In the medieval period,when Muslim rule was forcefully spreading all over India, Indian natives had great struggle to save their culture, chastity, heritage and properties.The fear was more with indian ladies, who regarded their chastity more than their life.While men were out to fight against the invaders, women in the houses were praying for their win.In Rajasthan, there was a custom in which ladies of warriers were falling into burning fires as soon as they hear that their men were defeated in the battle field. So, they kept the burning fire ready.This custom was called -JOUHAR.

  Here an eye-witness acount of Tombs seen in  a Rajsthan tourist spot is given. Rajasthan tourism has made good arrangements to see these tombs.There are many packages to tour Rajsthan.-Rajasthan holidays,' 'Palace on wheels', 'Rajasthan travel packages ' are some such programmes.

     Jaisalmer is a small city situated in Thar desert, 600 K.ms away from Jaipur, and 300 k.ms. away from Jodhpur.Large number of Jauhar tombs are found here.

Artistic tombs of jaisalmer

You can see tombs built in inspiring memorey of such heroic ladies who fell into fire, preferring death to loosing chastity.Indian ladies concidered that they should be devoted to their husbands only and nothing should come in the way of maintaining that ethics.Naturally, when their husbands die and they were on the verge of being caught by their enemies, they preferred death.They became idols to the next generation.In various parts of Rajasthan, beautiful tombs are built in their honour.You can see such tombs near jaipur, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, etc. But Jouhar tombs at Jaisalmer are very artistic than those in other places.

BARA BAGH

On the outskirts of Jaisalmer, presently a district headquarters and formerly a princely state of Rajasthan, is a sandy rocky area where these tombs are constructed.This place is called -'Bara Bagh' or-'Big Garden'.There is clear road to this spot. There is nothing of the garden sort. It is named so to indicate the abundance of what is there. And there is the abundance of-tombs!

structure of tombs.

Gere, some tombs are single, and some are in a continuous line.Some have artistic pillers,carvings, designs, and arches.At the centre of each tomb, is a small base to the goove of which astanding stone is fixed. This stone has the inscription on it and some picture is carved on it. The picture engraved usually shows a man on the horse or in standing posture, with his ladies.

Below that, there names are indicated in Rajasthani script.Guides are available.

A visit to this place with the knowldge of the custom invokes so many feelings in us.

A SALUTE TO THOSE WHO CONCIDERED PURITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST LIVING.