About Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer holds a major place in the tourism landscape of Rajasthan. Located in the northwestern part of the Indian State, it is popularly called as the golden city because of its bounteous golden sand dunes and castles built with golden honey sandstones.
The city is adorned with a number of lagoons, ornamental Jain places of worship, and lavish havelis. This is however one side of the coin. Jaisalmer is also known for its offbeat desert safari experience. The city offers pleasant stays in the middle of the vast spread Thar desert and loads of adventure activities to give you a completely unforgettable experience. The city is also packed with colorful handicraft marketplaces that will take you back in the timeline to offer you an experience of Indian culture and heritage.
Jaisalmer is home to some of the most sought after attractions of the nation like the majestic Jaisalmer Fort, full of live desert national park, ancient Kuldhara Village, beautifully designed Jain temples, surreal Gadisar Lake, rustic Sam Sand Dunes, artistic Tazia Tower and Badal Palace, intricately designed Patwon ki Haveli, glorious bada bagh, and many more significant places of tourist attractions.
In the course of your visit to the city of Jaisalmer, you can indulge in a number of desert experiences which are not only adventurous but also filled with fun. Heading out on a safari tour on a jeep or camel and traversing your way through the sands is certainly a great experience. The desert camps have also got loads of other fun for you. You will be spending amazing evening hours at the campsite witnessing the traditional performances of music and dance. The campsites are also known to offer the best ever authentic Rajasthani dishes to delight your taste buds.
Jaisalmer remains hot all through the year. It experiences very hot summer days from the month of April to the month of July, rainy season from the month of July to the month of August, and milder winter days from the month of December to the month of March.
Weather in Jaisalmer
Months – March to June
Avg. temperature – 35°C to 45°C
Weather – Extremely hot and dry with intense desert heat
Crowd density – Low
Budget – Low
Clothes to pack – Light cotton clothes, sunglasses, hat or cap, sunscreen, comfortable sandals or shoes
Months – July to September
Avg. temperature – 27°C to 35°C
Weather – Warm with occasional rainfall and cloudy skies
Crowd density – Moderate
Budget – Moderate
Clothes to pack – Comfortable clothes, umbrella or raincoat, breathable footwear
Months – October to February
Avg. temperature – 5°C to 24°C
Weather – Cool and pleasant during the day with chilly desert nights
Crowd density – High
Budget – High
Clothes to pack – Light jackets, sweaters, full-sleeve clothes, comfortable walking shoes
Best Places to Visit in Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer Fort is popularly known as Golden Fort as it is made up of yellow colored sandstone that reflects golden hues. It is one of the must visit places in Jaisalmer for someone who has got a high regard for the history and heritage of India. If you wish to see the best views of this place, you should come over in the evening hours when the fort is completely lit and glowing.
Location: Fort Road, Near Gopa Chowk, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 345001.
Timings: Early morning till 5 pm.
Prices: INR 50 for domestic, INR 250 for others.
Patwon ki Haveli was constructed by Guman Chand who happens to be one of the prominent traders of the city in the bygone times. The haveli is very much popular for its intricately carved massive suites.
The walls of the haveli are beautifully adorned with traditional artworks. This place is a must visit for all kinds of travelers and history geeks. One would definitely fall in love with the architectural style and detailed inscriptions shaped by the talented artisans.
Location: Patwon ki Haveliyan, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 345001.
Timings: 8 am to 6 pm.
Prices: INR 10 for domestic, INR 50 for others.
Salim Singh ki Haveli is one of the most sought after landmarks in Jaisalmer that offers scenic views of the city. The key attraction of this haveli is its roof that is carved in the form of a peacock.
The entrance of the haveli is made of sand stones that are beautifully carved by artisans of the bygone era, which speaks of its own unique language. This haveli is also known as Jahaz Mahal as the frontal part resembles a ship stern. The haveli was constructed by Salim Singh in the year 1815 with almost 38 balconies to lose the track of time and space for visitors.
Location: Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 345001.
Timings: 8 am to 5 pm.
Sam Sand Dunes in Jaisalmer can be considered as a place that is widely famous for its thrilling camel safari. This place offers a vast expanse of sandy soil and sandy crests that welcomes visitors to explore the troughs and terrains of sand dunes on a camel or jeep safari.
In the evening hours, you can indulge in campfires and barbeque activities with your loved ones enjoying the traditional folk music and dances. It is one such place in Jaisalmer where you can enjoy overnight stays in tented campsites.
Location: Sam Sand Dunes Near Sam Toll Barrier, Right Side On Sam Road, Rajasthan 345001.
Timings: Open 24 hours.
Gadisar Lake was built by Raja Rawal Jaisal to meet the water requirements of Jaisalmer city in the bygone era. The lake is surrounded by beautiful chhatris, holy shrines, and places of worship to create an ambience for a romantic retreat for love birds.
This is one of the best places in Jaisalmer that tourists love to visit for a round of boating in the winter season. The key attraction of this place is the beautifully carved entrance gate that is designed by yellow sandstone.
Location: Near Tilon Ki Gate, Near Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer 345001, India.
Desert national park can be considered as one of the top places in Jaisalmer for a wildlife encounter. It is one of India’s largest animal habitats that is home to a wide range of unique flora and fauna that are typical to the habitat of desert. The national park was established by Rawal Jaisal in the year 1156 AD.
The national park is spread over a large area offering an insight into the vegetation, animals, and birds of typical desert. The best time to visit this place would be during sunrise and sunset to spot desert animals, birds, and reptiles. The key attractions of this place are magnificent landscape, migratory birds, extinct lakes, and tiger spotting.
Location: Near Sam Sand Dunes, Jaisalmer 345001, India.
Timings: 10 am to 5 pm.
Prices: INR 100 per person.
Sadar Bazaar can be considered as a place in Jaisalmer that takes forward the legacy of the traditional artisanship. This place is very much famous for its puppets, jewellery, trinkets, and handicraft items. A visit to this place will surely be a treat for your eyes.
The key attractions of this place are clothing, rugs, puppets, handicrafts, jewelry, shawls and many more items infused with the ethnicity of Rajasthan. You can try out your bargaining skills to lock a better deal.
Location: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 345001.
Silk Route Art Gallery is a heritage gallery that offers an amazing range of local handicraft items, clothes, patchworks, accessories, antiques and a lot of other products. You will truly fall in love with the rich culture and vibrancy of this place.
The local artisans and craftsmen strive to create magic with the traditional artforms. Visiting this place, you will also get a chance to witness the processing of weaving magical threads. You can also purchase a wide range of traditional items like wall hangings, mud pots, and oil lamps at very reasonable rates.
Location: Kalakar Colony, Patwa Haveli Road, Malka Pol,, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 345001.
Timings: 7 am to 8 pm.
If you were looking out for a great street market experience then this is the place. Sonaron Ka Bass happens to be a prominent market in Jaisalmer that is known for its intricately designed jewellery shops.
You will be able to get an extensive range of jewelry options made up of semi precious and precious stones at this place. The items available at this place will surely be a great pick to carry home as a souvenir or gift for any close family member.
Location: Sunaaron ka Baas, Jaisalkot, Jaisalmer.
Timings: 10 am to 6 pm.
Things to do in Jaisalmer
The grand Jaisalmer fort is one of the major tourist attractions of the city. Taking a sightseeing tour around the fort will give you insights about the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan.
The fort showcases a number of intricate artworks made by Indian artisans on sandstones. The fort can be considered to be the fences for inter alia, Gadisar Lake, Sadar Bazar, Patwon Ki Haveli, and Desert National Park.
Location: Near Gopa Chowk, Khejer Para, Manak Chowk, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 345001.
Prices: INR 50.
Timings: 9AM – 5PM.
Taking a tour of the Jaisalmer city would give you some of the best glimpses of Havelis, Temples, Forts, and Sand Dunes. The guided photography tour through some of the most sought after Jaisalmer attractions will give you a never seen before perspective.
Do make sure that you carry the best camera and wide angle lenses to click some of the amazing shots. In the course of taking this tour, you can also stopover at certain places to savour some of the tasty local drinks and snacks.
Location: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Prices: INR 1300 per person.
Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM.
Gadisar Lake happens to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in Jaisalmer because of its pristine panoramic views. This is a man made reservoir constructed in the year 1367 by Maharawal Gadsi Singh.
Tourists come over to this place to indulge in boating activities in the middle of alluring natural beauty. One would definitely fall in love with the spectacular surroundings of this place and create some everlasting memories to cherish.
Location: Jaisalmer.
Prices:
- INR 100 for 2-seater pedal boat
- INR 200 for 4-seater pedal boat
- INR 300 for 6 seater rowing boats.
Timings: 7 am – 7 pm.
Jaisalmer presents its visitors with vibrant options to shop in Rajasthan and it is definitely one of the best things to do in Jaisalmer.
You would be able to get a wide range of options and varieties of handmade products such as clothes, accessories, jewelry, bags, footwear, etc. During your visit, you should buy Puppets, jootis, Rajasthani textiles, decorative items, camel leather items, local handicrafts, yellow sandstone showpieces, ornaments, and wooden items.
Location:
- Sadar Bazaar
- Bhatia Bazaar
- Manak Chowk
- Pansari Bazaar
- Sonaron ka Baas
- Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan in Seema Gram.
Parasailing happens to be one of the exhilarating activities that visitors love to relish in their course of visit to Jaisalmer. The best place to head out for the activity is Kanoi which provides a lavish treat to your senses. You can request the desert camps to arrange this activity for you to relish the thrill and excitement.
Location: Kanoi, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Price: INR 760 per person.
Timings: 1 to 2 Hours.
Paramotoring is one of the best activities to try out in Jaisalmer. It is the best activity for individuals who wish to take part in some daring and adventurous activity in the course of visit.
Paramotoring is a motor powered parasailing that takes you above the golden sand dunes from a height above the ground. During this activity, you can take fascinating pictures of the panoramic surroundings. You will be accompanied by an experienced pilot who will help you to navigate the vehicle and give you a company on board.
Location: Jaisalmer.
Price: INR 2000 per person.
Timings: One to two Hours.
Quad Biking is yet another thrilling activity that you can try out in the course of your visit to Jaisalmer. Taking part in this activity, you can explore the varied dune topography.
Riding on an enclosed circuit in a quad bike over a dustry whirlpool adds to the thrill factor. If you are an adventure lover, then the perfect sandy terrain and quad biking is what you should look out for to add to the thrill and excitement.
Location: Sam Sand Dunes, Jaisalmer.
Prices: INR 1700 per person.
Timings: One to two hours.
The sand dunes of Jaisalmer are just perfect for bashing and offroading activities that thrill seekers look out for during their visit to the golden city. Exploring the desert routes on a 4x4 SUV is surely one of the most pulsating things that an adventure lover can think of trying out.
In order to take you through the sand terrains, you will be provided with a Toyota Land Cruiser or the Fortuner 4X4. This activity will be taken under strict supervision of professionals as there are chances of accidents when taking a sharp overturn. You would need to have competent maneuvering skills to outcast others in this activity.
Location: Rajasthan.
Price: INR 1700 per person.
Timings: 2 to 3 hours.
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Jaisalmer Most Popular Tours
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Jaisalmer Most Popular Activities
Jaisalmer FAQ's
What is famous in Jaisalmer?
- Jaisalmer fort
- Patwon Ki Haveli
- Desert National Park
- San Sand dunes
- Khuri Village Sand Dunes.
What is the best time to visit Jaisalmer?
What is famous to buy in Jaisalmer?
- Mirror work
- Embroidered garments, carpets, and shawls
- Carpets made from the hairs of camel
- Oil lamps
- Old stoneworks
- Silk and cotton textiles
- Tapestry
- Silver jewellery
- Finely cut antiques.
How many days are sufficient for Jaisalmer?
Day 1: Arrival at Jaisalmer
- You would arrive at Jaisalmer on the very first day of the trip and then settle down. On the first day of the trip, you should visit the famous Jaisalmer Fort and many other havelis. In the afternoon hours, you can visit Gadisar Lake and indulge in some boating activities.
Day 2: Local Sightseeing Tour
- On the second day of the tour, you can head out to visit the famous Khaba Fort, watch puppet shows, visit museums and exhibition halls.
- On the last day of the tour, you can pack your bags and prepare for the onward return journey.
What is Sam Sand Dunes in Jaisalmer?
This place is visited by adventure lovers to take part in various adventure activities like jeep safari, camel ride, and paramotoring. Spending a night at the sand dune, you can also indulge in star gazing, bonfire, barbeque, and cultural programs such as Rajasthani Folk Music and Dance
How can I plan a trip to Jaisalmer?
- Jaisalmer is a heritage city that takes you close to the age traditions and culture of India.
- You can reach Jaisalmer by taking direct flights to Jaisalmer airport or direct train from all major cities.
- After arriving at Jaisalmer on the first day of the trip, you should make plans to visit the famous Jaisalmer Fort.
- You should spend time taking a walking tour of the havelis.
- Visit the famous Gadisar lake in the afternoon times and capture some brilliant snaps.
Day 2:
- On the second day of the trip, you can head out to Khaba Fort.
- You should make sure that you try out Bhang Lassi or Cookie.
- You can think of watching a puppet show and eat amazing momos at a tibet restaurant.
Which is better, Jaisalmer or Jodhpur?
Is it safe to travel to Jaisalmer?
Being close to the Pakistan Border, visitors are not allowed to wander close to the border areas. The local administration and the police personnels are at all times alert to resolve any kind of unwanted situation arising in the city.
Which is the best place Jaipur or Jaisalmer?
However, taking a trip to Jaisalmer, you would be able to marvel at Thar Desert, which is the one of the biggest desserts in the world. You can indulge in camel safari tours and sand dunes stays to enjoy authentic Rajasthani Food and Cultural performances.
How many deserts are there in Jaisalmer?
How much time is required to visit Bada Bagh Jaisalmer?
It remains open from 8 AM in the morning to 6 PM in the evening for visitors to come over and marvel at these heritage sites along with their loved ones.
What are the best public transport modes to commute around Jaisalmer?
1. Auto Rickshaws and Rental Cabs: These happen to be the readily available mode of transport in the city to carry you from one place to another within the city limits.
2. City Transport Buses: You can also travel from one place to another by city buses that ply in between every important destination at regular intervals.
What are the famous camping sites in Jaisalmer?
2. The Serai Camp: It is one of the most extravagantly designed desert camps in Jaisalmer that is spread over an area of about 100 acres. You will be offered lavish accommodations to stay and enjoy the best of cultural performances.
3. Rajasthan Desert Safari Camp: Rajasthan Desert Safari Camps nestles in the middle of the beautiful Thar Desert offering luxurious stays to the guests with all sorts of modern and state of art amenities in a tranquil setting.
4. Winds Desert Camp: Winds desert camp is one of the best campsites to stay in Jaisalmer that offers you a calm and peaceful accommodation with its minimalistic designed tents.
Which are the famous forts in Jaisalmer?
2. Khaba Fort: Khaba Fort happens to be a fascinating and spooky fort located in Jaisalmer that was once upon a time inhabited by the Paliwal Brahmins. The fort still has ruins of about 80 families for a period of more than 200 years. Khaba fort is often visited by tourists visiting the heritage rich Kuldhara Village.
Which are the best heritage sites in Jaisalmer?
2. Patwon-Ki-Haveli: Patwon Ki Haveli was constructed by a famous trader Guman Chand and his sons. It is a five storied construction that has intricately decorated suites. You will come across the artistic walls made of yellow sandstones. The grandeur and architecture of the monument adds to the cultural heritage of the Jaisalmer.
3. The Thar Heritage Museum: Located at the main market of Jaisalmer, this museum presents you the best ever passage of through the Indian history, culture, art and architecture of the famous Thar Desert. You would be able to sight the age-old sea fossils, unique ornaments, ancient manuscripts, ships of the desert, documents, coins of Jaisalmer, and weapons.
4. Nathmal-ki-Haveli: Nathmal Ki Haveli happens to be constrcuted by two Muslim brothers on the order of the then prime minster. The haveli features extraordinary outdoor carvings and beautiful interior decors.
You will come across some of the amazing paintings on the interior walls of the haveli and all sorts of modern facilities. The haveli can be considered to be a perfect blend of Islamic and Rajputana Architecture.
Which are some best camel safari packages to experience camel rides in Jaisalmer?
1. Camping In Jaisalmer With Camel Safari Flat 20% Off
2. Camping In Jaisalmer With Desert Safari Flat 30% Off
3. Adventure Safari Camping In Jaisalmer Flat 20% Off
4. Sam Sand Dunes Camping In Jaisalmer Flat 66% Off
5. Desert Camping In Jaisalmer With Camel Safari Flat 68% Off
Which are the best budget camping tours in Jaisalmer, price starts from INR 1100?
What are the must to do activities in the golden city Jaislamer?
Which are some of the best Jaisalmer tour packages?
Which are the best places to visit in Jaisalmer to explore the golden city?
1. Jaisalmer Fort (Due to its location at the golden stretches of the Thar Desert, this fort is also known as the ‘Sonar Quila’ or the ‘Golden Fort’)
