The “Golden Fortress” in the legendary movie ‘Sonar Kella’ by Satyajit Ray, that turned out to be the Jaisalmer Fort in Rajasthan, is something that no one who has seen ‘Sonar Kella’ or the Golden Fortress will ever forget. When Mukul, the film’s main character, recalls of hidden diamonds in a location distant from Calcutta, the reincarnation story takes on a detective bent. His father brings him to Dr. Hajra, a parapsychologist, who accepts him and promises to assist him by transporting him to locations he has described. Dr. Hajra arrives in Sonar Kella in this manner because Mukul recalls residing in a “golden fortress” surrounded by deserts, peacocks, and undiscovered diamonds. From this point on, the plot develops.
Satyajit Ray’s Sonar Kella and his protagonist Feluda ( Soumitra Chattopadhyay) has immortalised Jaisalmer Fort .
The Rajasthan Government is all set to build a statue of Maestro Filmmaker in the city of Jaisalmer. “ The district collectorate of Jaisalmer has sent a proposal to our state government and it has already been sanctioned and we hope that by September this year the state will be set up in Jaisalmer. The site has not been finalised yet,” informed Mr. Hinglaj Dan Ratnoo, Officer in Charge of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation in Kolkata.
‘Sonar Kella’ the movie also has forts from Bikaner (Junagarh), Jodhpur (Mehrangarh), and Jaipur in addition to Jaisalmer (Nahargarh). In actuality, Satyajit Ray played a significant role in examining Rajasthan’s true tourist potential on a global scale. Beginning in the 1970s, Bengali tourists began travelling to Jaisalmer. Not only did the master film Sonar Kella in Jaisalmer in 1968, but he also chose to shoot his fantasy adventure picture Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne in the same location.
Rao Jaisal constructed the World Heritage-listed Jaisalmer Fort in 1156 AD. The fort’s main highlights include Raj Mahal, Laxminath Temple, and four ornate entrances. It is constructed of yellow sandstone. Satyajit Ray’s magnificent cinematography and creative genius have immortalised the Fort. Currently, Sonar Kella is a must-see for hundreds of visitors to Jaisalmer from all over the world.
