Jaisalmer Profile

Location

District JAISALMER is located within a rectangle lying between 26°.4’ –28°.23' North parallel and 69°.20'-72°.42' east meridians. It is the largest district of Rajasthan and one of the largest in the country. The breath (East-West) of the district is 270 Kms and the length (North-South) is 186 Kms. On the present map, district Jaisalmer is bounded on the north by Bikaner, on the west & south-west by Indian boarder, on the south by Barmer and Jodhpur, and on the east by Jodhpur and Bikaner Districts. The length of international boarder attached to District JAISALMER is 471 Kms.

Geographical Limits

JAISALMER District, a part of the Great Indian Thar Desert, is sandy, dry and scorched. The terrain around, within a radius of about 60 kms is stony and rocky. The area is barren, undulating with its famous sand dunes and slopes towards the Indus valley and the Runn of Kutch. The soil here is grateful even to a little rain and turns lush green during mansoon. There is no perennial river in the district. The underground water level is very low. Geographically this district is spread over in 38,401 sq. kms which is one of the largest district and almost equal to the state of Kerala. Joined together, the district of barmer and Jaisalmer is the Largest Parliamentary constituency in India.

Flora & Fauna

Khezada, Bavla, Lora, Rohida, Van, Phog, Kumbhar, Jal, Neem, Babul and many other trees are to be found among sparse vegetation. Orchards are luxury and can be seen occasionally in a very rare sport. Grass-beds or lawns are never seen anywhere. Animals perforce have to move from one place to another in search of fodder and water. Sheep, cow, goat, camel,chinkara and wild boar and jackals from the fauna here. Poisonous snakes are common in the desert. The birds of various kinds commonly found in the area are peacock, parrot, pigeon, crow and specially the white Palam birds make the surroundings lively and interesting. The number of great Indian bustards, which were once in abundance in Thar Desert, began to decline fast. In addition to these cocks and hens are domestic birds.

Climate

District JAISALMER has a very dry climate with very hot summer; a cold winter and sparse rains. The climate is extremely hot during summer with maximum temperature reaching up to 49.2 degree celcious and extremely cold during winder with minimum temp. in the range of 1 degree celcious. The variation in temperature from morning to noon and the late midnight is a sudden phenomenon. The average rainfall is only 16.4 cms as against the state average of 57.51 cms. 
People and Culture

Jaisalmer district is bestowed with art, architecture, culture and traditions full of color and music and thereby attracting hordes of domestic and foreign tourists. The folk music of desert is an outstanding culmination of long traditions mixed with varied social customs and inherent concept of classical music revealing the life of desert. Being in the neighborhood the language, culture and traditions of the people of the district are influenced by the culture of sindh. People are hardy and have great power of tolerance.

The people of the desert are very jovial and friendly. The life of desert is very difficult. Despite the hardship, people are satisfied and happy. One would like to see the desert’s life style then go to a village, which is far away from city. More than 80% of the population of Jaisalmer lives in rural areas. Males go out to work and females stay at home.

In the village most people live in huts (Jhopri). These beautiful huts are made of grass. These huts are cool in summers and warm in winter. Every family has 4-5 huts. Around the huts there are thorny bushes and wire. Some of the villages have stone houses. Almost all villages have a pond or well for drinking water. In most of the villages the water is provided by the government through pipelines.

In the villages the main sources of income are animal rearing and farming. Every family keeps cows, goats, sheep and camel. When there is good rain there is plenty of fodder for cattle. The staple crops are ‘Bajara’ and ‘Gawar’. People change their establishments in search of fodder for cattle. People eat mainly Bajra’s chapattis, milk and milk products and curds. The trees and bushes, which are found in desert, have fruits and buds, which are eaten as vegetables.

Administrative Setup

Revenue

                   Jaisalmer is the largest district (in area) of the Jodhpur Division and administrative control and monitoring of the district is carried out by Collector and District Magistrate ,who  is the head of District Administration. He is assisted by one Additional District Magistrate & one ADM(Development) who is CEO, Zila Parishad.For administration and development, the district is divided into four sub-divisions i.e. Jaisalmer ,Pokaran, Fatehgarh and Bhaniyana and four  tehsils, i.e. Jaisalmer,Pokaran Fatehgarh and Bhaniyana. The developmental activities of the district are being looked after by three Panchayat Samities, i.e. Jaisalmer,Sam and Sankra. There are total 813 revenue villages and 128  Gram panchayats.

 

Sub Divisions	4	Jaisalmer,Pokaran,Fatehgarh, Bhaniyana
Tehsils	4	Jaisalmer,Pokaran,Fatehgarh, Bhaniyana
ILR Circles	16
Patwar Circles	139
Revenue Villages	813

Panchayati Raj

                With the ushering in of the Panchayati Raj, three block Panchayat Samities namely Jaisalmer,Sam (Hqrs. Jaisalmer) and Sankra (HQrs. Pokaran) having its total 128 Gram Panchayats have been functioning in the district and are governed by the Zila Parishad under the Chairmanship of Zila Pramukh and administratively supervised by the District Collector who is ex-officio District Development officer. The aim of the Panhayat samities it to promote development activities at the block level and oversee implementation with regard to some of the schemes. After the re-set of Panchayati Raj, Gram Panchayats  Panchayat Samities and Zila Parishad have empowered to work independently keeping in view the requirement and necessity of the developmental setup in their respective areas.   

Development Blocks	3	Jaisalmer,Sam,Sankra
Gram Panchayats	128
Nagar Parishad/ Palika	1,1	Jaisalmer,Pokaran
Villages	813

INDUSTRIES

At present following are the main industries in this District:

• Tourism.
• Stone Cutting & Carving etc.
• Khadi industry.
• Mineral based industry.

The tourism and stone-related industries is elaborated under the section of  tourism and mineral respectively.

Woolen khadi items of this district are very popular all over the country. Since animal husbandry is the main occupation of the people of this district. Khadi industry has developed as the most important cottage industry. About 2 lac square meter of khadi items are produced in this district every year.

As mentioned in the earlier chapter named Mineral deposits there is a vast scope of mineral based industries in this district. It hoped that major Cement plants and other mineral based industries will develop in this district very rapidly.

In Jaisalmer town, the RICCO industrial area Gandhi Colony is already developed. Baramsar and Hamira area have recently set apart.

A demarcated industrial area exists in pokaran also known as Ashapura induatrial area. There are three saline areas viz. Pokaran Rin, Gudi Rin & Kanod Rin. Thus salt industry is also expected to be developed in the near future.

In IGNP area there is a scope for oil mills, Dal mills and other agro-based industries.

Tourism

This district has got a very important place on theinternational tourist map. Popularly known as the “Golden City”, it has the following attraction of the tourist importance.

• Fort & inside fort-Jain Temples & Royal Palace.
• Patwa Havelies.
• Salim Singh’s Haveli.
• Nathmal’s haveli.
• Madir Palace (Tazia Tower).
• Gadsisar Lake.
• Govt. museum & the folk museum.

All these monuments have the unique stone carving on yellow stone. The whole city is constructed with yellow stone.

Excursions

• Badabag (Royal Cenotaph, Garden).
• Amar Sagar.
• Ludarwa.
• Mool Sagar.
• Kuldhara ( Remains of Deserted town hundreds of year ago).
• Sam Sand Dunes ( The Sunset & Camel Safari are special attraction).
• Khuri Sand Dunes.
• Akal Wood fossils Park ( Having 180 million years old wood fossils.
• Sudhasari ( Desert National Park having the great Indian Bustard and other wild life).

Art & Music The two communities viz. ‘Manganiars’ and ‘Langas’ have not only preserved the traditional art & music but they have carried it beyond the domestic shores. The folk Music with traditional instruments and the folk dances are very popular and fascinating. The cultural programmes performed by these artistes have special attraction for the tourists.

Desert Festival  Desert Festival is organized every year by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture. It has become very popular worldwide. Apart from sight-seeing and cultural programs, several competitions are arranged in this festival. These competitions have become extremely popular.

A Tourist Reception Center, an office of Rajasthan Tourism functions to provide information and assistance to the tourists.

MEDICAL FACILITIES

             District & T.B. Hospital : The District Hospital, Shri Jawahir Hospital is under the control of Principal Medical Officer (P.M.O.). T.B. Hospital, Gandhi Colony dispensary and Police Line Dispensary are also under the administrative control of P.M.O.. The District Hospital is a 150 bedded hospital..

Doctors of the following specialization are available in this hospital:

§  General Medicine General Surgery

§  E.N.T.

§  Gynecology

§  Pediatrics

§  Dentist

§  Ophthalmologist

§  Orthopedics

§  Radiologist

Vaccination & Family welfare facilities are available. The Medicare Relief Society is working to provide investigation services at low cost. The blood bank is also working in this hospital. The Diesel Generator Set is available for emergency situations.

Rural Area : Preventive, promotive & curative services in the rural area are administered by Chief Medical & Health Officer, Jaisalmer Distt. R.C.H. Officer. Dy. CM & HOs Family welfare, Health & Malaria are working under his supervision. Prevention of food adulteration is also one of the important functions of the department.

The administrative set up in rural areas is as follows

Name of Block P.H.C.	Sector P.H.C.s working under the block P.H.C.
Jaisalmer	CHC Mohangarh
	CHC Nachna
	PHC Nokh
	PHC Deva
	PHC Chinnu
Sankara	CHC Sankra
	CHC Pokaran
	PHC Tamdevra
	PHC Loharki
	PHC Lathi
	PHC Jaloda
	PHC Bhaniyan
	PHC Phalsund
Sam	CHC Sam
	CHC Ramgarh
	PHC Habur
	PHC Jhinjhinyali
	PHC myajlar
	PHC Devikot
	PHC Khuri
	PHC Sangarh