India, March 21 -- Rajasthan's westernmost frontier, near the India-Pakistan border, stretches into an extraordinary expanse of rolling dunes and scattered oases. This windswept land of extremes has long been a historic crossroads of cultures, caravans, and commerce, flourishing along the Silk Route, where merchants from faraway lands traded spices, silk, and opium. It was here, in 1156 AD, that Maharawal Jaisal founded his capital, Jaisalmer. His formidable stronghold of honey-hued sandstone atop Trikuta Hill remains one of the world's last living forts. A UNESCO World Heritage site, its labyrinth of narrow lanes, bustling bazaars, and timeworn Havelis is still home to nearly 5,000 Brahmin and Rajput residents. One glimpse of the 'Golde...