Bada Bagh

Bada Bagh is a royal burial ground a short drive outside Jaisalmer, where a cluster of cenotaphs, or chhatris, commemorates members of the ruling family of Jaisalmer. Built of sandstone, the memorials span the line of rulers from early times to the last maharajas, and together they form a record of the dynasty in stone.

The chhatris differ widely. Some are plain, while others carry detailed carving and latticework, with scenes from Hindu mythology and Rajasthani folk tales. Their honey-coloured stone blends into the dunes and rough ground around them, and the play of light is strongest at sunrise and sunset. A nearby hill gives a view over the whole group of domes spread across the desert.