Jaisalmer War Museum

Located 10km from Jaisalmer on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur Highway near the Military Station in Thaiyat, the Jaisalmer War Museum was established to honour the contributions and sacrifices of war heroes. Ideated under Lieutenant General Bobby Mathews and cultivated by the Indian Army's Dessert Corps, the museum was opened for public viewing in 2015 by Lieutenant General Ashok Singh. Lieutenant General Bobby Mathews conceived the idea of the museum to honour the war heroes of the Laungewala Battle (1971). Since Jaisalmer had a history of suffering from long stretches of wars, including the Laungewala Battle, it was chosen as a suitable location for the museum. The museum displays collections from these wars including equipment, armour, weapons, vehicles and more.

Displays at the Jaisalmer War Museum are divided into the Laungewala Hall, the Indian Army Hall and the Audio-Visual Hall. 3D bird’s eye view models of areas of interest along with informational maps (sand models), war displays and photographs are used to build the narrative of the Laungewala Battle in the Laungewala Hall. Important events from the battle are showcased using miniature models and write-ups. The Indian Army Hall displays information on various battles such as the Indo-Pakistani War of 1948, Sino-Indian War of 1962, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and the Kargil War of 1999 along with stories and events of bravery and sacrifice by the Indian Army Soldiers.  The evolution of the Indian Army since the 19th century is also showcased here. The hall also displays various equipment captured from enemies by the Indian Army. The Audio-Visual Hall screens a movie on the Battle of Laungewala along with some other films on the army.

Some prominent exhibits in the museum include war trophies, vintage equipment, tanks such as the T 55 Tank, military vehicles along with murals of soldiers and Indian Army strategies from the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. A 106mm Recoilless Gun, the Indian Army’s main anti-tank weapon employed to destroy a number of enemy tanks and the Hunter MK II aircraft that contributed in taking down enemy tanks in the Laungewala Battle are also noteworthy displays. The museum also includes an Honour Wall displaying and honouring names of Paramvir Chakra and Mahavir Chakra Holders.

The Jaisalmer War Museum also puts up a Light and Sound show showcasing stories of pride and the rich heritage of Indian Armed Forces every evening from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm. The museum which is open seven days a week also includes a souvenir shop and a café for refreshments. 

This content has been created as part of a project partnered with Royal Rajasthan Foundation, the social impact arm of Rajasthan Royals, to document the cultural heritage of the state of Rajasthan.