Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India / October 2012

I took this shot in the early evening looking up towards the Jaisalmer Fort. I was near one of the gate entrances and the birds (which I’m not sure of the species), just kept swooping around in random fashion, as if spooked by gunfire or something. I’m sure there may have been some patterns to their flight but being this close, it did not appear to be a true murmuration.

In contrast, and on numerous occasions, I was able to witness the Indian Air Force jets screaming low above the city. We were about 60 miles from the Pakistan border and tensions were high. It appeared as if India was proving their airborne supremacy, in a form of testosterone military might.

I stayed in the Jaisalmer Fort for about three nights and was fortunate to have had great accommodations in a hotel that was set in amongst one of the fort’s rounded turrets. Our bedroom looked out over the city and it was truly an amazing site to behold. One particular evening, I was able to witness a sand storm blanketing the city below. I will share that photo another time.

The Jaisalmer Fort, according to Wikipedia, is one of the largest fortifications in the world. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013, a year after I got there. It was built in 1156 by Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal and emerges high above the city, which surrounds it. It’s also visible from the great Thar Desert. Because of the way the sun shines down on it, especially at sunset, it is also known as Sonar Quila or Golden Fort.

If you check out Photo of the Week # 18, entitled “Desert Dune Sunrise”, it’s all part of this Jaisalmer experience.