Jaisalmer Fort

The city of Jaisalmer, in the Indian state of Rajasthan, is home to the Jaisalmer Fort. It is said to be one of the world's few "living forts," since roughly a quarter of the population of the ancient city still dwells within the fort. The fort was the city of Jaisalmer for the larger portion of its 800-year existence. The earliest dwellings beyond the fort walls are reported to have appeared in the 17th century to accommodate Jaisalmer's expanding population. The Rajput Rawal Jaisal, from whom it gets its name, erected the second oldest fort in Rajasthan in 1156 AD, and it stood at the crossroads of vital trade routes (including the ancient Silk Road).

During the day, the huge yellow sandstone walls of the fort are a tawny lion color, which fades to honey-gold as the sun sets, blending the fort into the golden desert. As a result, it's also known as the Golden Fort or Sonar Quila. On Trikuta Hill, the fort rises amid the sands of the immense Thar Desert. It is now located on the southern outskirts of the city that bears its name, with its prominent hilltop location allowing the vast towers of its walls to be seen for miles.

Jaisalmer Fort, together with five other forts in Rajasthan, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the category Hill Forts of Rajasthan during the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2013.