Jaisalmer, nicknamed “The Golden City”, is a City in the Indian state of Rajasthan, located 575 kilometres west of the state capital Jaipur. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone and is crowned by the ancient Jaisalmer Fort. This fort contains a royal palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples of both the fort and the town below are built of finely sculptured sandstone. The town lies in the heart of the Thar Desert and has a population, including the residents of the fort, of about 78,000. It is the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer.
21 Places To Visit In Jaisalmer
1. Jaisalmer Fort
Amongst all the places to see in Jaisalmer, the Jaisalmer Fort is the largest. It is in fact, one of the largest forts around the world. Located on Tirukuta Hill, this fort was built by Rao Jaisal, one of the mightiest rulers of Jaisalmer. 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’.
Over the past few centuries, this fort has witnessed several battles and has successfully endured its pride and glory of being one of the magnificent forts in Rajasthan. However, kings and battles are no longer persistent and can be found on the pages of history books, leaving behind their immortal legacy and bonding with this fort.
2. Sam Sand Dunes
Sam Sand Dunes is indeed one of the most authentic desert dune sites in the whole of India and truly deserves to be on your list of things to do in Jaisalmer. Here, you find 30 to 60-meter tall dunes and many travelers enjoy Desert Safari on camels or jeeps. Sam is 45 kilometers west of Jaisalmer city which you can reach by hiring a vehicle. You may further choose to stay in one of many desert camps that are mostly built-in a 2 to 3-km radius of dunes.
3. Royal Food Walk Tour in Jaisalmer
The city is well established in the proximity of the Thar desert and its golden look can be observed in the city’s architecture, people and local streets. Jaisalmer has its marvel as loaded with narrow streets that are flanked by plenty of Havelis, mahals and Golden Forts.
4. Pansari Bazaar
When looking for distinct shopping experiences in Jaisalmer, a visit to its oldest market, Pansari Bazaar, is a must. The place, which once was a villager’s market, is today a vibrant thoroughfare where you can buy a plethora of goods.
Most commonly visited for its wealth of colorful puppets made out of fabrics, the bazaar also sells wall hangings, antique bells chimes, etc. When at the market, you can also buy beautiful fabrics in different colors, patterns, prints, etc. to make into dresses and bedding. The bazaar is situated 0.2 kilometers away from the Jaisalmer Fort, allowing you to easily fit a visit to the market on a Jaisalmer sightseeing day.
5. The Lalgarh – Restaurant
The menu also includes vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, halal, kosher and gluten-free options. The ambiance is quiet and charming and the place is well-maintained with a strong influence of traditional Rajasthan, be it in music, setting or warmth. If you are tired from your day of visiting the Jaisalmer tourist places, then this is the perfect place to unwind!
6. Maharaja’s Palace
A five-story building in the Main Chowk of Jaisalmer Fort is what is recognized as the Maharaja’s Palace. The palace has meticulously carved stone balconies and window arches as some of the alluring features. The official name of “the palace” is Jaisalmer Fort Palace Museum & Heritage Center but the locals and tour guides commonly refer to it as “the palace” as it is easy to spit out.
The palace showcases the lavish and grand rooms like the King’s bedroom, exercise room and the audience room of the King to its visitors. The main hall displays paintings of Maharaja in different periods and the walls of the palace recite the tales of the royal legacy making it one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer.
7. Jain Temple
The fun fact about the Jaisalmer fort which is also called as ‘sonar quilla’ is that It is just not a tourist attraction site or a world heritage site but a huge settlement that houses temples, havelis, shops, houses etc. This group of Jain temples in Jaisalmer dates back to the 12th century and is of great archaeological value. These temples are a great example of a Dilwara style built with animals and human figures carved on the walls of Yellow stones. The Jain temples in the Jaisalmer Fort are dedicated to Rikhab Devji and Shambhavi Dev Ji, the famous Jain hermits who are fondly called ‘Tirthankars’. Gyan Bhandar Library is one of the interesting features that you will find on the campus, prowling some of the rare manuscripts preserved in India at this place.
8. Mandir Palace
A conspicuous historic point in this staggering legacy city is Mandir Palace, which had been the living arrangement of the leaders of Jaisalmer for over two centuries.
Mandir Palace is a dazzlingly cut compositional wonder of fancy galleries, coverings and carefully cut screens that speak to a high purpose of neighborhood craftsmanship in its finest and purest structure and makes it one of the best places to see in Jaisalmer.
A recognizable element of Mandir Palace is its tower called ‘Badal Vilas’, which emerges as the tallest structure underneath the slope top city post.
9. Surya Gate
Surya Gate is a door of the antiquated door of the Jaisalmer Fort, located in the Thar Desert. The history of the yellow-sandstone fort goes back to the twelfth century AD it is one of the enchanting places to visit in Jaisalmer, atop the Trikuta hill.
To make it to the castles you have to move through four progressive ingresses, Hawa Gate, Ganesh Gate, Surya, and Akhai Gate. Surya gate is the second slender door that is adorned with various stone carvings. When you visit the fort you will notice that the entryways are not in a straight line because, during ancient times, this design would help anticipate the foe’s simple passage.
10. Khaba Fort
Located within the vicinity of the Kuldhara village, the Khaba Fort is an abandoned structure that is yet another eerie place in Jaisalmer. This fort holds great potential for photography enthusiasts and is one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer to click amazing snapshots. The surroundings of the fort are intriguing enough to let you have a chilling experience!
This fort was inhabited by the Paliwal Brahmins, and the reason behind this desertion is not entirely known to date. It is believed that when the Paliwal Brahmins deserted the village, they deserted this fort too. When you are at the fort, you get amazing panoramic views of the village. Upon strolling inside the fort, you can experience the old-world charm from the remnants of the structure. There is also a museum here that houses rare artifacts dating back several centuries. Now this place and the surrounding regions are rarely visited by the locals who believe that this place is a cursed one.
11. Nathmal-ki-Haveli
This haveli has derived its origin from the late 19th century and has an extraordinary exterior, dripping with carvings. The 1st floor of the haveli has some beautiful paintings that are made using 1.5kg of gold leaf. The left and right wings were the work of two brothers-Hathi and Lulu. The competitive spirit in them produced this virtuoso work. If you closely observe, the two sides are similar, but not identical.
There are pictures engraved on pillars and walls that consist of horses, cattle, and depiction of flora among many other things. The most interesting aspect of this haveli that draws instant attention is the modern amenities such as cars, fans etc. It is said and believed that the architect brothers never saw these things in reality and engraved them with the mere help of their descriptions. These interesting facts surely make visiting Nathmal ki haveli on your list of things to do in Jaisalmer.
12. Vyas Chhatri
Vyas Chhatri is an air array of brilliant sandstone chhatris and is located on an old Brahmin graveyard on an ascent on the northwestern edge of town making it one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer.
It is a well-known sunset point from which you can have the sight of the Fort. You can enter Vyas Chhatri from Ramgarh Rd, which is just opposite the Himmatgarh Palace Hotel.
13. Dussehra Chowk
Enclosed in the Golden Fort (Sonar Quila) of Jaisalmer, the Dussehra Chowk sprawls as a large courtyard that is shrouded with tales of ceremonies and celebrations of the festival of Dussehra during the reign of Rajput in Jaisalmer. The edifices and edges of the marvellous Royal fort can be witnessed from all the angles of the Dussehra Chowk. Hawa Pol, Akshya Pol, Ganesh Pol, and Suraj Pol are the four getaways to enter the fort and one can reach the Dussehra Chowk by Hawa Pol (the last of the four getaways). There is a marble throne which is said to be the place where the King would sit and watch the proceedings in the complex.
14. Khuri Sand Dunes
Located on the outskirts of Jaisalmer, Khuri dunes are a popular visiting spot. The Khuri village is one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer to witness how people live in the desert. You can see the many mud and straw houses at Khuri. These homes have impressive exterior decorations.
Camel riding is one of the main activities in this village and while visiting this village, you can explore the vast expanses of the desert outskirts on a camelback. The crests and troughs of the dunes will intrigue you. Some dunes reach mesmerizing heights.
15. Jaisalmer War Museum
The Indian Army has set up a historical war museum in Jaisalmer. This war museum which is the first of its kind on the Western front traces the evolution of the Indian Army and covers in detail its inspiring contribution in mainly the1965 Indo-Pak War and 1971 Longewala battle including all combat operations and other nation-building activities.
‘Jaisalmer War Museum’ was established in the military station of Jaisalmer to showcase the bravery of the Indian Army and also to commemorate the sacrifice of its heroes displaying valor and courage of exceptional order during India’s wars.
16. Tanot Mata Temple
Established in AD 847, the highly revered Tanot Mata Temple is believed to be Goddess Hinglaj Mata’s incarnation. This is a miraculous temple located in the proximity of Longewala which used to be a battle site during the 165-71 Indo-Pak war.
Jawans posted near the temple share magical stories associated with this temple. For instance, the way the temple remained untainted and the soldiers alive even though Pakistan dropped over 3000 bombs, is a very enrapturing tale.
17. Salim Singh-ki Haveli
This haveli is one of the popular tourist attractions in Jaisalmer. Salim Singh-ki Haveli is built on an older structure. This building was constructed during the early part of the eighteenth century. It was the residence of the Mehta family, one of the influential families in Jaisalmer during the early 18th century. Salim Singh, the then Prime Minister of Jaisalmer commissioned the building of this haveli.
Having a unique architectural identity, the haveli’s roof is based on the peacock’s physical form and it lies within the vicinity of the Jaisalmer fort. In the background, you can see high hills overlooking the mansion.
18. Bada Bagh
Even though Jaisalmer is known to be a desert city, the rulers made attempts to add some greenery to its landscape. The Bada Bagh was one such endeavor that stood the test of time and is now a sprawling garden. Located six kilometers from Jaisalmer, this garden complex is home to the royal tombs and is among the popular places to visit in Jaisalmer.
An artificially built dam is the main source of water for this garden. Commissioned by Maharawal Jaisal Singh, this artificial dam also served as one of the major sources of water for the inhabitants of the city. While visiting this garden, the Govardhan Stambh will greet you. This pillar was constructed to celebrate the construction of the dam.
19. Kuldhara Abandoned Village
Located 18 km away from Jaisalmer, the Kuldhara village is known as the ghost village. Lying abandoned for the past few centuries, this village has no signs of human life and is also known as one of the haunted places in Rajasthan. However, during contemporary times, this hamlet has become one of the significantly visited places in Jaisalmer.
A clan of eighty-five villages, Kuldhara was once inhabited by the Paliwal Brahmins, but due to some adverse happenings, the natives evacuated the village within a night. Also, there have been no traces, of where and how the villagers left their homes; only assumptions and wild guesses hinted at their invasion of some of the nearby regions. Since then there have been no signs of human dwelling or any other activities within the surroundings.
20. Patwon Ki Haveli
An architectural marvel in the streets of the city and marked by intricate carvings and murals is what Patwon ki Haveli is. Built-in the 19th century, this Patwon ki Haveli is a combination of 5 different havelis in one single premise. It consists of a museum having rare artifacts, furniture work, miniatures, mirror-work and a large collection of paintings and interestingly, used to be a hotspot for travelers all around the world.
The Haveli is also known for residences of merchants who sold gold and silver items, amongst which some threads were used in ornamental dresses. It houses the office of the Archaeological Survey of India today, managed by the government as a whole & makes it one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer.
21. Gadsisar Lake
Maharwal Gadsi Singh, the then Maharaja of Jaisalmer constructed this lake in 1400 AD. The lake was originally built as a conservation reservoir for rainwater harvesting; during ancient times, and it happened to be one of the major water sources for the entire city.
Named after the Maharaja, this reservoir has now earned the fame of being the most popular place to visit in Jaisalmer and is visited by people from various corners of the world. Located on the outskirts of Jaisalmer, it is an idyllic getaway to seek peace and tranquillity of mind, away from the bustling and chaotic city life.
