One of Jaisalmer’s main attractions is its fort. Forts are a
common sight in Rajasthan (I have been to 5 in less than 2 weeks) but the
Jaisalmer fort is unique because it is a living fort: over 3000 people reside
within the walls. It was a great place to explore, walking through twisting
streets and visiting shops. From the top of the fort there were some good views
of the rest of Jaisalmer.
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| Fort from the outside |
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| View of Jaisalmer |
Then I made my way to the Jain
Buddhist temples, which I was particularly keen to see. Jain Buddhism is a
strain of Buddhism that used to be quite prevalent in Jaisalmer. Jain Buddhist
follow an incredibly strict policy of nonviolence: the monks wear mesh cloths
over their mouths to prevent them from inadvertently inhaling bugs, and some
sweep in front of themselves as they walk to avoid stepping on anything
living. The temples were stunning. They
were extraordinarily intricately carved with images of gods and goddesses. It
was a spectacular sight.
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| Just don't do it. |
After the fort, we went to visit
the Patwa-ki-Haveli, which used to be the home of a rich merchant family. The
architecture was gorgeous, and the house was furnished in an attempt to
recreate the atmosphere of the home several centuries ago.
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| Façade of the house |
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| View up from the inner courtyard |
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| Exhibit on musical instruments |
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| Exhibit on turbans |
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