Jaisalmer fort rises like a fabulous mirage out of the sands of the Thar Desert, the awesome contours of its 99 bastions softened by the golden hue of the stone. Built in 1156 by Maharwal Jaisal and added by his sucessors this citadel stands on the peak of the 80 m high Trikuta hill. In medieval times Jaisalmer's entire population lived within the fort and even now thousands of people reside here making it India's only living fort.

Royal palaces a cluster of Jain temples mansions and shops are all contained within its walls. The exquisitely carved Jain temples were built in the 15th and 16th centuries by the town's wealthy traders. Intricate sandstone carvings are found in these seven temples dedicated to the Jain tirthankaras including Rishabdeo, Sambhavanatha, Parsvanatha and others. . The Gyan Bhandar in the basement of the Sambhavnatha templeis a library of illustrated Jain palm leaf manuscripts some of them dating to the 11th century.

The Sarvottam Vilas has blue coloured tiles and glass mosaic built in the 18th century. The Annapurna Bhandar was once the fort's grannary. The Dussehra Chowk was where festivals, royal performances and parades took place.