Jaisalmer is one of the foremost and must-see tourist places in Rajasthan. The name of this quintessential dessert city refers to ‘the Hill Fort of Jaisal’. The city goes by another name, “the golden city” because Jaisalmer is home to some of the most beautiful golden sand dunes and castles made in golden honey sandstones. It’s also the largest town closest to the India-Pakistan border and is located at the heart of the Thar Desert.
The entire city is decorated with numerous designed Jain temples, rustic and golden Sam Sand Dunes, ancient Kuldhara Village, and a wild desert national park. The city is the home of some of the most prominent tourist attractions in Rajasthan, including Tazia Tower and Badal Palace, Patwonki Haveli, stunning badabagh, and the majestic Jaisalmer Fort, which has now been an official UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. Explore ancient India or go on a jeep safari or a camel ride to experience the exotic Indian desert culture. If you want to know more about Jaisalmer, then keep reading.
Jaisalmer Fort takes pride among all the places to visit in Jaisalmer and Rajasthan. This majestic golden beauty was the center of Satyajit Ray’s film “Sonar Kella”, which translates to ‘Golden Fort’. Built by RawalJaisal in 1156 AD, it is one of the largest fort in India. Located on the Trikuta Hills, this ancient mammoth-size fort stands at the height of 250 ft, and 30 ft. tall walls surround the entire fort. You can enjoy the panoramic view of Jaisalmer city from this fort.
This ancient lake, then a reservoir for rainwater harvesting, was built by MaharwalGadsi Singh back in 1400 AD as a major water supply for the city. Now this beautiful lake is home to thousands of exotic migratory birds during winter. There are many temples and shrines that surround the lake, and it is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet and peaceful evening away from city noises.
Sam Sand Dunes in Jaisalmer is the perfect destination to enjoy the wilderness of the Thardesert. They are the most authentic desert dunes in the whole of India, almost 30 to 60-meter tall sand dunes, and are located 45 km west of Jaisalmer city. There are many desert camps where you can stay and ride on
camels or jeeps.
Witness tremendous architectural artwork at the Patwon Ki Haveli or also known as the Mansion of Brocade Merchants. Built in the 19th century, this Haveli is one of the significant tourist spots in Jaisalmer. This magnificent golden architecture consists of 5 different Havelis in one single premise with over 60 balconies. It also has a museum of rare artifacts, wooden furniture and miniatures, mirror works, and beautiful paintings. The office of the Archaeological Survey of India is also located here.
Kuldhara village is an abandoned city located 18 km from Jaisalmer. Legends and myths lie in this city, making it one of the known spooky and haunted tourist spots in Rajasthan. The legend says that the Paliwal Brahmins once inhabited the village. But one night, all the villagers left the city without any traces, and the village was abandoned within a night. Some believe that the villagers left a curse while abandoning the village.
Located about 6 km north of Jaisalmer, the BadaBagh (big garden) creates a mirage amid the desert. This startling garden was built in the ruling era of MaharawalJaisal Singh. The garden houses cenotaphs of all the Maharajas and royal Rajput kings of 6 centuries of Jaisalmer. The garden gets its water supply from an artificially created dam as well.
Spread over 3162 sq km of desert, the Desert National Park is one of the largest in India, which is located near Jaisalmer and extends to the India-Pakistan border. The desert national Park offers a kind of desert experience where you can spot various wildlife and desert plants. From camels, desert foxes, Bengal foxes, chinkara, wolves, desert cat, and the Blackbuck, the park is also home to the Indian Bustard. 20% of the park is filled with dunes.
Tazia Tower is an extraordinary example of Rajputana architecture. Located in the ‘Badal Palace’ complex near Amar Sagar Gate, this holds much history of the Mughal period. This 5-storied structure is a replica of the mausoleum of different imams. You can see the beautiful artwork of wood thermocol and coloured papers on the walls of this tower.
The Jaisalmer Fort is itself a mini town that holds temples, Havelis, shops, houses, a market, etc. Built in the 12th century, the Jain temples in Jaisalmer are proof of great architectural relics. Constructed in a
Dilwara style with animals and human figures carved on the walls of Yellow stones, the temples are places to worship RikhabDevji and ShambhaviDevJi, known as ‘Tirthankars’.
If you are fond of Rajputana Haveli, you must visit Nathmal Ki Haveli. Established back in the late 19th century, the Haveli houses some remarkable exterior artwork and wall carvings. On the first floor of the Haveli, some spectacular paintings were painted with 1.5kg of gold leaf.
Besides the above tourist spots, Jaisalmer offers other mesmerizing tourist spots, including Salim Singh-ki Haveli, Tanot Mata Temple, Jaisalmer War Museum, Desert Culture Centre and Museum, Khuri Sand Dunes, DussehraChowk, VyasChhatri, Khaba Fort, Surya Gate, Mandir Palace, Maharaja’s Palace and many adventures.