'Golden fortress' Jaisalmer: The place where the cruelest customs are hidden

Deep in the Thar desert (India), stands a dazzling golden fortress. It was built in the 12th century, is a 'living fortress' because it is still stable and inhabited. India calls this fort Jaisalmer.

Around Jaisalmer is the city of the same name, densely populated. It makes people seem to forget, this place was once the site of the mass murder and cremation of thousands of women according to the most terrible war practice of feudalism: Jauhar.

Bright yellow "Living Fort" - Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India.

Commercial Fortress

Jaisalmer is located on the top of the Trikuta hill, in the heart of the Thar Desert, Rajasthan. According to Indian history, Jaisalmer was ordered by King Rawal Jaisal (1153 - 1168) to start construction in 1156.

When surveying the terrain of Trikuta, Jaisal found a giant triangular rock, 75m higher than the surrounding ground. Satisfied, he decided it was the place to build a new palace and build a protective rampart.

Jaisalmer citadel was born, covering a rocky hill with an area of ​​460 x 230m. The outermost ring is a 4.6m high wall, 4km in circumference with 4 gates and 99 observatories. It was built of yellow sandstone, majestic and solid. The Indians call this Sonar Quila, which means "golden fortress".

Inside Jaisalmer contains a variety of massive architectural works, including from palaces to temples, squares, houses . enough for thousands of people to live.

Judging by its location, Jaisalmer was at the crossroads of ancient India-medieval trade routes, including the Silk Road. Trade unions were forced to pass through it, and the Rawal Royal Family taxed merchants high, and developed trade and exchange. They soon became rich, making Jaisalmer the most affluent fortress.

Horrible history

Prince Rawal Jaisal (1153 - 1168), the first owner of Jaisalmer.

In 1285, Jaisalmer was attacked by King Alauddin Khalji (1266-1316) of the Khalji dynasty (based in Delhi, India). Thanks to the fortified ramparts, Rawal Jethsi (Jaisal's descendant) easily defended the fort.

Failing, Khalji changed his encirclement strategy, determined not to withdraw his troops. After 8 - 9 years of internal absence, Jaisalmer was exhausted. Instead of surrendering, Rawal Jethsi ordered the execution of Jauhar's law.

Jauhar is the most feared practice of honor execution in India. It dates back to BC, practiced in cases of facing defeat. The men who were about to lose with their own hands killed all women, regardless of age, and set up cremation pyre, mass cremation. Finished, they decided to fight to death, dying under the weapons of the enemy.

Jauhar's roots are Hindu extreme patriarchal culture and the brutality of war. Feudal Indian women had no human rights and were the property of fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. If they were captured by the enemy, they inevitably faced the fate of enslavement and sex slaves. Hindu men choose to execute them first, leaving no chance for their enemies to humiliate them.

At Jethsi's orders, all Jaisalmer women were killed and burned in the fortress square. Male warrior Jaisalmer opened the city gates, rushed out to die. In the end, Jaisalmer was abandoned. Many years later, it was returned by survivors, lit up with life.

In 1530-1551, Jaisalmer again faced the danger of falling. This time, it was attacked and surrounded by Afghan troops. Fearing defeat, King Rawal Lunakaran executed only Jauhar. He and the warriors slaughtered all their wives, daughters, sisters. However, as soon as they fell, reinforcements arrived and Jaisalmer successfully repelled the foreign invaders.

Every time Jauhar, thousands of women living in Jaisalmer are murdered and burned. Its square was engulfed in blood and fire for months. At least, Jaisalmer also took place 3 times Jauhar.

Living Heritage

Jaisalmer repeatedly Jauhar, murdered and burned all the women in the city.

In the 19th century, India was under British rule. The British colonialists were interested in developing maritime trade and building the Bombay port, causing Jaisalmer to be gradually forgotten.

In 1947, India gained independence. The ancient-medieval trade routes through Jaisalmer were closed, and this stronghold was isolated from its role as an important trade route. However, Jaisalmer's economy has escaped the risk of recession.

In 2013, this ancient citadel was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage. In addition to the title "world's oldest desert fortress", it is also known as "living fortress", because it is still intact and inhabited within.

Currently, Jaisalmer is home to about 4,000 people, descendants of the medieval inhabitants who lived in the fortress.

Despite the 800 years that have passed, Jaisalmer's face is still as magnificent as before. During the day, it was bathed in the full sun of the desert, shining as golden as a lion's fur. In the evening, it catches the sunset, changing to a dark golden brown like honey.

Jaisalmer's biggest concern now is… water. Since entering the modern era, people living inside the fortress have competed to install water pipes to serve their daily needs. The ancient city in the middle of the desert, which was not used to being troubled by water, gradually fell into disrepair.

In recent years, due to the development of tourism, Jaisalmer requires more water. It leads to an increased amount of wastewater, causing damage to the foundation structure and foundations. Despite efforts to cope, the Jaisalmer heritage conservationists can only slow down the damage process. To protect the "golden fortress", India was forced to set up the most scientific and extremely expensive water supply and drainage system.