From atop the Jaisalmer Fort, somewhere far off in the horizon, I glanced about some unique golden structures. The Bada Bagh Cenotaphs, as our guide pointed out, was the royal tombs of the Bhatti dynasty of Jaisalmer. Even from a distance, they looked glamorous and there was no way, I was not visiting them. And so we did, on our way back from the mysterious Ghost town of Kuldhara.
Call this an eerie journey, I was already pensive, with my unanswered questions of Kuldhara and along the way, I kept spotting the other abandoned villages of the Paliwal clan. I was so busy musing over the story of this clan that I did not even realize when we reached the majestic cenotaphs of Bada Bagh Jaisalmer. Warm winds blew over the desolate golden piece of art – there were no tourists nor any guides. The atmosphere for me continued to be as strange and mystic as it was in Kuldhara. Despite this strange feeling, the magnificence of the Jaisalmer cenotaphs had me stumped.
This tour of the Bada Bagh cenotaphs is bound to leave you equally spellbound. The structures are not only beautiful but very intriguing. I would not be surprised if after reading this guide to Bada Bagh Jaisalmer, you plan a visit here – most likely to spot the clues that I will drop through this mystical journey.
Contents
- 1 History of Bada Bagh Jaisalmer
- 2 The layout of the Jaisalmer cenotaphs
- 3 Stone Tablets and Marble slates inside the Bada Bagh Cenotaphs
- 4 Other interesting facts about Bada Bagh Jaisalmer
- 5 How to reach Bada Bagh Jaisalmer?
- 6 What is the best time to visit Bada Bagh Cenotaphs?
- 7 What are the entrance fees for Bada Bagh Jaisalmer?
- 8 How much time do I have to keep aside for visiting these Jaisalmer cenotaphs?
- 9 Where to stay in Jaisalmer?
- 10 Booking resources
History of Bada Bagh Jaisalmer
Bada Bagh is called Bara Bagh in the local language and it means a “big garden“. However, this place is anything but a garden. This is the place that was built as a memory of the royal family – for those Kings and Queens who passed away. The typical tomb shaped cenotaphs are called Chhatris. The first one that was built was for Jai Singh II by his son Lunkaran in the 16th century. Jai Singh II was known for his contribution to making the desert around Jaisalmer green. He set up a dam near a lake and help parch the dry heat of this place. To honor him, his son set up a memorial in the form of this cenotaph near this dam and created a large park around it.
The tradition caught on and from then on, every death of a royal member of the rulers of Jaisalmer was honored with a Chhatri in Bada Bagh Jaisalmer. This continued till the 20th century when the last one for Maharawal Jawahar Singh was left incomplete as his son who ascended the throne after him, died within one year of his ascension. This was considered to be bad luck and from then on, the tradition of cenotaphs at Bada Bagh was discontinued.
The layout of the Jaisalmer cenotaphs
Have you ever felt this – sometimes you find something so beautiful, that you want to keep it exclusive?
You don’t know where to begin, you feel that if you began it wrong or touched it wrong, it will spoil the excitement. You want to leave it elusive and yet you can’t. Well, that is how I felt as I entered Bada Bagh cenotaphs. The entire spread of golden tombs beckoned me, yet I was hesitant to enter. I did not know where to start and what to do, and all I wanted to do is capture it all in a moment and yet, not. 🙂
Bara Bagh is set along a hill and you enter the place at the base. The place has two distinct rows of cenotaphs, each one similar and yet distinct. The simple stone structures have some lovely carvings on it and it is amazing how there is no color contrast to these carvings and yet, they stand out on the entire façade adding to the beauty of the cenotaph.
The Jaisalmer cenotaphs are of varying sizes and the significance of the same is simple. The more powerful you are, the bigger your cenotaph is. Naturally, the biggest ones belonged to the main Maharaja while scattered between them were smaller ones that possibly represented princes and smaller royal members. The roofs of these are quite striking and give the small structure a shrine-like appearance. It sort of reminded me of the various dance pavilions that I have seen in India.
It isn’t just the size that will give you a clue of how important the person was. The important structures had elaborate domes, exquisitely carved ceilings, and intricate pillars. Of course, a lot of these have crumbled over years, but one can still see its grandeur.
Stone Tablets and Marble slates inside the Bada Bagh Cenotaphs
Within every Bara Bagh cenotaph are tablets that represent the ruler for whom it was built. The more recent ones had marble slabs while the older ones were made with the same golden sand stone as the rest of its exterior.
As I walked along the Chhatris, I saw that these stone and marble pillars were etched with the same figure of a ruler on a horseback. In addition to the same, there were some women. My hubby’s theory was that these were figures of the number of wives that the ruler had. And the same was true to some extent, except that it was a little gorier than just the number of wives.
It represented the women in the life of the ruler who self-immolated or became satis by jumping into the burning pyre of the ruler. The tablet of the woman next to the ruler was his queen while the one with a lot of women were representative of his concubines. I have always felt that this particular tradition of Sati has been barbaric and horrifying and every time, I encounter it, I feel angry and sad for these women who believed it to be a part of their “duty” towards their husband. I got to know of this significance of the stone tablets much later after I had left Bada Bagh and in a way, it was good coz my pensive mood did not affect my fellow travelers while we were at Bada Bagh.
The other interesting fact about Bada Bagh cenotaph is the way the horses are depicted on the tablets. If the horse had the front two legs in the air, its owner died in a battle. In case it was shown with only one leg raised, then the ruler was grievously injured in battle and had succumbed to the wound. Four legs on the ground meant that the ruler had died a natural death. Hmmm…now you know what I mean about throwing enough clues for your own treasure hunt.😉
Other interesting facts about Bada Bagh Jaisalmer
You will find the stone or marble tablets within all the cenotaphs of Bada Bagh Jaisalmer except for one. This one is the last and the most recent of the lot – deliberately left incomplete for Maharawal Jawahar Singh.
As you climb up and enter this particular cenotaph, you will notice that there is no memorial. Instead a stand holding an earthen pot of water along with a sketched portrait of the ruler. I am given to understand that this is placed in the cenotaph of the one who departed last, as an attempt to quench his thirsty soul. Notice that the entrance of the cenotaph has an inscription. This is nothing but the name of the ruler for whom this cenotaph was built. In this case, Maharawal Jawahar Singh.
Besides the Chattris, try and spot a pole called as the Govardhan Sthambh. This is close to the dam area that borders the Bada Bagh cenotaphs. It was built to commemorate the tank and dam that was initiated by the oldest ruler cremated at Bada Bagh.
On the whole, you will find that the entire place has an abandoned look but despite this, the beauty of the place is unmistakable. Hidden in these lost cenotaphs are some brilliant clues to the life of the Jaisalmer royalty and find those is what makes your tour of Bada Bagh Jaisalmer interesting and memorable.
As my car pulled away, I glanced back at the silent royal structures. The same feeling associated with an elusive beauty hit me and I kept looking at the Bada Bagh till I could see it no more. The strange feeling was so powerful that I almost missed the lovely windmills in the backdrop of the Bada Bagh. Somehow, the majestic cenotaphs of Bada Bagh made everything else seem so insignificant.
If you are headed to Jaisalmer, I would definitely recommend a visit to these golden monuments of Bada Bagh. Waiting to know what you felt after reading this guide to Bada Bagh Jaisalmer. Till then, pin this to your board.
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How to reach Bada Bagh Jaisalmer?
Jaisalmer is accessible from most cities in Rajasthan by road and rail. The nearest airport to Jaisalmer is in Jodhpur and one will have to take a cab or bus or train to reach Jaisalmer.
Once in Jaisalmer, you can get to Bada Bagh by any public transport, including bus, autos or cabs. Your hotel will be able to arrange for one. Alternatively, you can just hail one off the street. It is located approximately 5 km from Jaisalmer Railway Station. You can even club a visit to this place enroute to Sam SandDunes.
What is the best time to visit Bada Bagh Cenotaphs?
The Jaisalmer cenotaphs are open from 8 am to 6 pm everyday. Mornings are a little cooler to visit these monuments. However, I highly recommend visiting the Bada Bagh Jaisalmer around Sunset. The golden glow of the sun shines off these royal cenotaphs, making them literally glow in the desert.
In terms of the weather, the best time to visit is from October to February.
What are the entrance fees for Bada Bagh Jaisalmer?
The entry fees for an Indian is INR 20 and for a foreigner is INR 50. The charges for a still camera is INR 50.
Guides are not easily available. We found one only once we were exiting. There is no fixed charge mentioned here for a guide. You will need to negotiate your own deal.
How much time do I have to keep aside for visiting these Jaisalmer cenotaphs?
Keep aside 45 minutes to 1 hour for a complete tour of Bada Bagh Jaisalmer
Where to stay in Jaisalmer?
Jaisalmer offers you two options for your stay here. One is where you can enjoy a traditional haveli or hotel within the city and the other is spending a night or two in the desert. Look for a hotel or stay within the Jaisalmer Fort. This will allow you easy access to all the major places to see in Jaisalmer.
When it comes to desert stays, you can pick a camp at either Sam Sand Dunes or Khuri Dunes. To know which is better and why, you should read through this complete guide to Jaisalmer desert camps.
Booking resources
- Booking.com has several Jaisalmer hotels and desert camps listed on their site. They can be booked online using this link.
- Klook.com offers online booking of cabs and airport transfer in Jaislamer. You can use the link to book the same.
- Another option that offers tours and transfers in Jaisalmer is GetYourGuide. This link will allow you to access these tours, see the price and reviews and also, book them.
- Amazon is a lovely option to pick up all that you need for your home and travel. Do consider using this link to shop online.
Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, I will receive a small commission if you purchase through my link. Thank you for supporting me with this.
Popularly referred to as a Restless Ball of Energy. My Mom refuses to entertain my complaints about my equally restless daughter & assures my husband that I was born with a travel bug.
I am a Post-Graduate in Marketing by qualification and a travel blogger by passion. Besides travel, I enjoy photography and if you don’t find me at my desk, I would be out playing badminton or swimming or just running. I believe in planning for every long weekend through the year. And when I cannot travel physically, I travel virtually through this travel blog. My travel stories have also, got published on various websites and magazines including BBC Travel, Lonely Planet India and Jetwings. I have recently published my first book – When Places Come Alive – a collection of stories that are based on legends, landscapes, art and culture of a place which is available in both ebook and paperback format.
Wow.. This is a unique experienced shared here. I am from Rajasthan but have never been to this place. Rather haven’t even heard about it until now. But, reading this blog was like going through the journey myself. I am surely visiting this place in my next visit to Rajasthan.
Thank you Tarun. You definitely should.
Ami… Brilliant photography! loved it. It brought out your descriptions aptly. Rajasthan is a place I truly love. And your travel blog does justice to it.
Thank you.
Have been to Jaislamer many times but never visited this place. Actually have not even heard about it!
Great pics Ami with a detailed insight to the history!
Can totally understand the feeling of having a fear of spoiling the excitement 🙂 Its a weird feeling but yet can’t help it at times!
🙂 Thank you Arun. Check out the Bada Bagh during your next visit to Jaisalmer. I think you will like it.
Sure Ami.
Beautiful description and stunning photographs. Loved I came across this one. 🙂
Thank you Shubham
What a beautiful country you have. Thank you for letting me see it from afar.
Thank you. Some day I hope you can make a trip here.
I must confess that I had no idea about these structures and the practices associated with them, Ami. Akin to the Egyptian pyramids, right?
Thank you for bringing this to my notice, Ami. Great photography and copy too.
Absolutely. They are just amazing. Thanks for the compliments
These are beautiful monuments. I have been there and was surprised to see the intricate carvings on them. Great post Ami.
Thank you Indrani
The architecture looks mesmerising… I can imagine myself getting lost in the history and culture of the cenotaphs.
Thank you Rajlakshmi. They are really beautiful
Simply beautiful structures.
Thank you Lata
Great post Ami. I spend like 3 months every year in Jaisalmer (Winter, have a camping spot here) and if you are ever traveling in Jaisalmer or Rajasthan just contact me – I have offered some amazing deals to many travel bloggers in Rajasthan – even complimentary.
Thank you Jatin and I will definitely take you up on this offer :D. I still have to explore lots.
Stunning photographs!
Thank you Priyanka
Wow…nice and interesting article on Bada Bagh. Well written and beautiful pictures.
Thank you Jamshed
Been there. The pictures brought back so many memories.
Glad to hear the Damyanti. 🙂 It sure is an amazing place
I have seen cenotaphs in Bikaner..always been captivated by their beauty. These are equally beautiful. You are great with your camera and pen, Ami 🙂
Thank you Bushra.
Ami this is stunning post with lovely pics, love it..
Thank you 🙂 Happy that you like it
welcome Ami!!
These are such beautiful monuments with intricate carvings! Lovely clicks Ami 🙂
Thank you Maitreni.
Looks like I’ll have to go to Jaisalmer again as I missed seeing this one. I had no idea about these and their practices.
You’ve brought out brilliantly the cenotaphs and their intricate carvings.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Nisha.
I’ve never been to Jaisalmer and i feel so terrible about it…
The cenotaphs are amazing… love the structures and the carvings…. well done Ami 🙂 <3
Thank you Archie 😀
bright colourful pics. The royal burial ground…
Thanks Shrinidhi
Such a beautiful place. The pictures are truly amazing.
Thank you Shalu
That is totally a garden. My grama always refers to any sort of cemetery or memorial grounds as the “bone gardens”. And this would be more fascinating to stroll than some of the more populated palaces. Really cool.
And if I could go again, I definitely would
Thoroughly enjoyed the narration – makes even a lazy person like me want to travel. And some stunning photos!
Thank you Subhodeep. Glad to have inspired travel 😀
What an amazing memorial to the members of this Royal family. Great pictures
Thank you 🙂
the first pic is breathtaking 🙂 whenever I read a Rajasthan I just want to visit it that moment itself, you have captured this so so well. I think the song “ghungat ki aad se dilbar ka” is shot here 🙂
Thank you Shweta. I am not sure if that song was shot here:D Will have to google that one out.
Rajasthan never ceases to awe me, there are so many wonderful places that have so many tales of valour and romance to tell.
That is true for the whole of India 😀
Been there but spent very little time! I surely wish to go back!
🙂 and I would not mind going back again too
The structures really look pretty. I am sad to know why they discontinued building those Chhatris.
I hope to travel to these sites one day- Rajasthan has been amazing me off late
It sure is an amazing place Alok.
Another fantastic find! Beautiful. From far away the shape of the dome really resembles an elephant.
That is an interesting observation
This is my 1st time ever learning about the sati tradition. That is so sad that women actually did that!
Yes, sad indeed. Thankfully, it is no longer prevalent.
Ami, I went to Jaisalmer, but did not go here. Is there a big book of Indian sights or something? How do you pick where you are going?
Hey Corinne, Sometimes you just discover things locally and in this case, I had seen it from the Jaisalmer fort and had then read up on it. 😀
Such beautiful cenotaphs.The architectural splendor of the structures are unreal.
It sure is. Thanks for stopping by
Gorgeous place rich in history and architecture 🙂
It sure is Astha. I loved it.
Hi Ami,
Breathtaking photos and amazing experience! I want to visit one day!
Zaria
Thank you Zaria
Great photos! I have been there, the place is beautiful and gives a nice view of Jaisalmer city.
Thank you.
India just blows me away with the amount of history and things to see.
🙂 It sure does have a lot.
This place looks spectacular, Ami! It is so rich in history and awesome architecture!
Thank you. This place is quite a beauty and I am glad to have found it. Cheers
Such a beautiful place and the pics are truly amazing.
Thank you. This is a gorgeous place and one that you must visit if you are in Jaisalmer
Yes I totally know what you mean, sometimes you find something so beautiful you almost don’t want to share it for fear of it changing from the magical place you experienced. But I love your post with history and photos that are really inspiring for anyone to visit the Jaisalmer Fort and beautiful cenotaphs.
Thank you Kavita, I personally found these Cenotaphs very beautiful,. More than the fort itself.
Now I would love to check out this place. The cenotaphs look amazing. I love the way you have capture these in photos. Beautifully taken.
Thank you Danik. That is a lovely compliment
Such beautiful structures indeed, albeit the meaning they represent. So sad to hear about the crumbling structures. It would be disheartening if the cenotaph will be destroyed as it does have significant meaning to the local history. Love your tips about visiting too. Good to know about the scarcity of guides and the negotiation for the payment.
Thanks Marvi. These structures are truly delightful. Am glad I made it here.
I’m also like you, sometimes afraid that sharing something beautiful and quiet will turn it into a horrible touristy mess. What I do is generally trying to teach people how to be respectful. Not everything has to be transformed into yet another Instagram shot, right?
I get what you are saying. It’s somehow so personal that place that it becomes a little hard to share it. So many places that I am selfish about.
I would have visited the Cenotaphs too.They look very appealing with those bright color and intricate design. Beautiful memorial for the Royal family. Jaisalmer is pretty high on my list, so thanks for sharing these tips.
Am sure you will love the beauty of the place there. Glad you are heading there. Have fun.
These structures look just wonderful – the curry yellow stones in the backdrop of the blue skies – just breathtaking. They should definitely make an effort to preserve something this beautiful and significant for the area.
They are quite a discovery and am sure sooner than later, they will bask in glory of it. Cheers
The Bada Bagh are so distinctive and beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen structures like them. It’s so interesting to hear about the cenotaphs and how spiritual a place this is, and I hope that they remain for many centuries to come – it would be terrible if they were destroyed as it is a part of history and heritage.
I really hope they stay this way for all our future generations. They are a critical part of our heritage alright. Thanks for stopping by Sam.
I went to Jaisalmer last year, and I do remember seeing these structures off in the distance but I didn’t go. This is really interesting, and its not easy to find a magical place like this – free from crowds – I see what you mean about leaving it as it is and uninterrupted. Maybe I will have to go back again!
I really hope you do. It is a place that can only be experienced. Thanks for stopping by Doreen.
As always a beautiful post with awesome pictures. I like the way you express your feelings in the post. The Royal Centopahs of Bada Bagh Jaisalmer are so beautiful. We too would love to visit them, whenever travelling to Jaisalmer.
You should not miss it. The place is magical that has to be felt.
The Cenotaphs of Jaisalmer have a strangely somnolent appeal about them. They look so forlorn and yet majestic. A reminder, albeit a grandiose one of the fate that awaits all of us. The royalty of Rajasthan indeed knew how to live which is illustrated by the grand palaces and they knew how to continue the style in death too. This is evident in the Cenotaphs of Jaisalmer and other places like Jaswant Thada in Jodhpur.
I agree with you on that. They sure knew how to end it in style. Thanks for stopping by.
Such a beautiful palce. Pics are realy amazing.
Thank you Arshia. Glad you like the post.
This place looks amazing! I never heard of Bada Bagh but would love to check out the place if I ever get to India! The feels like this is the Indian version of what the Egyptians did when they built the pyramids (i.e. this time these cenotaphs were built for royal family). I really do love the looks of the architecture which is also appealing to me. You gave a lot of good information on when to go and how much etc but the question I have, is, how long would you recommend at the site? Is it an all day visit or just a couple of hours?
A couple of hours would be good. As recommended in the article, it is good if you can combine this with a trip to the dunes
I would certainly want to explore the Bada Bagh Cenotaphs if I saw them at a distance. One look showed me how beautiful the structures are. And so much history etched into the stone tablets. Even if I would not really want to read about the satis. I am sure it would take a lot of time to discover all the clues to the life of the Jaisalmer royalty!
As sad as Sati custom was, it was the brutal reality of those times. However, this place is like a treasure map that allows you to get clues of the past. Am sure you would love it otherwise.
Hi there,
Love the post and the pictures. How cool is it that there are windmills (the modern-day power solution) next to something so ancient. I got a kick out of the contrast. Nikki
True that. It definitely enhances the contrast.
Oh, this reminds me of my trip to Jaisalmer last year. Really one of the most beautiful places I have been to. But I didn’t go to Bara Bagh, unfortunately.
The sati tradition sounds gruesome. I hope nothing of the sort still happens today.
Not at all. Sati has long been abolished.
This was very informative and I learned a lot about Bada Bagh. I found the tradition of the women etched into the walls to be quite surprising and equally horrific. Your photos are beautiful and I can only imagine the energy you must have felt among such powerful leaders!
Sati sadly was the truth of those days but has long gone. It was painful just imagining the scene back then. However, there is so much more to the place that does make the visit pleasant. Hope you can get to it.
Wow this looks like an absolutely stunning place to visit, what a memorial for the royal family. I especially love the cenotaphs. What are they made of, wood or stone? I can’t believe that wives use to self immolate, what a horrific way to leave this earth!.. I would love to visit this site someday, what a beautiful artistic expression it is!
It is all stone. Sandstone that is popular in that part of the world. The etching on the ceilings is just stunning and hard to believe that it is all stone.
Wow! This is beautiful and fascinating. It would be nice to see the intricate designs in the cenotaphs. Thank you for sharing about Bada Bagh Jaisalmer. I learned something new today since this is my first time to hear about this place.
Glad you liked it Clarice.
Burial and religious places like this are SO interesting to me! Fascinating that it’s called a garden but isn’t one – a guess it’s a garden of souls in a way. I’ve never even been to this part of the world, but it looks like a fabulous stop if I ever do!
That actually is befitting – Garden of souls.
OMG! Thanks for the virtual tour. When I go there, I’m pretty sure I’ll finish off my camera’s memory card just at the Royal Cenotaphs. I exactly know about what you felt – something so special that you want to leave it exclusive. That’s what I feel when I see some gems of places and I begin a battle in head whether to write about it or not! Interesting to know about the marble plaques. I wouldn’t have expected one in marble in the midst of all sandstone.
The marble came in later after the sandstones. I think the later generations began to prefer that over the local sandstone. On the whole, this place is fascinating. I so hope you can get to it .
This looks like such a unique place. I have visited Rajasthan once but never knew about this place. Rajasthan is so beautiful, and the architecture of these structures look incredible. The pictures look beautiful and it is so good to know the history of this place.
Glad you liked it. Hope you can come back and see what you have missed earlier.