Top 4 in Top 10 tourist attractions not to be missed in India.
Named for the yellow sandstone used in most of its buildings, Jaisalmer's Golden City is an oasis of splendid ancient architecture rising from the dunes of the Thar desert. Once a strategic outpost, today the city is filled with splendid old mansions; palatial gates; and the massive Jaisalmer Fort, also known as the Golden Fort, a fearsome 12th-century structure perched high above the town.
In addition to its beautiful palaces, temples, and old houses, the fort has 99 bastions along with large gates leading to the main courtyard, where you'll find the seven-story Maharaja Palace. Started in the early 1500s and added by successive rulers until the 19th century, the palace offers areas open to the public, including beautifully decorated areas in brick. from Italy and China, and intricately carved stone doors.
There are also several Jain temples dating from the 12th to 16th centuries, each decorated with marble and fine sandstone images, palm leaf manuscripts, and brightly painted ceilings. Be sure to check out the well-preserved 1,000-year-old library, Gyan Bhandar, with its many 16th-century manuscripts and artifacts.