Sept 23- Arrival at Jaisalmer, the golden city, lies in the heart of the Thar Desert and was founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal. Our guide Narandra informed us there is a population of 60,000 which are primarily Hindu. Jaisalmer was on the silk route, and also traded in silver, gold, opium and spices. After 1949 the main industry is tourism. Summer months are incredibly hot reaching 49 C in the afternoon. We obviously experienced one close to this at 47 degrees centigrade. The fort which towers magnificently over the city, is a living fort with 5000 residents, a cluster of Jain temples, mansions and shops. The streets are very narrow, so off the bus to walk through the town and fort of golden sandstone from the 12th century with 99 bastions(towers). While today there is running water from underground wells, the people used to carry drinking water quite a distance from the manmade artificial lake. The Jain temples were built in the 15th -16th centuries and are exquisitely carved. We visited the Patwa Havali built in the 17th century. Havali’s were built by merchants with their facades so finely carved they appear to be lace. Extended family members lived together in the large mansions. The latticed stone screens are called Jalis which enable the women to observe street life discretely. The Jharokhas are the projecting balconies with curved bang alder eaves. Their purpose was primarily decorative. Inner courtyards are a private place for the family.

We arrived back for lunch at the train and Norm was not well. High fever with heat exhaustion and a bit of dehydration. A 47 degree Celsius day can certainly do it to you. Our cabin captain and assistant nursed Norm back to health by the next day. The local doctor was called and prescribed some things from the pharmacy that they administered to him.