Jaisalmer

History at a glance

1. Before 1156
   Lodhruva, 15 km away, serves as the Bhati capital until Rawal Jaisal grows dissatisfied with it.
2. 1156
   Rawal Jaisal builds the fort on Trikuta Hill in yellow sandstone. The name combines his own with Meru, the mountain at the centre of the Hindu universe.
3. 12th-16th centuries
   Seven Jain temples are built inside the fort.
4. Medieval
   The fort serves as a caravan post on the route linking India to Persia, Central Asia and Arabia.
5. 20th century
   The fort's history includes, one source notes, more recent conflicts with Pakistan.
6. 1999
   Two bastions and a large section of the fort's pitching wall collapse in an intense rainstorm. WMF and ASI sign a memorandum of understanding; studies find water seepage destabilising the clay-rich soils beneath the complex.
7. 2001
   The architect Asheesh Srivastava begins restoration work, first with INTACH and later with a trust maintained by the city's royal family.
8. 2013
   Jaisalmer Fort is inscribed as a component of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, criteria (ii) and (iii), reference 247.
9. Continuing
   Seepage continues. Residents report hollow walls; one newspaper raises the possibility of losing the inscription.

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