The Best Places To Visit In Jaisalmer (The Golden City Of India)
Last Updated: August 7 2022
Jaisalmer was our second stop during our north India trip. It is found at the heart of the Thar desert and is also known as the Golden city. There are so many Jaisalmer tourist spots to choose from including the Fort and Gadisar lake, making this city one of the best places to visit in Rajasthan in our opinion.
In this post, we will talk about the best places to visit in Jaisalmer, where you should stay and information about the Fort. There are lots of incredible sights here, so definitely include this city on your India itinerary.
The Best Places To Visit In Jaisalmer CityÂ
There are plenty of places to see in Jaisalmer, and we are going to highlight some of the places closest to the city centre.
If you are staying for a couple of days, then there is plenty for you to do! Here are some of the best places in Jaisalmer that you need to visit!
Gadisar Lake
Gadisar lake in Jaisalmer was first excavated in 1397 as a man-made water reservoir and is one of the top tourist places in Jaisalmer. The buildings around Gadisar lake have incredible architecture and there are plenty of spots to take great photographs.
The lake used to be 120 miles in diameter with the whole city using it as drinking water; now it is barely big enough to use the Pedalo’s found alongside it. It is very quickly deteriorating, both in size and because of the amount of rubbish that is dumped here.
It is a relaxing spot away from the city centre, but can also give you an idea of the negative impact people can have on a local area. Although we say this, Gadisar Lake is still one of the Jaisalmer tourist spots that you need to add to your itinerary!
Patwon Ki Haveli
Patwon Ki Haveli was erected in the 1800s and is known for its incredible architecture. A Haveli is a mansion or palace. Patwon Ki Haveli is very important as it was the first Haveli built in Jaisalmer. It is also popular due to it being a series of 5 Haveli’s situated along a small side street.
The buildings have incredible architecture, and you need to visit them for sure. In one of the Haveli’s, there is a museum, where artefacts can be seen by tourists. There are also balconies, which gives a great view of the courtyard. It is a good idea to walk here from Jaisalmer fort, to get a feel of the small side streets located within an Indian city.
A Desert stay in Jaisalmer – Spending a night in the Thar desert
The Thar desert (also known as the Great Indian desert) covers an area of around 77,000 square miles and forms a natural border between India and Pakistan.
It is possible to spend a night in the Desert National park that surrounds Jaisalmer and camp under the stars. You usually stay in a desert camp located on the sand dunes, but that depends on the cost of the excursion. We didn’t get a chance to do this but the desert looked beautiful!
You can reach the desert either by camel safari or jeep safari. Honestly, we would pick the desert jeep safari option. The camels don’t seem to be treated very well in India, and for that reason, we definitely wouldn’t ride one!
If you are wanting to do a Jaisalmer tour, make sure you pick an ethical one. There are plenty of different hotels and companies that offer this excursion, but don’t just pick the cheapest. Make sure you do your research first!
The famous Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer fort stands upon a hill and is magical. It is one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer, and should not be missed. It is the only fort in India where people can actually stay and live within. Tourists can also stay in the Fort.
If you don’t have the option of staying in the fort, make sure you at least explore the inside. There are plenty of viewpoints overlooking the city; some even have canons still mounted there.
The views of the city from Jaisalmer fort, show why Jaisalmer is known as the Golden city. There are also plenty of craft shops selling paintings and throws, as well as lots of rooftop restaurants to eat at. If you are sightseeing in Jaisalmer, make sure you visit the Fort!
Staying within Jaisalmer Fort
Being able to stay in a Medieval fort in Jaisalmer was one of our best experiences in India to date! It isn’t something you get to do every day, and the architecture alone is enough to make you want to stay for a couple of nights. The fort is probably one of the most famous places in Jaisalmer city.
From the fort, you get an amazing view of Jaisalmer, and it is a wonderful feeling to overlook a city from the walls of a medieval fort. It makes you feel like you are in a different era!
We found that the prices of accommodation within the fort walls were very similar in price to staying within the rest of Jaisalmer. The Fort is one of the best places in Jaisalmer, and it is even better if you can stay there!
Aside from the views, there are plenty of temples located within and traditional shops. The fort is a very relaxed place to stay, which was needed in the 42-degree heat we experienced.
Another thing about staying in Jaisalmer fort is that it seems to be a lot cleaner than the rest of the city.
Other places to visit near Jaisalmer
Some of the places to visit in Jaisalmer are located a bit further out from the city centre. Here are some other options for you to visit whilst staying in the Golden city.
The Jain temples
There are 7 Jain temples located near Jaisalmer fort, and they date back to the 12th and 15th century. They are religious buildings and are the place of worship for Jains (the followers of Jainism).
Each Jain temple in Jaisalmer is built from the famous ‘golden stone’, that the rest of the city is made of. They are a site of pilgrimage, but they are also very popular with tourists due to the culture.
Akal wood fossil park
Akal wood fossil park is located about a 20-minute drive from Jaisalmer city centre. The area used to be a forest 180 million years ago and after it was submerged under the sea, the wood has now been fossilized alongside fossilized seashells. The park is classified as a National Geological Monument of India and is very popular with tourists.
Thar Heritage museum
The Thar Heritage Museum is located in the middle of Jaisalmer and is a collection of Jaisalmer’s history. The museum is full of artefacts including musical instruments, fossils and other equipment.
The Thar heritage museum is more of a private museum, with the owner acting as a guide throughout. There is also a snakes and ladders game, that acts as a teaching guide for people to learn more about the heritage and culture. If you like museums, you could also visit the Jaisalmer government museum.
Where To Stay in Jaisalmer
There are plenty of great options when looking for a place to stay in Jaisalmer. However, we would recommend staying at Surya Paying Guesthouse.
It is located on the fort walls and has lovely cheap rooms with a rooftop restaurant too. The food is incredible and they also have an indoor restaurant for if it’s too hot.
If you are looking for other accommodation options in Jaisalmer, you can find them by clicking here.
How to reach Jaisalmer
You can either reach Jaisalmer by bus or train from multiple cities including Jaipur, Deli and Jodphur. Lot’s of different companies offer these buses, so you can either get deluxe buses or public buses if you choose.
We got the direct train from Delhi to Jaisalmer. We arrived at Jaisalmer railway station and then got a tuk-tuk up to the entrance of the fort.
The best time to visit Jaisalmer
We visited Jaisalmer in April and honestly, it probably wasn’t the best time to go haha. The weather was above 42 degrees at the time, we hadn’t bought a room with air conditioning because we are cheapskates and we were struggling!
The best time to visit Jaisalmer is probably between November – March because the temperature here is much more pleasant.
We hope this post has given you an idea of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer. This city should be on any India travel itinerary due to the beautiful architecture and unique experiences. If you are travelling to India, we recommend visiting Jaisalmer.
Have you ever visited India? If you have share your experiences in the comments below. We would love to hear about the destinations you have visited!
P.S If you want to follow our journey, why not follow our Instagram here.
Thanks,
Jack & Abbie.
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I’m one half of Acouplescalling. I'm passionate about all things travel and photography and I love sharing my experiences with others. I've seen a lot of the world already and I want to help as many people as I can do the same thing!
