Where Gumbo Was (#248)
This week Gumbo visited Jaisalmer in western Rajasthan. Congratulations to the guessers who came up with the correct answer: Bob Cranwell, George G, GarryRF, PortMoresby and Michael and Paule Rogol. And a nod to Marilyn Jones, who found the right area, but a different city.
Jaisalmer is also known as the 'Golden City' due to the colour of the sandstone from which most of its buildings have been constructed. On a hillside at the centre of the city sits its large fort, surrounded on all sides by impressive walls and bastions. It dates back to the 12th century.
The pace of life here is quite unhurried and, whilst you will come across other tourists, there is none of the frantic activity which you sometimes encounter in the busier tourist spots of Rajasthan.
A short walk downtown from the fort is an area of well-preserved 'havelis' – essentially townhouses – of which the huge Patwa Havelis, built in the early 1800s, are probably the most famous. The next few shots show some of these very ornate buildings.
Below is a glimpse inside one of the havelis. (One of the clues was a photo also taken inside one of them.)
Jaisalmer also houses a number of temples. The best-known one perhaps is the very impressive Jain temple depicted in the next three shots (again, the clues include further photos from this location).
The fort is an ideal vantage point from which to survey the rest of Jaisalmer.
On the edge of the city is Gadsisar lake, another pleasant spot at which to linger and relax.
I like many of the other cities in Rajasthan, such as Udaipur, Jodhpur, and, of course, Jaipur. However, Jaisalmer is special – it probably is the relaxed atmosphere here which attracted me most. I have very fond memories of just sitting around with a cup of tea/coffee or, later on in the day, a beer and watching things happen (slowly!).
Jaisalmer is also a gateway to the Thar desert. If you fancy a camel ride through some dunes, you will get your chance here. You can then tick it off your list – as I have done.
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