History of Jaisalmer

Posted by : Prashant March 19, 2012

Jaisalmer was basically home to Bhati Rajputs (named after Bhati the famous combatant),Deoraj a famous prince of Bhati is the real founder of Jaismaler daynasty, who adopted the title of Rawal. The sixth successor of Deoraj clan, Rawal Jaisal founded the fort and city of Jaiselmer in 1156 and made it his capital. The jaisalmer city and fort was uninhabited for some time from 1293 as Ala-Ud-Din–Khilji devasted the fort and city of Jaislmer. Later the glory of Jaisalmer was restored again when one of the bhatis Rawal Mulraj accepted Moghul emperor Shah Jhan’s supremancy. There are two instances of Bhati Women committing Jauhar. Once when Ala-Udd-Din Khilji seized Jaisalmer fort for eight years, the Bhatis had exhausted all the stocks of grains and ammunitions, seeing no way out, they ultimately decided the adoption of jauhar for the women of the clan, then 24000 women died in the jauhar fire. Again when Ferozshah sieged Jaisalmer, 16000 women committed Jauhar. Another time half Jauhar was committed during the rule of Rawal Lunakaran. When Afghan king Amir Ali deceived by sending his soldiers instead his wives in the palquins to meet Jaisalmer Queens, a sudden battle had erupted, seeing himself in a fix Lunakaran killed his women folks by hand as there was no time to lite a pyre. Later Amir Ali was defeated and the bhatti men were saved from Jauhar themselves, hence this is known as half jauhar. After partition of India all trade route via Jaismalmer were closed which rendered Jaisalmer a drought prone desert. Jaismalmer has about 450 Kms of border with Pakistan. Many skirmishes with Pakistan brought importance to jaisalmer and a large military base was built there. When Rajasthan Canal was built Jaisalmer and its sourrounding areas were relieved as it brought much needed water for farming activity. Further building of proper Roads and Railroads provided connectivity with rest of the state and country. Actual boost to the economy came when the government of Rajasthan resolved to encourage Jaisalmer as a tourist place