Mysterious School

Chapter 35

Every one packed their bags and came out from their rooms and moved towards the restaurant quickly as they were hungry and already late too . . .

Every one moved towards the restaurant and sat on the same table by asking the same waiter to arrange two tables by one and ordered their breakfast. The waiter went inside to fulfill their orders and in the mean while Mr. Richard asked Mathew that

"So Mr. Mathew, what did you came to know while in the study over the net related to Jailsalmer City ?", 

"Nothing important but I came to know about the city that when did it was founded who ruled it and how did it look etc ", Mathew said

"Explain us what did you came to know ", Mr. Richard asked

"Jaisalmer is also known as "The Golden City" has been the epicenter of India’s glorious past. The architecture of the city is dominated by the yellow sandstone that imparts a golden yellow hue, hence the city is named. The fort of Jaisalmer forms the heart of the royal culture and it is one of the very few living forts that still exist today. The crumbling monument sits on top of the Trikuta Hill amid the vast stretches of the golden Thar Desert. The fort greets visitors with visually compelling sights and allows them to immerse in this eminent wonder.

The urban living centre is a chaotic melange and you will be catapulted straight into a world of ethnic charm. Walk through the winding lanes and get awestruck at the sight of splendid Jain temples, houses and local shops that has a peculiar way of making connections. The striking amalgamation of past and present is often reflected on the streets – people walking in traditional attire, children playing in the labyrinth of alleys and women doing their household chores.

Jaisalmer Fort was constructed in the year 1156 by the Bhati Rajput King Rawal Jaisal. Around 1294, the Bhati kingdom faced an 8 to 9 years siege attack by Alauddin Khalji (ruler of Khaliji Dynasty). By the end of the battle, The Rajput women committed self-immolation and the warriors died while fighting the Sultan’s forces. After Khalji captured the fort, it remained abandoned for a few years before the Bhatis reoccupied it.

During the rule of Rawal Lunakaran around 1551, the fort was again attacked by Amir Ali (a renowned Afghan chief). When Rawal felt that there is no chance of winning, he slaughtered the women of the kingdom. But eventually reinforcement arrived and he succeeded in defending the fort. Later, Rawal Lunakaran fought the great Mughal King, Humayun who attacked the monument in 1541. Jaisalmer Fort was under the control of the Mughal rulers till 1762 after which Mulraj Maharawal captured it. After his death, the fort was inherited by his grandson in 1820.

With the emergence of the British period in India, the significance of Jaisalmer Fort eventually declined. It is no longer a major trading centre but a popular tourist hub that attracts thousands of visitors throughout the year. Originally, the people of Jaisalmer resided within the fort walls but today the scenario has changed. The fort is the home to around 3000 people who mostly belong to the Rajput and the Brahmin communities.

It is entirely carved with grand yellow stones that shimmer during sunset. Hence, the historic landmark is popularly known as the Golden Fort and also ‘Sonar Quila’.

The 250-feet towering fort is the jewel of the Thar Desert. It is enclosed by an imposing wall of 30 feet height and completed with a 60 feet tall main gate made from Indian rosewood. The 5 storey monument is based on typical Rajasthani architectural style with 4 fortified entrances and those are Ganesha Pole, Hawa Pole, Suraj Pole and Aksya Pole.  One of these 4 entrances was guarded by a cannon. There are a total of 99 bastions and 92 of which were rebuilt between 1633 and 1647.

Inside the fort complex, there are several palaces, temples, restaurants and handicraft shops that are connected with narrow winding paths. However, the crown of this fortification is the grand marble throne of Maharawal that can be reached after climbing a flight of steps. Jaisalmer Fort is beautifully constructed with large windows and balconies that exude aristocratic opulence. Another attraction is the Jawahar Palace which was the home to a royal family in Jaisalmer. The structure features intricate designs and carvings that treat the sore eyes." Mathew explained them all about what did he studied about the city last night . . "But Mathew I think this is all about the City ", Mack said

"Yes, What we are going to travel is completly different from what we came to know till now ", Mathew said

"So, do you came to know about the Ancient Ruined Temple which we are going to travel ?", Benjamin asked

"Yes, but a very little. I searched in the Google but nothing found about it, some how I came to know that there are a group of temples far from the Jaisalmer City which is about 200 kms, it's very tough to go there and more over no one was going there now a days ", Mathew said

"O my God 200 kms ?", Benjamin asked

"Yes and the most important thing is that we all have to travel through the desert and no road way to their, only the way to go their is by desert ", Mathew said

"Ok let's start our journey ", Clara said while every one finished their breakfast while discussing about the City and it's fury . . .

"Yeah sure, but before that we have to complete a small shopping for our journey ", Mathew said

"Shopping ! ", Everyone exclaimed

"Yes ", Mathew said

"What was that ?", Clara asked

"Come with me, I will tell you but not obviosuly a ladies shopping ", Mathew said and every one laughed at once as he also c***k jokes and thinking that he is also serious all the time . .

All the four started following Mathew where ever he is going and Mathew stopped a taxi, every one get into it and travelled towards the fort where the shopping is very famous there for all sort of things . .

After going there Mathew asked them to be there and he went to the shop and asked the shop keepers for some thing which they was unclear as they were little far from the shop. He purchased some thing and asked the shop keeper to pack those and keep it in the taxi. The shop keeper done the same as per the intructions and Mathew again get into the car and asked the driver to move to the Thar deserts . . 

"Mathew, what are you doing, going here and there talking to the people, purchasing some thing, packing it and placing those in the car ?. Please inform us too so that we can help you ",  Clara and Mack asked him wit great excitement

"Nothing more to do, all set. The only thing remianed to do is filling up the drinking water into the water bottles we have with us and into that can which I purchased now ", Mathew said with lot of confidence

"Mr. Mathew, in my view you are so genius, brave, daring and dashing and more over you are so caring even you are not giving the work to do for other, only you are doing itself by taking all the stress ", Mr. Richard said 

Mathew smiled at them slightly by turning his face to them and noticed a bright shining light on his face as if he knows every thing about the journey what to do and what precautions they have to take . . In the sense every one noticed the brightness on his face and looked into each other faces as they did not get the answer why his face was shining bright . . 

"Mack, have you noticed the change in Mathew's face ?", Clara asked silently and make sure that only he can hear her words

"Yes, yes you too noticed that !! ", Mack exclaimed by the Clara's words

"Yes, what do you think about it ?", Clara asked

While the two were discussing about the shining face of Mathew, Banjamin also heard the words of their discussion but remained silent without saying anything as if he spoke any thing at that moment, Mathew can hear their words and they wanted to discuss about it while he was not available with them as they were traveling in the car and the discussions going on may be heard by him very easily as they space in the car is very little and all of them were very closer . . 

Finally they have reached the starting point of the Thar desert after they filled the water bottles and the big can available with them with drinking water in the middle of their way. Every one get off from the car and looking around the desert and shocked to see that as there does not seem to be anything around except sand and the temperature over there is horrible . .

"What is this climate, it's very hot here ", Clara said

"This is Desert and the climate here is not we expected. Yet we are still in the morning time, when the sun comes up on our scalps, the heat of the sun becomes even greater and goes over peaks. That's why I asked you to wear a cotton dress so that the sun heat would be lessor on you ", Mathew said to Clara and also to every one over there

Every one thinking in their minds that if it is hot in the morning and they wonder what it will be like in the afternoon ?. In the mean while Mathew moved towards the camel's where some people are lending the camels over there for the journey over the Desert. He talked with them for some time and lend camels for each of them i.e., 5 camels and asked remaining for their help to pick out the items from the car and place it on the ground. 

After they gathered all the items in the car, he paid the taxi and the people who were lending the camels. After a while he started arranging the items over the camels with the help of only Mack as he did not ask the help for Clara as she was a girl and for also Benjamin and Richard as they were aged. Few minutes later every thing set and arranged all the items, hanged very well over all the camels. Mathew and Mack whipping off the dust from their dresses, due to the work done by them that too on the desert where there is a lot of sand over there . . . .