Jaisalmer

Town and former princely state in Rajasthan state, northwest India. Founded in 1156, it is situated in the Great Indian desert approximately 200 km/125 mi northwest of Jodhpur. It is a caravan market for salt, hides, wool and livestock. The army and tourism are the mainstays of the local economy.

There is a fort and many fine Jain temples. Many of the buildings are medieval, built in sandstone and intricately carved.

Jaisalmer is a remote westerly outpost originally important as an overland trading centre, which declined with the growth in maritime trade between India and the West. It became strategically important during the wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971.