Here’s a complete guide on Bada Bagh Jaisalmer. Monotonous life not only kills your zeal to give your 100 percent at your workplace but also makes you stressed and frustrated. Along with other hobbies, the best recreational way to boost your energy and give your mind a fresh splash of positivity is travelling.
Travelling not only helps you explore new places, but it also takes you on a journey to ancient history and helps you imbibe your environment.
Rajasthan, also known as the “Land of the Kings”, is one of the most travelled destinations in India and is a must-visit. It doesn’t matter if you are a solo traveller, travelling in a group or going for your honeymoon. The beautiful city opens up its arms and welcomes everyone.
One of the most mesmerizing yet historically significant cities of Rajasthan is Jaisalmer. Founded in the 1156 CE by Rawal Jaisal, it is built from yellow sandstone and has numerous forts, sculptures, and pieces of architecture. Such a piece of architecture is Bada Bagh. If you are travelling to Jaisalmer, Bada Bagh must be on your list.
History of Bada Bagh
After the death of Rawal Jaisal, one of his successors, Jai Singh II ordered the building of a dam in Jaisalmer during the period of 1688-1743. The local people often faced scarcity of water as the city was located on the mighty yet dry desert of Thar. After the dam was built, a lake was formed, and the desert in the nearby area became green, and people praised the ruler.
It was commissioned by Maharawal Jait Singh in the early 16th century and completed by his son Lunakaran after his death. He named it “Bada Bagh”, which literally translates to “big garden”. He also built a cenotaph or chhatri in remembrance of his father, near the garden on a small hill. Afterwards, many cenotaphs were raised along with the cenotaph of Jai Singh II for Lunkaran and other Bhati rulers, their queens, and princes.
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The Architecture of Bada Bagh
Bada Bagh is located on a small sand hill, and you have to enter the beautiful structure from underneath it. There are numerous cenotaphs situated on the hill. Each is different from each other and is carved from yellow sandstone.
The cenotaphs are different in sizes and have a marble slab. This marble slab gives information about the person it is dedicated to and has a carving of a man on a horse.
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Bada Bagh Entry Fee
Bada Bagh is flooded by tourists from all over the world. The organizers have kept the entry fee of Bada Bagh at a minimum of Rs 50 for the Indians and Rs 100 for foreign travellers.
Bada Bagh Timings
Bada Bagh is open for tourist visits daily. You can visit the magnificent garden from 8 AM in the morning to 6 PM in the evening.
Places to Visit near Bada Bagh
Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer Fort is a must-visit if you are in Jaisalmer and is located only about 8 km from the Bada Bagh. It was built by Rawal Jaisal as his capital and has a massive 15 feet tall wall surrounding it. The fort is one of the rarest living fort, which still has about 4000 people still living inside its wall.
Built inside the fort are 7 Jain temples, large merchant houses, Vishnu temple, Rajmahal Palace, where the King of Jaisalmer used to reside and numerous other idols and sculptures. All the sculptures are made from yellow sandstone which gives the fort an appearance of gold and is often referred to as “Sonar Kella”. Numerous tourists visit the fort to experience its grandeur.
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Patwon Ki Haveli
Patwon Ki Haveli is famous for its intrinsic carvings and beautiful small balconies. It is a complex of 5 Havelis and was built by Patwon, a rich merchant of gold threads and textiles. It is said that he ordered the building of the structure for his five sons and it took 50 years to complete.
Today, the Haveli is occupied by the Government of India and thousands of visitors come here to explore the building.
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Gadisar Lake
Gadisar Lake was built originally to serve as the drinking water source for all the population of Jaisalmer by Raja Rawal Jaisal in 1400 CE. It is a man-made lake that holds rainwater throughout the year. The lake has watchtowers and cenotaphs build all around it. You can have a wonderful view of the lake from these towers.
There are numerous cenotaphs build on the little islands on the lake, and you can boat to these places and enjoy it there. All the sculptures are build from yellow sandstones, the speciality of Jaisalmer. You can also find some birds nested in these little islands.
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Mandir Palace
The Mandir Palace was built by Maharawal Moolrajji around two hundred years ago when the temples of Shri Ram and Shri Giridharji was built. Later on, the palace was improvised by his successors. The palace has a rich heritage and is famous for its Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, a mix of Rajput and Islamic culture from Afganisthan.
The magnificent stone carvings are a beauty in itself. Today, the Palace has been transformed into a hotel, and it welcomes tourists to spend a holiday here as royals.
How to Reach Bada Bagh
Bada Bagh is situated about 6 km north of Jaisalmer and is an important tourist destination. It is well connected with major cities by rail and road.
By Air
Jaisalmer Airport is located 17 kilometres southeast of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India. The airport operates as a civil enclave on an Indian Air Force base. Cabs and taxis are available at the airport to take you to the Bada Bagh in Jaisalmer.
By Rail
The most convenient way to reach Jaisalmer is by train. Jaisalmer railway station connects the city with all the major cities of the country like Kolkata, Delhi, Jodhpur, etc.
By Road
There are numerous public yet private deluxe buses running to Jaisalmer from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mount Abu, Delhi, etc. You can opt for this if you want to have a fun yet memorable journey.
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Time Required to Explore Bada Bagh
Bada Bagh is a compact yet magnificent place to visit. With all the sculptures located near to each other, it takes about 45-60 minutes to explore the place.
Bada Bagh is famous for its shimmering beauty that mesmerizes the visitors. The sheer beauty of the cenotaphs and the beautiful garden attracts tourists from all over the world. Do not miss the opportunity to visit Bada Bagh if you are in Jaisalmer.