Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer
City
Nathmal's Haveli
Patwa Haveli
Fort Palace
Nickname(s): 
The Golden City, Swarna Nagari
Jaisalmer
Location in Rajasthan, India
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer (India)
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer (Asia)
Coordinates: 26°54′47″N 70°54′54″E / 26.913°N 70.915°E / 26.913; 70.915
Country India
State Rajasthan
DistrictJaisalmer
Established1156 (1156)
Founded byRawal Jaisal
Named afterRawal Jaisal
Government
  TypeMunicipal Council
  BodyJaisalmer Municipal Council
Area
  Urban
62.38 km2 (24.09 sq mi)
Elevation
225 m (738 ft)
Population
 (2011)
  City
65,471
Languages
  OfficialHindi
  Additional officialEnglish
  RegionalMarwari, Rajasthani
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
345 001
Telephone code02992
ISO 3166 codeRJ-IN
Vehicle registrationRJ-15
WebsiteJaisalmer Municipal Council
Jaisalmer District

Jaisalmer (pronunciation), 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. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer district. It 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. 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. 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.