ROYAL PALACE

Overlooking the Dashera Chowk square with its seven floors, the palace of Jaisalmer is quite disappointing compared to those of Jodhpur or Bikaner. Most of its rooms are empty or just decorated with paintings without interest. Some of them, built between the 17th and 19th centuries, have preserved decorations, frescoes, mirrors or sculptures, like the room of Rang Mahal, sovereign of Jaisalmer in the 18th century. The main interest of the visit is the superb view on Jaisalmer from the roof terrace. Note the small metal sunshade on top of the palace; it is the emblem of Krishna and the Yadav rulers from whom the Bhattis are said to have descended, via the famous "branch of the moon". Nevertheless, the palace remains a major attraction of Jaisalmer and traffic jams are frequent in the narrow corridors and stairways. Note also the reopening to the public of the maharani's apartments after many years of work. This part of the palace had been heavily damaged during the torrential monsoon of 1993, then the earthquake of 2001. The restoration work is very visible and does not always integrate harmoniously with the existing. The royal family of Jaisalmer abandoned this palace in the 18th century, after the construction of the Mandir Palace. The compulsory audio guide is very useful to try to imagine what this fort was like in the glorious era of the all-powerful maharajas. However, you will have to leave a deposit of Rs 2,000 or an ID to get it.