|
The desert district of Jaislamer, situated on the brim of the Thar Desert and was made famous by the Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray in his film 'Sonar Kella'. Jaisalmer is a popular haunt for tourists who want to bask in the interesting combo of the golden sand and a golden past. Much of the residents of Jaisalmer are descendants of the Yadav Bhatti Rajputs who had their roots in Punjab. The heritage hotels in Jaisalmer are some of the best hotels in Rajasthan.
The Jaisalmer dynasty was according to local lore, founded by Deodar a Bhatti Prince, and it is with him that the title of Rawal commenced. In 1156 Rawal Jaisal, the sixth in succession from Deoraj, founded the fort and city of Jaisalmer, and made it his capital as he moved from his former capital at Lodhruva (which is situated about 15 km to the south-east of Jaisalmer). In 1294, emperor Ala-ud-din Khilji's army captured and sacked the Jaisalmer fort and city of Jaisalmer, so that for some time it was quite deserted.
Later, Rawal Sahal Singh acknowledged the supremacy of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and the Jaisalmer princes arrived at the height of their power. But it was not till the accession of Rawal Mulraj in 1762 that the fortunes of the state improved. In 1818 Mulraj entered into political relations with the British. Maharawal Salivahan, born in 1887, succeeded Mulraj in 1891. It is thus, the remnants of history more than anything else that draw thousands to Jaisalmer. The heritage hotels in Jaisalmer offer elegant accommodation and modern facilities.
The heritage hotels in Jaisalmer in India are royal mansions belonging either to the royal family itself or the dewans, or important ministers and post holders in the royal court. Some of these hotels were built much later in time and reflect distinct European architectural influences. The general trend that dominates the scenario of heritage hotels in Rajasthan is also applicable for Jaisalmer. Unable to keep up with the expenses of maintaining huge mansions after the independence, the members of the royal families chose to turn them into hotels. The heritage hotels in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan however offer a wide range of modern facilities but the heritage value of these rooms have been kept intact to accentuate the feeling of tradition.
| 
