The document describes Jaisalmer, India, nicknamed the "Golden City", which is located in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. It has a population of around 78,000 people and was founded in 1156. It is known for its beautiful architecture like the 12th century Jaisalmer Fort and ornately carved havelis (mansions). Tourism is a major industry in Jaisalmer, attracting visitors to attractions like the fort, havelis, museums, temples and camel safaris through the desert.

1. Las Vegas of India
Jaisalmer – The Western Desert

2. The Property
► XX,XXX Bighas of a Single Stretch of freehold
land in the Desert State in Western India (XXXX
Acres / XX.XXX Square Miles / XX.XX Square
Kilometres).
► Situated at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan (A favourite
Historical Tourist Destination in the middle of
the Desert, also referred to as ‘The Golden
City’).
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3. About Jaisalmer
► Jaisalmer, nicknamed ‘The Golden City’ is a
town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The
town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone
(hence the nicknae), crowned by a fort, which
contains the palace and several ornate Jain
temples. Many of the houses and temples are
finely sculptured. It lies in the heart of the Thar
Desert and has a population of about 78,000. It
is the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer
District.
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4. About Jaisalmer
► Its like straight out of an Arabian Nights fable. The name Jaisalmer induces
a dramatic picture of utter magic and brilliance of the desert. The hostile
terrain not with standing the warmth and colour of people is simply over
whelming. One of the main draws is the daunting 12th century Jaisalmer
Fort. The beautiful havelis which were built by wealthy merchants of
Jaisalmer are yet another interesting aspect of the desert city. And you can
let your eyes caress the sloppy sand dunes while you ramble your way in a
camel safari. The desert citadel is truly a golden fantasy in Thar Desert.
Bhatti Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, after whom the city finds its name, founded
Jaisalmer in 1156. On advice of a local hermit Eesaal he chose the Tricut
Hills as his new abode abandoning his vulnerable old fort at Luderwa just 16
kilometres northwest. In Medieval times, its prosperity was due to its
location on the main trade route linking India to Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Africa
and the West. The Bhatti Rajput rulers lined their coffer with gains from
traditional taxes on passing by caravans and sometimes through illicit gains
by rustling cattle.
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5. Jaisalmer - Geography
► Jaisalmer is located at 26.92° N 70.9° E. It has an average elevation of
229 metres (751 feet).
► Jaisalmer is situated on the border of India and Pakistan in West Rajasthan.
The area of Jaisalmer is 5.1 km². The maximum summer temperature is
around 41.6 °C while the minimum is 25 °C. The maximum winter
temperature is 23.6 °C while the minimum is 7.9 °C. The average rainfall is
150 mm.
► Jaisalmer is almost entirely a sandy waste, forming a part of the Great
Indian Desert. Water is scarce, and generally brackish; the average depth of
the wells is said to be about 250 ft.
► The climate is dry and healthy. Throughout Jaisalmer only raincrops, such as
bajra, joar, motif, til, etc., are grown; spring crops of wheat, barley, etc.,
are very rare. Owing to the scant rainfall, irrigation is almost unknown.
► Distances: New Delhi (864 km), Jaipur (558 km), Mumbai (1177 km),
Ahmedabad (626 km).
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6. Jaisalmer – Economy
► Tourism is a major industry in Jaisalmer.
► The Government of India initiated departmental exploration for
oil in 1955-56 in the Jaisalmer area. Oil India Limited's
discovered natural gas in 1988 in the Jaisalmer basin.
► Also known for their fine leather messenger bags made from
wild camels native to the area.
► Musicians and dancers are also a major cultural export of
Jaisalmer to the rest of the world, Manganyar musicians played
the world over since decades, and Queen H a r i s h, the
dancing whirling desert drag queen, certainly the most talented
dancer from Rajasthan, is touring the world extensively and
features in international movies.
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7. Jaisalmer – Tourist Attractions
► Jaisalmer Fort
Built in 1156 by the Bhati Rajput ruler Jaisal, it is situated on Trikuta Hill and had been the
scene of many battles. Its massive sandstone walls are a tawny lion color during the day,
turning to a magical honey-gold as the sun sets. The famous Indian film director Satyajit Ray
wrote a detective novel and later turned it into a film – Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress) which
was based on this fort. This is a living fort and about a quarter of city's population still live
inside the fort. The main attractions inside the fort are: Raj Mahal (Royal palace), Jain temples
and the Laxminath temple.
► Havelis
The main havelis in Jaisalmer are:
 Patwon-ki-Haveli: Built by Guman Chand Patwa (and later by his five sons), a wealthy
merchant and banker who had over three hundred trading centres from Afghanistan to
China. This ornate five-storey complex took fifty years to complete. This is the largest, the
most magnificent, and the most elaborate of Jaisalmer havelis.
 Salim Singh-ki-Haveli: It was built by the scheming Prime Minister Salim Singh in 1815.
It has a beautifully arched roof capped with blue cupolas and carved brackets in the form
of peacocks.
 Nathmalji-ki-Haveli: Bult by a Prime Minister of princely state of Jaisalmer. Its facade is
a riot of ornamentation: flowers, birds, elephants, soldiers, a bicycle and even a steam
engine.
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8. Jaisalmer – Tourist Attractions
► Museums
 Desert Culture Centre & Museum
 Jaisalmer Folklore Museum
 Government Museum
► Other
 Gadsisar Lake
 Excavated in 1367 by Rawal Gadsi Singh, it is a scenic rainwater lake surrounded by small temples and
shrines.
► In neighbourhood
 Bhattiani Sati Rani
 Bada Bagh
 Bada Bagh Panorama in the afternoon
 Amar Sagar
 Lodhruva
 Mool Sagar
 Kuldhara
 Desert National Park
 Sam sand dunes
 Khuri village
 Akal Wood fossil Park
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9. Sin City
A look at Las Vegas

10. A Look at Las Vegas
POPULATION
► City of Las Vegas -- 478,434
► City of Henderson -- 175,381
► City of N. Las Vegas -- 115,488
► Clark County -- 1,375,765
► Nevada -- 1,998,257
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000
Between 4,000 and 6,000 people move into Clark County
monthly. In 1999, 33.8 million people visited Las Vegas while in
2000 the number rose to 35.8 million. More than 3.8 million of
those were convention delegates. In 2000 there were 124,270
hotel/motel rooms available.
Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Research
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11. A Look at Las Vegas
History of Las Vegas
► Prehistoric Southern Nevada was a virtual marsh of abundant water and vegetation.
► As eons passed, the marsh receded. Rivers disappeared beneath the surface. The
once teeming wetlands evolved into a parched, arid landscape that supported only
the hardiest of plants and animals. Water trapped underground in the complicated
geologic formations of the Las Vegas Valley sporadically surfaced to nourish luxuriant
plants, creating an oasis in the desert as the life- giving water flowed to the Colorado
River.
► Construction workers in 1993 discovered the remains of a Columbian mammoth that
roamed the area during prehistoric times. Paleontologists estimate the bones to be
8,000 to 15,000 years old. Hidden for centuries from all but native Americans, the
Las Vegas Valley oasis was protected from discovery by the surrounding harsh and
unforgiving Mojave Desert.
► Mexican trader Antonio Armijo, leading a 60-man party along the Spanish Trail to
Los Angeles in 1829, veered from the accepted route.
► While Armijo's caravan was camped Christmas Day about 100 miles northeast of
present day Las Vegas, a scouting party rode west in search of water. An
experienced young Mexican scout, Rafael Rivera, left the main party and ventured
into the unexplored desert. Within two weeks, he discovered Las Vegas Springs.
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12. A Look at Las Vegas
► The abundant artesian spring water discovered at Las Vegas shortened the Spanish Trail to Los
Angeles, eased rigors for Spanish traders and hastened the rush west for California gold. Between
1830 and 1848, the name "Vegas," as shown on maps of that day, was changed to Las Vegas which
means "The Meadows" in Spanish.
► By 1890 railroad developers had determined the water-rich Las Vegas Valley would be a prime
location for a stop facility and town. More than a quarter century earlier, Nevada, known as the Battle
Born State, had been admitted to the Union in 1864 during the Civil War.
► Advent of the railroad led to the founding of Las Vegas on May 15, 1905.
► Nevada was the first state to legalize casino-style gambling, but not before it reluctantly was the last
western state to outlaw gaming in the first decade of the 20th Century.
► World War II stalled major resort growth in Las Vegas. But the seeds for future expansion had been
planted in 1941 when hotelman Tommy Hull built the El Rancho Vegas Hotel-Casino on what is now
vacant land opposite the current Sahara Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
► The success of the El Rancho Vegas triggered a small building boom in the late 1940s including
construction of several hotel- casinos fronting on a two-lane highway leading into Las Vegas from Los
Angeles. The stretch of road evolved into today's Las Vegas Strip.
► Entertainment, along with gambling, built Las Vegas' reputation as a playland getaway of the world.
► In 1976, when casino-style gaming was legalized in Atlantic City, N.J., it became apparent to Las
Vegas casino owners that Nevada no longer could claim exclusive rights to gambling casinos. It
perhaps hastened the beginning of another era for the Strip -- the megaresort. Hotel-casinos began
the race to become full-blown destination resorts for travelers, vacationers, gamblers, conventioneers
and all members of the family.
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