Sonar Kila - The Golden Fortress

A visit to Jaisalmer will make you realize just how different a desert city can be. The glorious fort of Jaisalmer seems to rise out of the desert haze, its yellow sandstone walls and bastions taking on a golden hue in the afternoon sun. In fact, at whatever time of the day you look at the ‘Sonar Kila’ (golden fortress), it looks like a fairy tale creation dominating the amber tinted city.

This magnificent fort, with its 99 bastions, is probably the planet’s only living fort, with about a quarter of the old city’s population dwelling in it. It is fun to wander around in this living fort, packed with houses, temples, handicraft shops, beauty parlours, and honeycombed with slender winding lanes, in same or different incarnations of stone.

The Sand Mirages At Sam Dunes

About an hour drive to the west and towards the international border with Pakistan, is the fairly extensive shifting sand dunes of Sam. Hop on to a camel for an hour around sunset, and wander over the virgin sands of Sam. It give the holiday tours an impetus of adventure camping in Rajasthan and meet the Thar from a completely different angle. The terrain which was once rugged, have been modified into deluxe dwells; portable Swiss tents, electrified and, complete with bath and running water facilities will make one’s stay on the dunes a truly comfortable and memorable experience. Dinner with delicious barbecue is accompanied by music from the folk musicians, creating melodies with their ‘dholaks’ and ’sarangis’. The tourist reception centre near Garhisar Circle on the National Highway can help travellers to find a safari, by car or camel on request, to match respective budgets and interests. One can find travel agencies near the Akshaypol at the fort entrance. Generally these are organised from 8 am- 12 noon in summer and 9 am- 1 pm in winters.

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Red Fort

One of Delhi’s most famous historical monuments, Red fort or “Lal Qila” is made in red sandstone and is a seemingly eternal witness to the Mughal splendor and extravagance. It was built by Shah Jahan, the 5th in the line of Mughals.He called the Red Fort in Delhi - the Urdu - I- Mu’alla or the Qila - I- Mu’alla i.e. the ‘fort of exalted dignity’ The fort covers a semi-octagonal area of about 2km, its longest walls facing the town in the west and the River Yamuna in the east. Completed in 1648, it contains halls of private and public audience called Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Am respectively, domed and arched marble palaces, lavish private apartments, a mosque, and highly designed gardens. Diwan-i-Khas is made of marble and its crowning glory used to be the Peacock Throne, which was carried away to Iran by the Persian invader Nadir Shah in 1739.

Each night a Sound and Light show takes place in the Red Fort. The palaces are gorgeously lit with a historical commentary on the aspects of Mughal India.

Among the places of interest within the Red Fort that deserve a special mention are the Chatta Chowk, Naubat Khana, Diwan-I-Khas, Diwan-I-Aam and the exotic Rang Mahal that was constructed especially for the ladies of the royal home.

Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid of is the largest mosque in India. The Jama Masjid stands across the road in front of the Red Fort. Built between 1644 and 1658, it is one of the last architectural works of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The spacious courtyard of the Jama Masjid holds thousands of faithful and is located on a mound in the heart of the old city and projects beautifully into the Old-Delhi skyline.
Jama Masjid Mosque was built in red sandstone and marble by more than 5000 artisans. Originally called the Masjid-i-Jahan-Numa, or “mosque commanding view of the world”.

The first three storeys of the Jama Masjid tower are made of red sandstone and the fourth one is made of marble, while the fifth is made of sandstone. The Jama Masjid is covered with intricate carvings and has verses inscribed from the holy Koran. The grand Red fort (Lal Qila) stands on the eastern side of the Jama Masjid. The main prayer hall of the Jama Masjid is made up of high cusped arches and marble domes. The cabinet in the north gate of the Jama Masjid contains a collection of Muhammad’s relics - the Koran written on deerskin, a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals and his footprints, implanted in a marble block.

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