| ISO 3166 code | RJ-IN |
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| Telephone code | 02992 |
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| PIN | 345 001 |
|---|
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 ( IST ) |
|---|
| • Regional | Marwari , Rajasthani |
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| • Additional official | English |
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| • Official | Hindi |
|---|
| • City | 65,471 |
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| Elevation | 225 m (738 ft) |
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| • Urban | 62.38 km 2 (24.09 sq mi) |
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| Vehicle registration | RJ-15 |
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| • Body | Jaisalmer Municipal Council |
|---|
| Named for | Rawal Jaisal |
|---|
| Founder | Rawal Jaisal |
|---|
| Established | 1156 ; 870 years ago ( 1156 ) |
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| District | Jaisalmer |
|---|
| State | Rajasthan |
|---|
| Country | India |
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| • Type | Municipal Council |
|---|
| Website | Jaisalmer Municipal Council Jaisalmer District |
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Jaisalmer (IPA: [d͡ʒɛːsəlmeːɾ] ⓘ), nicknamed The Golden City, is a city in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan, located 575 kilometres (357 mi) west of the state capital Jaipur, in the heart of the Thar Desert.[8] It serves as the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer district. Jaisalmer is a former medieval trading center and the historic capital of the kingdom of Jaisalmer, founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal of the Bhati clan of Rajputs.[9] Jaisalmer stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone and is crowned by the World Heritage Site, Jaisalmer Fort, a sprawling hilltop citadel supported by 99 bastions.[10] This fort contains a royal palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples of both the fort and of the town below are built of finely sculptured yellow sandstone. The town has a population, including the residents of the fort, of about 78,000. Jaisalmer ranked 9th on Booking.com's Top 10 The Most Welcoming cities in the world. It is the only Indian city on the list.[11][12]
Jaisalmer was founded by Rawal Jaisal,[13] in 1156 AD.[14] It is named after its founder, with "Jaisal" representing the king's name and the term "Mer" or "Meru" is of Sanskrit origin, signifying a mountain or a high, prominent place,[15] and it has been historically used in the names of various geographical features and landmarks, like Ajmer.[16]
Medieval history[Edit]
The state of Jaisalmer had its foundations in what remains of the Empire ruled by the Bhati dynasty. Early Bhati rulers ruled over large empire stretching from Ghazni[17] in modern-day Afghanistan to Sialkot, Lahore and Rawalpindi in modern-day Pakistan[18] to Bhatinda, Muktsar and Hanumangarh in modern-day India.[19] The empire crumbled over time because of continuous invasions from Central Asia. According to Satish Chandra, the Hindu Shahis of Afghanistan made an alliance with the Bhati rulers of Multhan, because they wanted to end the slave raids made by the Turkic ruler of Ghazni, however the alliance was defeated by Alp Tigin in 977 CE.[20] Bhati dominions continued to be shifted towards the South as they ruled Multan, then finally got pushed into Cholistan and Jaisalmer where Rawal Devaraja built Dera Rawal / Derawar.[21] Jaisalmer was the new capital founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal and the state took its name from the capital.
Modern history[Edit]
On 11 December 1818 Jaisalmer became a British protectorate in the Rajputana Agency.[22][21]
Traditionally, in the Middle Ages, the main source of income for the kingdom was levies on caravans, but the economy was heavily affected when Bombay emerged as a major port and sea trade replaced the traditional land routes. Ranjit Singh and Bairi Sal Singh attempted to turn around the economic decline but the dramatic reduction in trade impoverished the kingdom. A severe drought and the resulting famine from 1895 to 1900, during the reign of Salivahan Singh, only made matters worse by causing widespread loss of the livestock that the increasingly agriculturally based kingdom relied upon.
The attempts of Jawahir Singh (1914–1949) at modernisation were also not entirely successful in turning the kingdom's economy around, and the drylands of Jaisalmer remained backward compared with other regions of Rajputana, especially the neighbouring state of Jodhpur. Nonetheless, the extensive water storage and supply, sanitation, and health infrastructures developed in the 1930s by the prime minister Brijmohan Nath Zutshi provided significant relief during the severe droughts of 1941 and 1951. During 1930–1947, Jawahir Singh and his ministers also promoted technical education and the academic disciplines of civil and mechanical engineering in the state.
After the departure of the British from India in 1947, Jawahir Singh signed an Instrument of Accession to the new Union of India, while retaining some internal autonomy until the 1950s.
Jaisalmer has a hot arid climate (Köppen BWh), and is thus prone to extremes of temperature. The temperature varies greatly from day to night in both summer and winter. The maximum summer temperature is around 40 °C (104 °F) while the minimum is 25 °C (77 °F). The maximum winter temperature is usually around 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) and the minimum is −5 °C (23 °F). The highest ever recorded temperature was 50 °C (122 °F);[23] the lowest ever recorded temperature being −5.9 °C (21.4 °F).[24] Temperatures of up to 52.4 °C (126.3 °F) have been recorded near the Pakistani border, but the standard conditions of this temperature recording remain unverified.[25]
The average rainfall is 256.5 millimetres (10.10 in),[26] although as with all of northwest India it is almost exclusively confined to the monsoon from June to September and extremely variable from year to year.[27][28] As little as 20.8 millimetres or 0.82 inches was recorded in 1969, but as much as 555.7 millimetres or 21.88 inches in 2006, of which 440.6 millimetres (17.35 in) fell in August alone.[29] The highest daily rainfall is 204.8 millimetres or 8.06 inches on 16 August 1973. Even during the monsoon rainfall typically occurs only on two or three days per month, and then for only a few hours each rainy day. It is estimated that in an average year rain falls in Jaisalmer for a total of fewer than twenty hours.[30][31]
| Climate data for Jaisalmer (1991–2020, extremes 1948–present)
|
| Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
| Record high °C (°F)
|
35.8
(96.4)
|
37.8
(100.0)
|
42.7
(108.9)
|
46.2
(115.2)
|
49.0
(120.2)
|
49.2
(120.6)
|
47.1
(116.8)
|
43.3
(109.9)
|
43.5
(110.3)
|
42.2
(108.0)
|
38.7
(101.7)
|
34.4
(93.9)
|
49.2
(120.6)
|
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
|
23.4
(74.1)
|
27.3
(81.1)
|
33.4
(92.1)
|
38.9
(102.0)
|
42.1
(107.8)
|
41.1
(106.0)
|
38.4
(101.1)
|
36.6
(97.9)
|
36.9
(98.4)
|
36.4
(97.5)
|
31.2
(88.2)
|
25.8
(78.4)
|
34.4
(93.9)
|
| Daily mean °C (°F)
|
16.4
(61.5)
|
20.5
(68.9)
|
26.3
(79.3)
|
31.1
(88.0)
|
34.8
(94.6)
|
34.5
(94.1)
|
32.7
(90.9)
|
31.3
(88.3)
|
31.1
(88.0)
|
29.4
(84.9)
|
23.9
(75.0)
|
18.4
(65.1)
|
27.5
(81.6)
|
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
|
9.3
(48.7)
|
12.5
(54.5)
|
18.4
(65.1)
|
23.6
(74.5)
|
26.5
(79.7)
|
27.6
(81.7)
|
27.1
(80.8)
|
25.9
(78.6)
|
25.0
(77.0)
|
22.0
(71.6)
|
16.2
(61.2)
|
11.0
(51.8)
|
20.6
(69.1)
|
| Record low °C (°F)
|
−5.9
(21.4)
|
−4.4
(24.1)
|
3.4
(38.1)
|
10.6
(51.1)
|
15.1
(59.2)
|
18.8
(65.8)
|
20.1
(68.2)
|
19.1
(66.4)
|
12.9
(55.2)
|
8.3
(46.9)
|
2.0
(35.6)
|
−0.6
(30.9)
|
−5.9
(21.4)
|
| Average rainfall mm (inches)
|
2.5
(0.10)
|
4.5
(0.18)
|
5.4
(0.21)
|
6.6
(0.26)
|
14.5
(0.57)
|
36.2
(1.43)
|
63.9
(2.52)
|
79.8
(3.14)
|
32.9
(1.30)
|
4.7
(0.19)
|
0.7
(0.03)
|
2.2
(0.09)
|
256.9
(10.11)
|
| Average rainy days
|
0.4
|
0.5
|
0.6
|
0.5
|
0.9
|
1.0
|
3.5
|
3.2
|
1.8
|
0.4
|
0.1
|
0.2
|
13.1
|
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST)
|
32
|
27
|
23
|
20
|
21
|
31
|
45
|
50
|
41
|
27
|
28
|
31
|
31
|
| Average dew point °C (°F)
|
7
(45)
|
10
(50)
|
13
(55)
|
14
(57)
|
17
(63)
|
22
(72)
|
24
(75)
|
24
(75)
|
23
(73)
|
18
(64)
|
13
(55)
|
9
(48)
|
16
(61)
|
| Average ultraviolet index
|
5
|
6
|
8
|
8
|
9
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
4
|
7
|
| Source 1: India Meteorological Department[32][29][33] Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005–2015)[34]
|
| Source 2: Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020),[35] Weather Atlas[36]
|
Religions in Jaisalmer City (2011)
| Religion |
Percent |
| Hinduism |
89.93% |
| Islam |
8.20% |
| Sikhism |
0.54% |
| Christianity |
0.50% |
| Jainism |
0.46% |
| Buddhism |
0.07% |
According to the 2011 census, Jaisalmer had a population of 65,471. Around 90% of the population is Hindu, 8.20% is Muslim and the remaining are Sikhs, Christians, and Jains.
Tourism is a major industry in Jaisalmer.
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on renewable energy in the region. Jaisalmer has been home to various wind and solar energy projects, taking advantage of the ample sunlight and wind resources in the desert.
The Government of India initiated departmental exploration for oil in 1955–56 in the Jaisalmer area.[37] Oil India Limited discovered natural gas in 1988 in the Jaisalmer basin.[38]
Musicians and dancers are also a major cultural export from Jaisalmer to the rest of the world. Manganiyar musicians have played the world over, and Queen Harish,[39] a well-known folk dancer and drag queen, has toured the world over and has featured in international movies.
Jaisalmer is also known for its leather messenger bags, made from wild camels native to the area.
Culture and cityscape[Edit]
Jaisalmer Fort[Edit]
Built in 1156 by the Bhati Rajput ruler Jaisal, Jaisalmer Fort, situated on Meru Hill and named as Trikoot Garh has been the scene of many battles. Its massive sandstone walls are a pale yellow colour during the day, turning to a darker gold as the sun sets. The famous Indian film director Satyajit Ray wrote a detective novel and later turned it into a film − Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress) which was based on this fort. About a quarter of city's population still live inside the fort. The main attractions inside the fort are the Raj Mahal (Royal palace), Jain temples and the Laxminath temple.
Jain heritage[Edit]
A number of ornate buildings in Jaisalmer were built by its Jain community, including temples, notably the temples dedicated to the 16th Tirthankara, Shantinath, and 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanath.
There are seven Jain temples in total which are situated within the Jaisalmer fort built during the 12th and 15th centuries. Among these temples, the biggest is the Paraswanath Temple; the others are Chandraprabhu temple, Rishabdev temple, Shitalnath Temple, Kunthunath Temple, and Shantinath Temple. Known for their exquisite work of art and architecture that was predominant in the medieval era the temples are built out of yellow sandstone and have intricate engravings on them.
Jaisalmer has some of the oldest libraries of India which contain the rarest of the manuscripts and artefacts of Jain tradition. There are many pilgrimage centres around Jaisalmer such as Lodhurva Jain temple (Lodarva), Amarsagar, Brahmsar and Pokhran.
-
Chandraprabhu Jain Temple inside the Jaisalmer Fort
-
Jain Temple inside the Jaisalmer Fort
-
Ceiling of Jain temple inside the Jaisalmer Fort
-
Carving on the wall of Jain Temple, Jaisalmer Fort
-
Jain Haveli architecture
-
Lodhurva Jain temple
-
Parshvantha, Lodhruva Jain Temple
-
Amar Sagar Jain temple
- Gadisar Lake – Excavated in 1367 by Rawal Gadsi Singh, it is a scenic rainwater lake surrounded by the small temples and shrines of Amar Sagar. Earlier, this lake was used to be the main water source of Jaisalmer. Due to an increased water demand for agriculture, the lake is increasingly threatened with drying up.[40]
- Bada Bagh, a complex with chhatris of Jai Singh II (d. 1743) and subsequent Maharajas of Jaisalmer
In the neighbourhood[Edit]
- Jaisalmer War Museum, a solemn tribute to the nation's military heritage and the sacrifices of its soldiers.
- Kuldhara, a ghost village near Jaisalmer
- Tanot Mata, a historical temple near Indo-Pak border.
- Ramdevra, a village in Jaisalmer, is named after Baba Ramdevji, a Tanwar Rajput and a saint who took Samādhi in 1384 CE, at the age of 33 years. He is worshiped today by many social groups of India as Ishta-deva.
- Battle of Longewala point
- Desert National Park
- Lodhruva
- Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School
- Moolchand Ji Ki Prol is an ancient heritage site in Jhinjhinyali village.[41] Jhinjhinyali is 100 km away from Jaisalmer district headquarters.[42]
- Thar Heritage Museum
- Baa RI Haveli On Fort
- Desert Culture Centre & Museum
- Jaisalmer Folklore Museum
- Government Museum
- Jaisalmer Fort Palace Museum
- Akal Fossil Park Museum
- Cactus Park Museum, Kuldhara
- Tanot Museum
Desert festival[Edit]
The Desert Festival of Jaisalmer features races, turban-tying and Mr. Desert competitions. It is held in the month of February every year. The festival showcases Rajasthani folk songs and dance and is popular with foreign tourists. Gair and fire dancers are the major attraction of the Jaisalmer desert festival celebrations.
Jaisalmer is connected to the rest of Rajasthan by buses provided by Rajasthan State Transport Corporation as well as other private bus operators.
Jaisalmer Airport is located 17 kilometres southeast of Jaisalmer. Flights serve Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Surat and Jodhpur.
Jaisalmer railway station runs daily trains between Jaisalmer and Jaipur, through which it is connected to Delhi and other cities all over India. This station comes under Jodhpur (JU) division of the Northwestern Railway (NWR). Additionally, there exists a luxury tourist train known as Palace on Wheels, which covers the major tourist destinations of Rajasthan, including Jaisalmer.
In popular culture[Edit]
- Gupi Gayen Bagha Bayen (1969), a Bengali film directed by Satyajit Ray, was partly shot at Jaisalmer Fort.
- Sonar Kella (1974), Satyajit Ray's Bengali film, based on his eponymous novel featuring his creation, the detective Feluda, was based in Jaisalmer and surrounding areas.[43][44]
- Hothat Brishti (1998), a Bengali film, was shot in Jaisalmer.
- Nanhe Jaisalmer (2007), Hindi film shot in Jaisalmer
- Goray Gondogol (2012), a Bengali film, was partly shot in Jaisalmer.
- Kishore Kumar Junior (2018), a Bengali film, was partly shot in Jaisalmer.
- The Eken: Ruddhaswas Rajasthan (2023), Bengali movie directed by Joydip Mukherjee and based on Ekenbabu, a detective of Kolkata Police, written by New Jersey–based Bengali author Sujan Dasgupta.
Notable people[Edit]
- Multanaram Barupal, politician, advocate and former member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Jaisalmer constituency
- Chhotu Singh Bhati, politician and member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Jaisalmer constituency
- Queen Harish, folk dancer
- Mame Khan, Rajasthani folk singer
- Swaroop Khan, playback folk singer
- Raseshwari Rajya Laxmi, queen of Jaisalmer
- Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, politician, Olympic medallist and retired colonel in the Indian Army
- Rooparam, politician and former member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Jaisalmer constituency
- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, politician and union cabinet minister in the Minister of Culture and Minister of Tourism
Further reading[Edit]
- Bhati, Hari Singh. 2002. ANNALS OF JAISALMER: A Pre-Mediaeval History. Kavi Prakashan, Bikaner.
- Gahlot, Sukhvirsingh. 1992. RAJASTHAN: Historical & Cultural. J. S. Gahlot Research Institute, Jodhpur.
- Somani, Ram Vallabh. 1993. History of Rajasthan.
- Tod, James & Crooke, William. 1829. Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan or the Central and Western Rajput States of India. 3 Vols. Reprint: Low Price Publications, Delhi. 1990. ISBN 81-85395-68-3 (set of 3 vols.)
- Spirit Desert Camp Best Desert Camp in Jaisalmer Visit https://campinjaisalmer.in/
Kingdom of Jaisalmer[Edit]
The Kingdom of Jaisalmer was a kingdom in the far-western part of present-day Rajasthan, India, from the mid-12th century CE until 1947. In 1156 CE, Rawal Jaisal moved his capital from Lodhruva to Jaisalmer because the former was vulnerable to attacks from Turko-Afghan and Baloch tribes. The descendants of Jaisal continued to exercise absolute control over Jaisalmer until 1818 CE, when a treaty of subsidiary alliance with the British East India Company bringing under British protection and sphere of influence. Known as the Maharawal, the native ruler of the princely state was entitled to a 15-gun salute.[2]
The Bhatis of Jaisalmer belonged to the Bhati dynasty, a Yaduvanshi clan of Rajputs.[3][4] They reportedly originated in Mathura through a common ancestor named Rao Bhati, who is claimed to be a descendant of Pradyumna.[5][6] According to the seventeenth-century Nainsi ri Khyat, the Bhatis after losing Mathura moved to Bhatner in Lakhi Jungle, and from there to other locations in western and northwestern India including Rajasthan and Punjab. Rao Bhati conquered and annexed territories from 14 princes in Punjab, including the area of what is now modern-day Lahore.[7][8] He is also credited with establishing the modern town of Bathinda in the Lakhi Jungle area in the 3rd century.[5]According to Satish Chandra, the Hindu Shahis of Afghanistan made an alliance with the Bhati rulers of Multan, because they wanted to end the slave raids made by the Turkic ruler of Ghazni, however the alliance was defeated by Alp-Tegin in 977 CE.[9]
In 1156, Rawal Jaisal moved his capital from Lodhruva to Jaisalmer and the state took its name from this new capital.
Around 1299 CE, Rawal Jait Singh I faced a long siege by Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate, who is said to have been provoked by a Bhati raid on his treasure caravan. By the end of the siege, facing certain defeat, the Bhati Rajput women committed 'Jauhar', and the male warriors under the command of Mularaja met their fatal end in battle with the Sultan's forces. For a few years after the successful siege, the fort remained under the sway of Delhi Sultanate, before being eventually reoccupied by some surviving Bhatis.[10]
In 1541 CE, Rawal Lunakaran also fought Mughal emperor Humayun when the latter attacked the fort on his way to Ajmer.[11] He also offered his daughter in marriage to emperor Akbar. Mughals controlled the fort until 1762.[12]
The treaty between the East India Company and Mulraj on 12 December 1818 allowed the Mulraj to retain control of the fort and provided for protection from invasion. After the death of Mulraj in 1820, his grandson Gaj Singh inherited control of the fort.[12]
Modern history (Princely state of Jaisalmer)[Edit]
On 11 December 1818 Jaisalmer became a British protectorate in the Rajputana Agency.[13][14]
Traditionally, in the Middle Ages, the main source of income for the kingdom was levies on caravans, but the economy was heavily affected when Bombay emerged as a major port and sea trade replaced the traditional land routes. Maharawal Ranjit Singh and Bairi Sal Singh attempted to turn around the economic decline but the dramatic reduction in trade impoverished the kingdom. A severe drought and the resulting famine from 1895 to 1900, during the reign of Maharawal Salivahan Singh, only made matters worse by causing widespread loss of the livestock that the increasingly agriculturally based kingdom relied upon.
The attempts of Maharawal Jawahir Singh (1914–1949) at modernization were also not entirely successful in turning the kingdom's economy around, and the drylands of Jaisalmer remained backward compared with other regions of Rajputana, especially the neighbouring state of Jodhpur. Nonetheless, the extensive water storage and supply, sanitation, and health infrastructures developed in the 1930s by the prime minister Dewan Bahadur Brijmohan Nath Zutshi provided significant relief during the severe droughts of 1941 and 1951. Maharawal During 1930–1947, Jawahir Singh and his ministers also promoted technical education and the academic disciplines of civil and mechanical engineering in the state.
After the departure of the British from India in 1947, the Maharawal signed an Instrument of Accession to the new Union of India, while retaining some internal autonomy until the 1950s.
List of rulers[Edit]
- Rawal Jaisal Singh (1153–1168), official founder of the kingdom
- Rawal Shalivahan Singh II (1168–1200)
- Rawal Bijal Singh (1200–1200)
- Rawal Kailan Singh (1200–1219)
- Rawal Chachak Dev Singh (1219–1241)
- Rawal Karan Singh I (1241–1271)
- Rawal Lakhan Sen (1271–1275)
- Rawal Punpal Singh (1275–1276)
- Rawal Jait Singh I (1276–1294)
- Rawal Mulraj Singh I (1294–1295)
- Rawal Durjan Sal (Duda) (1295–1306)
- Rawal Gharsi Singh (1306–1335)
- Rawal Kehar Singh II (1335–1402)
- Rawal Lachman Singh (1402–1436)
- Rawal Bersi Singh (1436–1448)
- Rawal Chachak Dev Singh II (1448–1457)
- Rawal Devidas Singh (1457–1497)
- Rawal Jait Singh II (1497–1530)
- Rawal Karan Singh II (1530–1530)
- Rawal Lunkaran Singh (1530–1551)
- Rawal Maldev Singh (1551–1562)
- Rawal Harraj Singh (1562–1578)
- Rawal Bhim Singh (1578–1624)
- Rawal Kalyan Das (1624–1634)
- Rawal Manohar Das (1634–1648)
- Rawal Ramchandra Dev (1648–1651)
- Rawal Sabal Singh (1651–1661)
- Maharawal Amar Singh of Jaisalmer (1661–1702)
- Maharawal Jaswant Singh of Jaisalmer (1702–1708)
- Maharawal Budh Singh (1708–1722)
- Maharawal Akhai Singh (1722–1762)
- Maharawal Mulraj Singh II (1762–1820)
- Maharawal Gaj Singh (1820–1846)
- Maharawal Ranjit Singh (1846–1864)
- HH Maharawal Sir Bairi Sal (1864–1891)
- HH Maharawal Sir Shalivahan Singh III (1891 –1914)
- HH Maharawal Sir Jawahir Singh (1914–1949), last ruler of the state.
- HH Maharawal Girdhar Singh (1949–1950), he was instrumental in merging his former state with Rajasthan Union in the year 1949 forming Greater Rajasthan in 1950.
Titular rulers[Edit]
- Maharawal Raghunath Singh (1950–1982) Government of India abolished his right to the Privy Purse, hereditary titles and other privileges in 1971.
- Maharawal Brijraj Singh (1982–2020)
- Maharawal Chaitanya Raj Singh (since 2020)[15]
- List of Dewans (chief ministers)
- Mohata Nathmal (1885–1890)
- Thakur kado singh (1890-1895)
- Mehta Jagjiwan (1895–1903)
- Thakur Kushal Singh (acting) (1890?–1900)
- Rawatmal Purohit Khetrapalia (acting) (1900–1909)
- Lakshmi Das Sapat (1909–1911)
- Mohammed Niyaz Ali Kazi (1911–1912)
- Murarji Rooji (1912–1930)
- M.L. Khosala
- Pandit Jamana Lal
- Munshi Nand Kishore
- Lala Rakhpat Raj
- P.K. Shurugula
- Brij Mohan Nath Zutshi
- Anand Swaroop
- Onkar Singh
- Lakhpat Rai Sikund (1940–1942)
In popular culture[Edit]
- Jaisalmer ka Gundaraj (lit. Atrocious rule of Jaisalmer [king]), by the Sagarmal Gopa (1900–46) - a freedom fighter and patriot from Jaisalmer district.[16]
- Bond, J. W.; Wright, Arnold (2006). Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-1965-4. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- Kothiyal, Tanuja (2016). Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107080317.
- Lethbridge, Sir Roper (1900). The Golden Book of India. A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated, of the Indian Empire. With an Appendix for Ceylon. London: S. Low, Marston & Company.
History of Jaisalmer[Edit]
Jaisalmer state (also called Jaisalmer Region) is a region of Western Rajasthan state in western India. It lies in the southern part of the Thar Desert.
The region includes the present-day Jaisalmer District, some parts of Jodhpur, and Bikaner District. It is bounded on the north by Jangladesh region, on the east by Marwar region.
Ancient Jaisalmer[Edit]
From 1st century to 6th century the present Jaisalmer region was under rule of Raika, who came from Kutch and established three ancient villages namely Brahmsar, Kodumba and Laudrava.
Lodhruva was a capital of Raika.[1]
Between Raika and Bhati rules this region was ruled by local Sindhi tribes.[2]
Bhati came from Bhatner and took control of this region. The Maharajas of Jaisalmer trace their lineage back to Jaitsimha, a ruler of a Bhati clan, through Deoraj, a famous prince of the Yaduvanshi Bhati Rajput ruler during the 9th century. With him the title of "Rawal" commenced.
"Rawal" means "of the Royal house".[3]
According to legend, Deoraj was to marry the daughter of a neighbouring chief. Deoraj's father and 800 of his family and followers were surprised and massacred at the wedding. Deoraj escaped with the aid of a Brahmin yogi who disguised the prince as a fellow Brahmin. When confronted by the rival chief's followers hunting for Deoraj, the Brahmin convinced them that the man with him was another Brahmin by eating from the same dish, something no Brahmin holy man would do with someone of another caste. Deoraj and his remaining clan members were able to recover from the loss of so many such that later he built the stronghold of Derawar.[4]
Deoraj later captured Laudrava (located about 15 km to the south-east of Jaisalmer) from another Rajput clan and made it his capital.[4]
The major opponents of the Bhati were the Rathor clans of Jodhpur and Bikaner. They used to fight battles for the possession of forts and waterholes as from early times the Jaisalmer region had been criss-crossed by camel caravan trade routes which connected northern India and central Asia with the ports of Gujarat on the Arabian Sea coast of India and hence on to Persia and Arabia and Egypt. Jaisalmer's location made it ideally located as a staging post and for imposing taxes on this trade.[5]
Bhati kingdom[Edit]
The Bhati rulers originally ruled parts of Afghanistan; their ancestor Rawal Gaj is believed to have founded the city of Gajni. According to James Tod, this city is present-day Ghazni in Afghanistan, while Cunningham identifies it as modern-day Rawalpindi. His descendant Rawal Salivahan is believed to have founded the city of Sialkot and made it his new capital. Salivahan defeated the Indo-Scythians in 78 CE at Kahror, assuming the title of Saka-ari (foe of the Sakas). Salivahan's grandson, Rao Bhati conquered several neighbouring regions. It is from Rao Bhati that the Bhati clan derives its name.[6]
Derawar fort was first built in the 9th century CE by Maharaja of Parmar Rajputs, which was admired by Rai Jajja Bhutta, a Hindu Rajput ruler of the Bhutta clan,[7] and supported Rawal Deoraj Bhati the king of Jaisalmer and residents of Bahawalpur.[8][9] The fort was initially known as Dera Rawal, and later referred to as Dera Rawar, which with the passage of time came to be pronounced Derawar, its present name.[9]
The state of Jaisalmer had its foundations in what remains of the Empire ruled by the Bhati dynasty. Early Bhati rulers ruled over large empire stretching from Ghazni[10] in modern-day Afghanistan to Sialkot, Lahore and Rawalpindi in modern-day Pakistan[11] to Bhatinda, Muktsar & Hanumangarh in Modern day India.[12] The empire crumbled over time because of continuous invasions from the central Asia. According to Satish Chandra, the Hindu Shahis of Afghanistan made an alliance with the Bhati rulers of Multhan, because they wanted to end the slave raids made by the Turkic ruler of Ghazni, however the alliance was defeated by Alp Tigin in 977 CE.[13] Bhati dominions continued to be shifted towards the South as they ruled Multan, then finally got pushed into Cholistan and Jaisalmer where Rawal Devaraja built Dera Rawal / Derawar.[14] Jaisalmer was the new capital founded in 1156 by Maharawal Jaisal Singh and the state took its name from the capital. On 11 December 1818 Jaisalmer became a British protectorate in the Rajputana Agency.[15][14]
In the 12th century, Rawal Jaisal the eldest son of the Rawal of Deoraj was passed over in favour of a younger half-brother for the throne of Laudrava.[16]
While checking out Trikuta a massive triangular rock rising more than 75 metres out of the surrounding sands as a more secure location for a new capital, Rawal Jaisal meet a sage called Eesul, who was staying on the rock. Upon learning that Jaisal was of yadhuvanshi descent, Eesul told him that according to ancient mythology Krishna and Bhima had come to this location for a ceremony, where Krishna had prophesied that a descendant of yadhuvanshi clan would one day establish a kingdom here Eesul showed him a spring which Krishna had created and his prophecy craved into a rock. Encouraged by this meeting Rawal decided to move his capital to this location despite Eesul predicting that it would be sacked two and a half times.[17]
In 1156, Rawal Jaisal established his new capital in the form of a mud fort and named it Jaisalmer after himself.
According to most historians, the Sikh Jats of Majha and Malwa Doab's and the rulers of Kapurthala state in Doaba in Punjab trace their direct lineage to Jaisalmer royal families over the centuries.[18]
The first Jauhar of Jaisalmer occurred in 1294, during the reign of Turkic ruler of Delhi, Alauddin Khalji. It was provoked by Bhatis' raid on a massive treasure caravan being transported on 3000 horses and mules.[17][19]
Alauddin Khalji was so outraged that his army marched upon Jaisalmer. Rawal Jethsi sent the children, elderly and sick, together with some troops to refuge in the desert and applied a scorched earth policy to the countryside surrounding Jaisalmer while building up a massive store of food within the fort. According to local ballads, the Bhatis defended the fort for 8 years during which the forces left outside of the walls occupied themselves attacking the supply lines of the besiegers. During the siege Rawal Jethsi died and was succeeded by his son Mulraj II. By 1294 the besiegers had received sufficient reinforcements that they were able to impose a complete blockade of the fort which soon exhausted the Bhati's ammunition and food. The Bhatis, facing certain defeat, decided there was no alternative but to perform the rite of Jauhar. 24,000 women committed suicide, most on a funeral pyre though some were killed by the swords of their male relations when the pyre proved too small. The men 3,800, in number then threw open the gates of the fort and advanced to their death.[20]
In the late 14th century, Firuz Shah Tughluq, a Turkic ruler of Delhi, also besieged Jaisalmer after a prince of Jaisalmer raided his camp at Anasagar Lake near Ajmer and carried away his prize steed. The siege led to the second jauhar of the prophecy, the suicide of 16,000 women and the death of Rawal Dudu and his son Tilaski together with 1,700 warriors.[20]
The "half jauhar" of the prophecy occurred in the 16th century when Amir Ali, an Afghan chieftain obtained Rawal Lunakaran's permission to let his wives visit the queens of Jaisalmer. Instead of a retinue of palanquins containing women they were full of armed warriors, which took the guards of the fort by surprise. When it seemed to the Rawal that he was fighting a losing battle he slaughtered his womenfolk with his own hands as there was insufficient time to arrange a funeral pyre.[17]
In 1818, the Rawals of Jaisalmer signed a treaty with the British, and
was guaranteed the royal succession. Jaisalmer was one of the last rajput states to sign a treaty with the British, in whose documents the state was variously recorded under the spelling Jayulmir, Jessulmer, Jessumere. Jaisalmer was forced to invoke the provisions of the treaty and call on the services of the British in 1829 to avert a war with Bikaner and 10 years later in 1839 for the First Anglo-Afghan War.[21]
On a clandestine mapping mission, great game maestro Alexander Burnes was one of the first Europeans to visit the royal castle, arriving on 8 January 1830. He described the fortress as 'commanding and magnificent' and found the Rawal Gaj Singh to be affable, most dignified if plainly dressed, rather stout but intelligent.[22]
During the British Raj, Jaisalmer was the seat of a princely state of the same name, and was entitled to a 15 gun salute.
As traditionally, the main source of income for the kingdom was levies on caravans . The economy was heavily affected when Bombay emerged as a major port and sea trade replaced the traditional land routes. Maharawals Ranjit Singh and Bairi Sal Singh attempted to turn around the decline but the dramatic reduction in trade impoverished the kingdom. A severe drought and resulting famine from 1895 to 1900 during the reign of Maharawal Shalivahan Singh only made matters worse by causing widespread loss of the livestock that the increasingly agriculturally based kingdom relied upon.
Maharawal Jawahir Singh's (1914–49) attempts at modernisation also failed to turn the kingdom's economy around and it remained isolated and backwards compared with other areas of Rajasthan.
List of rulers[Edit]
- Rawal Jaisal Singh (1153–1168), official founder of kingdom
- Rawal Shalivahan Singh II (1168–1200)
- Rawal Baijal Singh (1200–1200)
- Rawal Kailan Singh (1200–1219)
- Rawal Chachak Deo Singh (1219–1241)
- Rawal Karan Singh I (1241–1271)
- Rawal Lakhan Sen (1271–1275)
- Rawal Punpal Singh (1275–1276)
- Rawal Jaitsi Singh I (1276–1294)
- Rawal Mulraj Singh I (1294–1295)
- Rawal Durjan Sal (Duda) (1295–1306)
- Rawal Gharsi Singh (1306–1335)
- Rawal Kehar Singh II (1335–1402)
- Rawal Lachhman Singh (1402–1436)
- Rawal Bersi Singh (1436–1448)
- Rawal Chachak Deo Singh II (1448–1457)
- Rawal Devidas Singh (1457–1497)
- Rawal Jaitsi Singh II (1497–1530)
- Rawal Karan Singh II (1530–1530)
- Rawal Lunkaran Singh (1530–1551)
- Rawal Maldev Singh (1551–1562)
- Rawal Harraj Singh (1562–1578)
- Rawal Bhim Singh (1578–1624)
- Rawal Kalyan Singh (1624–1634)
- Rawal Manohar Das Singh (1634–1648)
- Rawal Ram-Chandra Singh (1648–1651)
- Rawal Sabal Singh (1651–1661)
- Maharawal Ammar Singh of Jaisalmer (1661–1702)
- Maharawal Jaswant Singh of Jaisalmer (1702–1708)
- Maharawal Budh Singh (1708–1722)
- Maharawal Akhil Singh (1722–1762)
- Maharawal Mulraj II (1762–1820)
- Maharawal Gaj Singh (1820–1846)
- Maharawal Ranjit Singh of Jaisalmer (1846–1864)
- Maharawal Bairi Sal (1864–1891)
- Maharawal Shalivahan Singh III (1891 –1914)
- Maharawal Jawahir Singh (1914–1947)
- Girdhar Singh (1949–1950), last ruler of kingdom merge state with Rajasthan Union in 1949 CE.
Titular Kings[Edit]
- Raghunath Singh (1950–1982)
- Brijraj Singh (1982–2020)
- Chaitanya Raj Singh (2020–)
- List of Dewans (chief ministers)
- Mohata Nathmal (1885–1891)
- Mehta Jagjiwan (1890–1903)
- Thakur Kushal Singh (acting) (1890?–1900)
- Rawatmal Purohit Khetrapalia (acting) (1900–1909)
- Lakshmi Das Sapat (1909–1911)
- Mohammed Niyaz Ali Kazi (1911–1912)
- Murarji Rooji (1912–1930)
- M.L. Khosala
- Pandit Jamana Lal
- Munshi Nand Kishore
- Lala Rakhpat Raj
- P.K. Shurugula
- Brij Mohan Nath Zutshi
- Anand Swaroop
- Onkar Singh
- Lakhpat Rai Sikund (1940–1942)
Further reading[Edit]
- Crump, Vivien; Toh, Irene (1996). Rajasthan. London: Everyman Guides. p. 400. ISBN 1-85715-887-3.
- Martinelli, Antonio; Michell, George (2005). The Palaces of Rajasthan. London: Frances Lincoln. p. 271. ISBN 978-0-7112-2505-3.
- Tod, James. Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (With a Preface by Douglas Sladen). 54, Jhansi Road, New Delhi-1100055: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
- Beny, Roland; Matheson, Sylvia A. (1984). Rajasthan - Land of Kings. London: Frederick Muller. p. 200. ISBN 0-584-95061-6.
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