Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer, one of the most beautiful walled cities in the world, is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, 575 kilometers (357 miles) west of the state capital Jaipur. The town is built on a yellowish sandstone ridge and is capped by the old Jaisalmer Fort. This fort houses a regal residence as well as several magnificent Jain temples. Many of the homes and temples of both the fort and the village below are built of highly sculptured sandstone. The town is located in the center of the Thar Desert (the Great Indian Desert) and has a population of approximately 78,000 people, including residents of the fort. It serves as the administrative center for the Jaisalmer District. Jaisalmer was originally the state capital of Jaisalmer. The Jain community has improved Jaisalmer by adorning the city with exquisite temples, most notably those devoted to the 16th Tirthankara, Shantinath, and the 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanath.

There are seven Jain temples in total within the Jaisalmer fort, which was erected between the 12th and 15th centuries. The most important of these temples is the Paraswanath Temple, followed by Chandraprabhu Temple, Rishabdev Temple, Shitalnath Temple, Kunthunath Temple, and Shantinath Temple. The temples are known for their wonderful works of art and architecture that were prevalent during the medieval era. They are made of yellow sandstone and have detailed engravings on them. Jaisalmer features some of India's oldest libraries, which house some of the most valuable manuscripts and relics from the Jain religion. There are numerous pilgrimage sites near Jaisalmer, including Lodhruva (Lodarva), Amarsagar, Brahmsar, and Pokharan.

Location: Rajasthan, India