History of Jaisalmer
By K. C. Jain
Summary
The article traces the historical evolution of Jaisalmer, the desert principality in western Rajasthan, from its mythical origins to the end of the medieval period. According to tradition, the Bhati clan, claiming descent from Lord Krishna, founded the city when Rawal Jaisal, dissatisfied with his seat at Lodurva, moved to the Trikuta hill and built a new capital around A.D. 1156. Drawing on bardic chronicles, inscriptions and Persian accounts, the author reconstructs how the Bhati rulers consolidated control over the silk routes connecting Sindh, Multan and the ports of Gujarat. Jaisalmer’s prosperity derived from taxing caravans carrying spices, textiles and camels across the Thar Desert. The article discusses the region’s political resilience; during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods the Bhatis maintained semi‑independent status by paying tribute and occasionally intermarrying with imperial families. In 1294, Ala‑ud‑din Khalji’s invasion resulted in a heroic jauhar (self‑immolation) at the fort, an event celebrated in local ballads. Subsequent sieges during Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq’s reign and repeated raids by Afghan and Baloch tribes weakened the state, yet trade revenues allowed recovery. Under Maharawal Sabala Singh (17th century), the Bhatis acknowledged Mughal suzerainty; Emperor Akbar married a Bhati princess and integrated Jaisalmer into the imperial administrative system. The article concludes by noting that, by the nineteenth century, British intervention ended centuries of relative autonomy but also ended raiding and revived trade. Through this narrative, the author underscores the interplay between geography, trade and statecraft that enabled a desert fortress to thrive for nearly a millennium.
Conclusion
By weaving together oral traditions, inscriptional evidence and Indo‑Persian chronicles, the paper presents a nuanced history of Jaisalmer. It argues that the Bhati rulers’ control of caravan routes and their diplomatic agility allowed them to maintain autonomy despite powerful neighbours. The recurring cycle of sieges and recovery illustrates the precariousness of desert polities, while alliances with larger empires provided both protection and opportunities for integration. The study situates Jaisalmer within wider regional networks and emphasises its enduring cultural legacy in Rajasthan’s historical memory.