shawl, embroidered skirts, carved wooden and stone items, leather bags, terracotta, silver jewelry, camel decorations and many more.
Cultural programs, music and dance shows take place during the evenings. Vibrating drums would fill your ears from a long distance. Varied performing arts are displayed. As night goes by, the number of people swells up. On the Full Moon Night, the grand finale takes place amidst the sand dunes and innumerable people.
Although the basic format of the festival remains the same every year, yet many new events are also introduced from time to time. Another memorable and spectacular event that takes place at the Desert Festival of Jaisalmer, is “Blood, Blade and Romance”, which is like a dream pageant show. A fascinating event takes place t the festival where trained camel polices guard the border in the west. Folk ensemble of many musicians can also be seen at the Desert Festival in Jaisalmer. The many events on camel bear testimony to the fact that camels form an important part of the people leaving in desert areas. At the Jaisalmer Desert Festival, camels are beautifully dressed up and made to participate in a competition, where the best decked up camel wins the competition. The camel is dressed with special care and there is also a folk song that describes the making of the necklace for the camel, i.e. “Gorband”. The camel event is divided into two parts for more fun and enjoyment, camel dance and camel polo. Moustache and turban tying are yet another interesting shows at the festival, which not only upholds the magnificent tradition of the region but also facilitates the preservation of the tradition. Moustache and turban have always been honorary symbols in the land of Rajasthan. When the moustache is kept twisted upwards it means that the pride has been kept intact, while on the other hand, if someone has a drooping moustache, it means that the person has surrendered completely. In case of turbans, it is more of a art form where turbans are tied of different colors and styles, which describes the different region, caste and occasion. It may appear complicated to me and you but those who know the art of turban tying can tie large meters of cloth in seconds.
So what are you waiting for? It’s much more interesting to go out there and watch these events happening live, in front of your eyes. We bet, you would be left spellbound. The Jaisalmer Desert Festival would surely take you through a magical experience of a life time. Truly, the Jaisalmer Desert Festival is a Cultural Glory.
How to Reach Jaisalmer
The nearest airport to Jaisalmer is the Jodhpur Airport. Several airlines likes Jackson Airways have commenced flights to Jaisalmer from the city of Delhi, nut only in the peak season that is in the months of December to February.
Jaisalmer is also connected to other parts through railways. For instance, Delhi-Jaisalmer Express connects Jaisalmer to Delhi. Jaisalmer can also be reached by traveling to Jodhpur and then taking a train from there to Jaisalmer.
Comfortable AC buses are offered by the Rajasthan Roadways that plies in Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaipur thereby connecting these places to Jaisalmer. Well maintained roadways link Jaisalmer to other towns and cities in Rajasthan.
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