India Guide
Rajasthan
Fort Palace Museum
Address: Palace of the Maharawal, main chowk, Jaisalmer Fort
Price: Rs250 including audio tour; Rs150 video
Opening time: Daily: summer 8am–6pm; winter 9am–6pm
Jaisalmer's main chowk is dominated by the Palace of the Maharawal, open to the public as the Fort Palace Museum. The palace's five-storey facade of balconies and windows displays some fine masonry, while the ornate marble throne to the left is where the monarch (known here as the maharawal) would have addressed his troops and issued orders.
Inside, the museum offers an interesting snapshot of the life of Jaisalmer's potentates through the ages, with artefacts ranging from a fancy silver coronation throne through to more homely items, such as the bed and thali dish of a nineteenth-century ruler. There's also an interesting array of other exhibits – from fifteenth-century sculptures (including an unusual bearded Rama) through to local stamps and banknotes, while the rooftop terrace gives unrivalled views over the city and the surrounding countryside.