This blog is a continuation of the previous part. The place of stay remains the same. After returning from the safari, I ordered some good food and retired myself to bed. One of the famous attraction beside the fort is the Gadisar lake which most of you must have seen in many pictorial presentations of travel.
Built by Maharaja Rawal, this lake served as a water conservation reservoir which helped people to tackle severe water problems in this area. Many temples and shrines are built around the place. One can find many migratory birds in the winter but avoid going there on sunny summer days and in the afternoon because the blunt sunlight will hardly help you to discover the beauty of this place. I went there around 4 pm as I knew the lake would look magical in the sunset colors which would help me to get some nice clicks. There are provisions for boating if and it is quite cheap for a silent float across the lake. I decided to admire the tranquility of the place and spent some lone time imbibing the serenity of the place. The entrance of the gate got its own historical importance and its called Tilon ki pol by the locals. It has a Desert cultural museum beside it which has many ancient cultural artifacts.
Next morning I ventured out for the main attraction - Jaisalmer Fort. It forms an integral part of the town. The city has expanded and many shops started thriving around the vicinity of the fort. I walked to the fort exploring the local lanes around. Once I got inside the fort, I was amazed by the amount of commercialization it received over the years. The lanes are not only thronged by shops but also with houses, shrines and plethora of hotels. If you are thinking the hotels are costly, you are very wrong, the hotels inside the forts are actually very affordable though you have to compromise on some of the amenities. The fort mainly consists of Hindu temples like the Shiva temple, Sun temple and the popular Jain Temples. one can find a cafe nearby to get a good view of the adjoining Jain temples together from the top. One of the interesting thing that I explored is that you can walk around the periphery of the fort and get view of the fort as well as the city from all different perspectives. The two main inside attractions to visit is the Raja and Rani ka Mahal.
There are a lot of shops selling handicrafts, local clothes, turbans, Leather items which one can indulge in. Take a note to examine the leather items before you buy it because most if the times they are not actual leather and bargain a lot. You can also find many scarves at very low cost which is a must need for you in the deserts.
Almost in a walking distance from the place, is another heritage site which you can drop in - Patwaon ki Havelli. There are actually five different havellis of which two are maintained by the Government and the others are maintained by the local trustees and authorities. The entrance ticket serves you for the three other than the Government ones which needs seperate tickets. The first havelli showcases important items used by the Maharajas and the walls are adorned with paintings and handicraft items. The whole structure is build with yellow sandstone with fort like architecture. One can witness ancient musical instruments, wide range of silver utensils.
Coming to the food, there are many options to discover. There is a Government registered Bhang shop bust beside the temple fort which is a must try but don't carry anything outside the state because that will be illegal. Bhangs are available in milder and stronger versions. One can also buy some Bhaang cookies to be enjoyed later. Don't forget to try super cheap poha for 10 INR. If you love foods of different cuisines, you can also like the large crunchy paranthas, just outside the fort.
