The city has an interesting legend associated with it, according to which, lord Krishana-the head of the Yadav clan, foretold Arjuna that a remote descendent of the Yadav clan would build his kingdom atop the Trikuta Hill. his prophency was fulfilled in 1156 A.D. when Rawal Jaisal, a descendent of the Yadav clan and a bhatti Rajput, abandoned his fort at Lodurva and founded a new capital-jaisalmer, perched on the Trikuta Hill.

This desert fortress close to Rajasthan's border with Pakistan is straight out of an Arabian fairy tale. Founded in the 12th century as a staging post for camel trains travelling between India and Central Asia, Jaisalmer is a golden sandstone city with crenellated city walls, a magnificent fortress and a number of exquisitely carved stone and wooden havelis. Seen at sunset from afar, it glows with the luminescence of a mirage.

Jaisalmer's impressive fort crowns an 80m (260ft) high hill, and about a quarter of the city's 40,000 inhabitants reside within its walls. Little has changed here for centuries, and if ever a record-breaking effort were made to pack as many houses, temples and palaces into a confined space, this would be the result.