Jaisalmer Street Photography: Life as it is

It is always a delight to walk amidst old cities in India. Whenever I feel a lack of inspiration, all I do is have a glance at the pictures from all my Photography and Travel journeys across these colourful cities, such as Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer and the like. Here are few pictures from Jaisalmer, also known as the Golden city.

I have always loved strolling in Jaisalmer. Somehow, the yellow sandstone lanes and tiny bylanes in the living fort make me feel like I have entered a different era. I particularly love the way the living fort in Jaisalmer is used by the locals. It is thriving with life, shops, temples, artwork and artifacts. Many of the homes inside the Fort have now been converted into guest houses or restaurants for travellers.

I earnestly feel that the Government should try hard to preserve the fort and the many Havelis that reside within. In the past few years, owing to tourism and certain natural disasters like earthquakes; a lot of these Haveli’s have either broken down or are in a very delicate situation with huge cracks seen. There should be strict rules and regulations for all those who are converting the Fort homes into Guesthouses. No illegal construction should take place, that can harm the fort or its look in any way.

There have been a number of articles that have presented reports on how the Sonar Killaa or Jaisalmer Fort is deteriorating and needs urgent repairs. As much as I would love staying inside the fort, I am wary at the harm it is causing as well. The drainage system etc was originally designed for a limited number of people who lived inside the fort, purely for residential reasons. Owing to the change in use from purely residential to residential and commercial(tourism), it is being overused.

Did you know Jaisalmer was once home to the Rajputs—a tribe of warriors and traders who, for centuries, prospered by levying taxes on the merchants who wound between Egypt, Persia and India.

I would love to know what are your views on the part tourism plays on places like Jaisalmer? Have you ever been there yourself? It would be great if you could answer his poll I created.