Jaisalmer Fort- The Sonar Quilla

Jaisalmer Fort is situated in the city of Jaisalmer, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is believed to be one of the very few (perhaps the only) “living forts” in the world, as nearly one-fourth of the old city’s population, still resides within the fort. For the better part of its 800-year history, the fort was the city of Jaisalmer. The first settlements outside the fort walls, to accommodate the growing population of Jaisalmer, are said to have come up in the 17th century. Jaisalmer Fort locally known as Sonar Quila is one of the largest forts in the world located in Jaisalmer City in Rajasthan, India. The base of the fort has a 15 ft (4.6 m) tall wall forming the fort’s outermost ring, within its triple ringed defence architecture. The fort’s upper bastions or towers form a defensive inner-wall perimeter that is about 2.5 mi (4.0 km) long. The fort now incorporates 99 bastions, of which 92 were built or substantially rebuilt between the period of 1633-47. The fort also has four fortified entrances or gates from the townside, one of which was once guarded by cannon. Other points of interest within the fort’s walls and grounds include Four massive gateways through which visitors to the fort must pass, situated along the main approach to the citadel. The Raj Mahal Palace, a form residence of the Maharawal of Jaisalmer. aisalmer fort being a occupied fort is on great risk due to over increasing population living inside the fort, inadequate civic amenities, derelict houses and many other things. Built over a weak sedimentary rock , seepage pose a great threat to the Jailsamer Fort.