Top Places to Visit in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is the diva of sand dunes that leaves its travellers in awe with its dusty, dazzling charm. Aptly called the ‘Golden City’, Jaisalmer is known for its glistening sand dunes, havelis with elaborate facades, royal palaces, colourful handicrafts, vibrant bazaars and a majestic fort that seems to have risen dramatically from the sandy plains. Get ready for a great adventure through the sun-kissed city of Jaisalmer on your Rajasthan tour. 

Jaisalmer was always ruled by Rajputs who protected the area and country with great pride and the same is reflected when you speak with locals around who are warm and hospital in disposition. The taste in constructing old forts and new structures is resplendent with red sandstone. The temples especially the Jain Temples and other places of historic significance are well sculpted and carved as if narrating old tales. The city was founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156 and he was formally called Jaisal Singh. So, anyone wondering about the coining of Mer in the name, it stems from the fact that ‘Mer’ signifies fort and since the whole area is dominated by forts and palaces, it was named Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer also has some of the world’s oldest libraries with the rarest manuscripts and artefacts of Jain Heritage showcasing its rich cultural history.

Here are some top places to visit in Jaisalmer which must be a part of any Jaisalmer tour itinerary.

Jaisalmer Fort: Bathed in golden light and rich heritage

Jaisalmer Fort, also known as Sonal Quila (Golden Fort) is still being used by inhabitants, and hence it is the only living fort in the world. It is perched on a hill offering breathtaking views of the surroundings. It has shops, temples, hotels and families living here for centuries. When the rising sun’s rays fall on it, it glistens like gold giving it the look of a castle straight out of a fairy-tale. Its architecture reflects the glorious era of the Rajputs. Every traveller has this fort on their Jaisalmer tour itinerary.

Gadisar Lake: An amazing spot for rejuvenation

Gadisar is an artificial lake built by the founder of Jaisalmer King Rawal Jaisal in 1156 AD. It derives its name from Gadsi Singh Bhati who rebuilt it in 1367 AD and saved it from getting vanquished. The lake also has many shrines of Hindu Gods and Goddesses which is of big interest to pilgrims. They also built lots of chhatris in the middle of the lake, this is probably where kings and queens would take a rest and enjoy the serene calm meditative space of their own. One cannot help but imagine the quiet solitude with the sounds of water, wind, birds, and other animals creating a symphony of their own while rejuvenating everyone around.

Bada Bagh: A refreshing retreat

The city is not only adorned with forts, palaces and lakes but very surprisingly it is also blessed with a grandeur garden which came from a big initiative from a descendant of Maharawal Jaisal Singh, named Jait Singh (1497-1530), who decided to make this area clean and to do that he decided to make a dam and a water tank so that the desert area can become greener. To honour his initiative his son Lunkaran built a beautiful garden in his memory near the lake and also made chhatris as was the tradition of the place. Many more chhatris were constructed for Lunkarans and Bhattis. All the chhatris have been carved out of yellow stone as the tradition is. One should expect to climb a hill to enjoy Bada Bagh but the hill is not that steep.

Jaisalmer War Museum: A glimpse of the past

Jaisalmer War Museum is a solemn tribute to the nation’s military heritage and the sacrifices of its soldiers. Jaisalmer district was chosen to make a War Museum for its rich martial traditions and for being witness to numerous battles including the famous Battle of Laungewala in 1971. The museum displays the collection of equipment, armour, tanks, vehicles, etc., from the war.

Tanot Mata Temple: The temple with a miracle

Tanot Mata, is a historical temple near the Indo-Pak border, and it was heavily bombarded by the enemy forces in the 1971 war but could not cause any damage inside the temple. The temple still houses the bombs fired by the enemy force. Goddess Aavad, the daughter of Mamadji Charan (Gadhvi), is worshipped as Tanot Mata and was the predecessor of Karni Mata. Like many other goddesses of the region such as Temde Rai, Karni Mata, Deg Rai and Khodiyar, she was also born in the Charan caste and lived her life as a warrior sage. As per the oldest Charan literature, Tanot Mata is an incarnation of the divine Goddess Hinglaj Mata and thus is a Goddess of War.

Longewala War Memorial: The testimony to the bravery of Indian soldiers

The Battle of Longewala (4–7 December 1971) was one of the first major engagements in the Western sector during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The battle was fought between 120 Indian soldiers accompanied by four Hunter fighter aircraft and 2,000–3,000 Pakistani soldiers accompanied by 30–40 tanks. The movie Border was made on this war. It was one of the deadliest tank battles in history. The War Memorial reflects the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers. It is located 150 km from Jaisalmer.

Desert National Park: Wilderness unlimited

Located 40 km from Jaisalmer, this Park is home to animals such as desert monitors, spiny-tailed lizards, sandfish, deadly vipers, krait and around 150 varieties of residential and migratory birds including the endangered Great Indian Bustard. It is one of the largest parks in India spanning over 3162 sq km. It boasts of around 180 million years old plants and animal fossils and hence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Desert Festival: Fun Unlimited

The Desert Festival of Jaisalmer is the most awaited and famous cultural and colourful event in Rajasthan. During the festival, camel races, turban-tying and Mr. Desert competitions are organized which are truly too much fun to watch. Held in February every year, the festival showcases Rajasthani folk songs and dances winning the hearts of many tourists. Fire dance is the major attraction of the festival celebrations. Desert Festival is the best time to visit Jaisalmer to witness performing arts like Kalbelia dances and folk songs and music.

Jaisalmer Havelis: Inescapable magnetism

Patwon-ki-Haveli

Ornate to the hilt, Patwon-ki-Haveli is a collection of five houses adjacent to each other built in the 19th century. These Havelis are so beautifully and intricately carved that one can gape at them for hours. Their façades, gateways, archways, balconies and wall paintings are breathtakingly beautiful. 

Salim Singh-ki-Haveli

The unique feature of Salim Singh-Ki-Haveli is that it is only made of stone and no cement or mortar has been used in it. At its entrance stand alluring elephants carved out of stone. The Haveli is full of intricate carvings and amazing balconies. Its high-arched roof is supported by carved brackets designed in the shape of peacocks. This haveli also dates back to the 19th century.

Nathmal-ki-Haveli

The exterior of this havelis is exquisitely carved attracting tourists just like a magnet attracts iron nails. It was built in the 19th century and is still partially inhabited. Its major attractions include miniature-style paintings and huge tuskers carved out of yellow sandstone.

How to reach Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer can be easily reached by air, rail and road as it is well connected to the major cities of India.

By Air: The nearest airport is Jodhpur Airport and one can take a flight from metros in India or from overseas countries. There are regular flights from cities like Delhi, Udaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Jaipur. After landing in Jodhpur one can either spend time in the city or take a cab for Jaisalmer which is almost 275 km from Jodhpur airport. Since the roads are good, it doesn’t seem much, less than 5 hours. 

By Rail: Jaisalmer is very well connected with most of the major cities in Rajasthan and India such as Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, etc. 

By Road: One can easily drive to Jaisalmer or take a bus from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Delhi, Bikaner, Ahmedabad and many other locations in Rajasthan and India. After reaching Jaisalmer local transport is easily available.

Best time to visit Jaisalmer

The best time to visit Jaisalmer is in the winter season (from October to February) as the weather remains pleasant. Peak summers can be very uncomfortable as the temperatures can reach 50-55 degrees Celsius. During winters, the weather remains pleasant with average temperatures ranging from 7 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for you to explore the fort and enjoy outdoor activities. 

Jaisalmer tour itinerary with the above places will surely make your Rajasthan tour a lifetime experience!