The fort & town of JAISALMER
was founded by Maharawal Jaisal in the
year 1156 AD after having shifted his
capital from Ludharva (18 Kms away from
Jaisalmer) to a safer
place. The ruling family of the erstwhile
Jaisalmer State belongs to Bhati
Clan of Yadu Rajputs of Chandrawasnshi
(Lunar) race who claim descent from Lord
Krishna,the defied hero who ruled at Dwarka.
The historical origin of Bahttis can be
inferred from the couplet which says that
the Yadu Rajputs ruled and constructed
Forst at Kashi,Madhura, Pragvad, Gajni,Bhatner,Digam,Dirwal,Lodurva
and ninth in Jaisalmer.
(Gajni is in Afganisthan and Dirawal is
now in Pakistan).
The present district is largely composed
of the former JAISALMER
state, which was among the Rajputana States
to go under British protection. The treaty
between Maharawal Moolraj-II and the British
government of 12th December 1818 guaranteed
to the ruler and his posterity the principality
of Jaisalmer. Under this treaty the ruler
of the State was required to act in subordinate
cooperation with the British Government.
At the time of Afgan War in 1938-39 the
then ruler of the state Maharawal Gaj
singh made excellent fool-proof arrangements
for transportation of british troops for
which British Government felt grateful
to the ruler for timely help and cooperation.
In 1844, after the British annexed Sind,
The Forts of Shahgarh and Ghotaru, which
are formerly belonged to JAISALMER, were
restored to the State. In 1949 when Jaisalmer
was merged into the state of Rajasthan,
there was no important change in the area
of the state.On October 6,1949,the region
was given the status of an independent
district in Jodhpur division.
District JAISALMER has
a very dry climate with very hot summer;
a cold winter and sparse rains. The climate
is extremely hot during summer with maximum
temperature reaching up to 49.2 degree
celcious and extremely cold during winder
with minimum temp. in the range of 1 degree
celcious. The variation in temperature
from morning to noon and the late midnight
is a sudden phenomenon. The average rainfall
is only 16.4 cms as against the state
average of 57.51 cms.
