Around Jaisalmer
Scattered across the vast scrubland that surrounds Jaisalmer city are some beautiful monuments. To get to them is not difficult. Taxis and jeeps are available and half-day trips easily arranged. Other options are bicycles that can be rented at Gopa Chowk or even camels, for the more intrepid. Near the city are gardens like Bada Bagh, Amar Sagar and Mool Sagar and further up are Luderva, Baisakhi, Kuldhara, Khaba. the Desert National Park and Aakal Fossil Park.
The excursions in Jaisalmer travel packages cover the following:
Bada Bagh: 5 kms away from the city is Bada Bagh. Where there are hauntingly beautiful clusters of royal cenotaphs (chatris). Each chatri has a tale to tell of either a brave king or a kind one. Domes are built in a pyramidal fash-ion and below each dome is a tablet in the memory of the king. The oldest chatri is that of Maharawal Jait Singh I, built by his grandson. as the custom orders. These chatris are ow very popular with film crews and lots of shoots occur here. The sunset viewed from the chatris is an experience of a different kind. Besides the chatris. Bada Bagh has huge mango or-chards. a rare phenomenon in the desert. These orchards belong to the royal family and some of the mango trees here have been gifted to families as a singular mark of honour and royal favour. A 16th century darn still irrigates the orchards and wheat fields around it.
Mool Sagar
Mool Sagar can aptly be described as a 'pleasure garden; built solely for the pleasure of Rawal Mool Raj II. A romantic garden has been developed along the pattern of the famous Mughal Char Bagh amidst which stands an exquisite small mansion with delicately carved chatris on either side. An old step-well watered the lemon orchards surrounding it and a Shiva temple sits on the edge of the orchard. Mool Sagar is often let out for private parties and a visit to this on a moonlit night is an unforgettable experience.
Amar Sagar
Amar Sagar is yet another garden palace developed by Maharawal Amar Singh in A.D. 1692. Laid out on the edge of a pond are well-maintained gardens, and across it some attractive Jain temples. Ancient trees and cenotaphs impart a mysterious and exotic aura to it. Remarkable for its beauty is a double-storeyed temple dedicated to Adishwar Bhagwan, built in A.D. 1871. Lending charm to this garden are ancient trees and cenotaphs.
Lodurva
Lodurva. The ancient capital of the Bhati Rajputs, is the site of the beautiful Parsavnathji temple. A little distance away from lodurva is Chatrail where an old monument stands. It is said to be the palace of Moomal where king Mahendra would visit her after midnight.
Baisakhi
Situated near the village Barnisar. 15 kms beyond Jaisalmer, as mythology claims, is the resting place of Lord Shiva on his way to Mount Kailash. Baisakhi was on the caravan route of traders. Spacious resthouses and wells made Baisakhi popular with travellers. A fine 16th century Shiva temple that stands here is said to have been built by one of Akbzt's queens. Nathi Bai. Daughter of Maharawal Har Raj Singh. The seven small kunds (wells of holy water) are always full. During Baisakhi Purnima (full moon during the month of Baisakh heralding the onset of summer) a village fair.
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