If you’re looking for a complete guide to Jaisalmer, including a list of the best things to do, you’ve come to the right place.
Located deep in the Thar Desert in the Indian state of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer (commonly called ‘The Golden City’) is one of the top travel destinations in India.
Known for its rolling sand dunes, abundance of historical sites, sandstone architecture and desert culture, Jaisalmer is what most people imagine a Middle Eastern travel experience to be like, only with a unique Indian style.
In 2024, booking.com ranked Jaisalmer 9th in their list of the Most Welcoming Cities in the World. The only city in India to make the list.
Aside from desert adventures, what draws most people to Jaisalmer is its abundance of amazing historical places, including the massive Jaisalmer Fort, which boasts being one of the few remaining ‘living forts’ in the world (meaning a fort that’s still being lived in and used).
A trip to Rajasthan is incomplete without exploring this 1000-year old desert city.
In this guide, I’ve provided you with everything you need to know to travel to the Golden City, including how to get there, where to stay and the best things to do in Jaisalmer.
Table of Contents
A Brief History of Jaisalmer
To help you get the most out of your trip to the desert fortress, here’s a very brief history of Jaisalmer.
People have been living in this region of the Thar Desert for millennia, but the Golden City can trace its origins back to the 12th century CE.
During this time, a large swath of land across Afghanistan, Pakistan and India was ruled by the Bhati Kingdom but after relentless attacks from Central Asia, they were forced to move further and further south.
The Bhati ruler Rawal Jaisal (from which the city gets its name) chose this site as his new capital. Despite being in a remote & arid location, the remnants of the Bhati Kingdom turned it into something worthy of a capital.
They built an artificial lake (Gadisar Lake) to provide water to the growing city. They used the abundance of sandstone in the area to build a massive hilltop fortress (Jaisalmer Fort) that housed thousands of people. Up until the 17th century, this fort was the town, containing the entire population within its walls.
Despite its arid and remote location, Jaisalmer thrived as a trading post for those traversing the Thar Desert between what is now Pakistan and India. Because of this, merchants came to be among the richest and most influential people in town, building the now popular Havelis (the Arabic term for ‘mansion’).
With trade moving increasingly more through the ports of Bombay, and less across the Thar Desert, Jaisalmer took a downturn under British rule. In recent decades, however, the town’s rich historic charm has caused it to become among the most popular tourist destinations in India.
How to reach Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is an isolated town deep into the Thar Desert, but thankfully getting there isn’t difficult. Below are your 3 main options for reaching the historical desert town: Bus, Train or Flight.
Bus to Jaisalmer
One of the most practical, and probably the most common, way to reach Jaisalmer is via bus.
You can get a bus from most major cities in the region, like the nearby tourist hotspots of Jodhpur, Pushkar, or Udaipur.
The shortest route is a bus from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, which takes about 5 hours. To make the most of your time in India, you can book an overnight sleeper ticket. Although, I can tell you from experience that trying to sleep whilst driving along bumpy Indian roads is no easy feat.
The cost of the ticket will depend on where you’re coming from, whether it’s a sleeper, and whether you book an airconditioned bus.
The easiest way to find and book bus tickets to Jaisalmer is on 12Go.Asia.
Trains to Jaisalmer
Depending on where you’re coming from, another great option is to catch a train to Jaisalmer.
India has an extensive train network, and you can catch a train to Jaisalmer from most nearby cities, like Jodhpur and Udaipur.
The cost of a train ticket will depend where you’re coming from, and the class of ticket you purchase.
You’ll arrive at Jaisalmer Train Station, which is located within walking distance of the fortress in the centre of town. If you have a lot of luggage, you may not want to walk, but thankfully you’ll find no shortage of tuk tuk driver’s waiting at the train station to give you a lift to your accommodation.
There’s more than one place to book a train ticket to Jaisalmer online, such as on the (often unreliable) government IRCTC website. I’d recommend paying a small amount of commission and just book through a reliable site like 12Go.Asia.
Flights to Jaisalmer
Despite being in the middle of nowhere, Jaisalmer has its own little airport and 2 domestic airlines (Spicejet and Alliance Air) have been running flights out to the historical desert town.
Usually there are 5 different flights going to and from Jaisalmer Airport. However as of early 2023, following the decline in tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all flights to Jaisalmer airport have been stopped. You can read more about that here.
At the time of writing, there’s been no word on when flights to Jaisalmer will start up again. I endeavour to keep this guide up to date, but feel free to search for flights to Jaisalmer on Skyscanner, just in case.
Best time to visit Jaisalmer
While there’s nothing preventing you from visiting Jaisalmer all year round, picking the right time of year will make your experience all the more pleasant.
Being located in a desert, it’s no surprise that Jaisalmer gets HOT. During the summer, the daytime temperature in the area sits consistently between 35 and 40 degrees celsius, hot enough to make your daytime adventures uncomfortable.
During the other half of the year however, the temperature is a lot more agreeable.
The best time of year to visit Jaisamler is between October to March, where the daytime temperature sits pretty consistently around 20 degrees. The flip side of this, however, is that the temperature can drop as low as 5 degrees at night, but it’s overall the better time of year to visit Jaisalmer.
Where to stay in Jaisalmer
Being a popular tourist destination, there is no shortage of accommodation in Jaisalmer. Whether you’re looking for a budget backpacker hostel or a luxury resort, you’ve got options.
Want to stay inside one of the world’s last remaining ‘living forts’?
Well, you’ve come to the right place because Jaisalmer is one of the few remaining places you can do this, and is one of the biggest appeals about travelling there.
Below I’ve given you some of the best options for accommodation in Jaisalmer depending on your budget.
The best hotels in Jaisalmer
If money’s no issue or you’re just looking to treat yourself, Jaisalmer has a number of luxury resorts for you to choose from.
If you want to experience the desert like a raja (a royal), I’d recommend staying at the Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa.
Located only about a 15 minute walk from Jaisalmer Fort, the Marriott is one of the highest rated hotels in town and offers modern rooms, a pool, a spa, and multiple restaurants (including a rooftop bar).
Backpacker hostels in Jaisalmer
If you’re looking for backpacker hostels in Jaisalmer, you’re in for a treat because there’s a bunch of really amazing options inside the fort itself.
Personally, I stayed at Zostel and can’t recommend this place enough if you’re looking for great hostels in Jaisalmer.
Zostel sits right on the outer edge of Jaisalmer Fort, offering some of the best views of the surrounding town and desert. With a variety of dorms, cosy common areas, free wifi and a small restaurant, Zostel offers everything you need for a budget-friendly price.
Top 10 things to do in Jaisalmer
1 - Explore Jaisalmer Fort
Situated in the centre of town, the massive Jaisalmer Fort is the main attraction.
At almost 900 years old, it’s one of the oldest forts in Rajasthan. But what makes it even more interesting is not just its age, but the fact that it’s still in use.
Only a few hundred years ago the entire town lived within its walls, and while the town has spread beyond it, Jaisalmer Fort still houses about a quarter of the population. This makes it one of the few ‘living forts’ in the world.
Entering the Fort really does feel like stepping back in time, as if its walls have protected it from modernity.
You could almost spend a full day exploring the narrow streets of Jaisalmer Fort. From exploring its fortifications, to shopping at artisan stores and visiting the Jain Temple, there’s a lot to do here.
2 - The Havelis
After the Fort, one of the most popular things to do in Jaisalmer is to explore the famous Havelis.
‘Haveli’ is an Arabic term for ‘mansion’ and refers to a number of large and lavish buildings around Jaisalmer that were once home to the wealthiest and most influential families in town.
All the Havelis in Jaisalmer were built around the early 1800s, so relative to the 900-year old fort they’re not very old.
However, many of them have been turned into ‘living museums’, with all the furniture & memorabilia kept exactly as it was in the 1800s, offering you a glimpse into the lives of Jaisalmer’s wealthy families of the past.
There are 3 main Havelis in Jaisalmer that you can visit:
- Patwa Haveli
- Nathmal Haveli
- Salim Singh Haveli
Patwa Haveli is without a doubt the best of the bunch. Being privately owned, the entry ticket is a little pricier but this also means the Haveli is much better maintained than the other two, which are both government owned.
If you can only visit one, make sure it’s Patwa Haveli.
3 - Camel Safari
If you really want to experience Jaisalmer to the fullest, you need to get out of town and into the desert for a ‘camel safari’.
An overnight camping trip in the deserts near town is one of the most popular tourist experiences in Jaisalmer. Riding a camel over rolling sand dunes, enjoying a traditional Rajasthani meal with locals, and sleeping under the stars – this is the ultimate Jaisalmer experience.
There are a bunch of companies in Jaisalmer that run these types of tours, and they vary in the type of experience they offer. The low range tours will set you back around 1500 rupees, while the higher end ‘glamping’ experiences will cost upwards of 3000.
Some also take you ‘dune bashing’ in a Jeep, and many also take you to other popular sites along the way, like the ghost village of Kuldhara.
There is no better way to experience Rajasthan than a camel safari in Jaisalmer. The easiest way to book is on getyourguide.com, or simply speak to the reception at your accommodation. Most hotels have arrangements with local tour companies to book through them.
4 - Jain Temples
There are a bunch of things to see inside Jaisalmer fort, but perhaps the most interesting of them are the Jain temples.
If you’re not familiar with Jaisim, it’s a relatively small religion that’s not seen much outside of North-west India. It shares similar origins and beliefs to Hinduism, and is renowned for building visually stunning temples.
There are multiple Jain temples inside Jaisalmer Fort, all being built between the 1100s and 1500s CE, meaning some of them are almost as old as the fort itself.
Just like the fort, these temples are still in use today, but are open to travellers for a small fee (around 10 rupees).
The detail carved into these sandstone temples is remarkable, and it’s hard to believe how such detail can be carved into stone by hand. If you haven’t seen a Jain temple before, you have to check out the ones inside Jaisalmer Fort.
5 - Bada Bagh
Another popular tourist spot in Jaisalmer, and one of the most picturesque places in town, is Bada Bagh.
Located 5km outside of Jaisalmer, Bada Bagh is 2 things: the remains of a 500-year old dam and the 300 year old garden complex built next to it.
The dam was commissioned by the ruler of Jaisalmer in the early 1500s. While today it’s almost entirely dried up, a few centuries ago it was one of the key sources of water for Jaisalmer and the surrounding area was covered in green.
It was here in the 1700s that people began building cenotaphs, which are essentially memorials honouring important people who have passed away.
These days the area is as dry and barren as the rest of Jaisalmer, but the beautiful architecture of the cenotaphs has made it popular among tourists.
Bada Bagh is too far outside of Jaislmer to walk, but you can arrange a return trip with a local taxi driver for around 200-300 rupees. The cost of entry to Bada Bagh will set you back 300 rupees (for foreigners).
6 - Gadisar Lake
In the running for the most serene and picturesque place in Jaisalmer is the popular Gadisar Lake.
Gadisar Lake is as old as Jaisalmer itself, being built by its founder in 1156 CE. For centuries this artificial lake was the town’s only water supply, making it one of the most important places in town for centuries.
The banks of Gadisar Lake are populated with temples and ‘chhatris; (which are essentially monuments or shrines). Some of these chhatris were even built in the lake itself, making them appear to be floating on the water.
While the lake water is a little dirty, Gadisar Lake offers a serene experience away from the hustle & bustle of downtown Jaisalmer, and is a chance to see some stunning Rajasthani architecture.
Gadisar Lake is also a great place to watch both the sunrise or sunset. For the best experience, you can rent a boat for around 100 rupees, allowing you to get out on the water and stop at some of the ‘floating’ chhatris.
7 - Kuldhara Ghost Village
Want to visit an abandoned ghost village in the middle of the desert?
Well just 17km outside of Jaisalmer, you can do just that at the Kuldhara ghost village.
These abandoned ruins are something of a folktale around Jaisalmer. According to my local guides during my visit to Kuldhara village in 2022, the story goes something like this…
300 years ago Kuldhara was a prosperous village but found themselves in a tough position when the local tyrannical ruler decided he wanted to marry the daughter of the village’s leader.
Instead of handing over the young woman to the tyrant, the entire village packed up and moved elsewhere.
Before disappearing into the desert, they put a curse on the village, preventing anyone else from living there. It’s said that anyone who attempts to stay there overnight is chased away by spirits and ghosts.
Who knows how much of that story is true, but it makes for an interesting tale. All we know for sure is that it was once a lively village, and now its ruins lay abandoned for centuries.
Kuldhara has become a popular tourist site in recent years, and most tour companies will take you there on the way to the sand dunes for a camel safari.
When you arrive at Kuldhara, you’re free to explore the empty village at your own pace. While some of the homes remain intact, many are little more than just the foundations surrounded by piles of sand stone.
Nonetheless, exploring the desolate ruins of a ghost village in the middle of the desert makes for an fascinating experience.
8 - Jaisalmer Desert Festival
If you’re visiting Jaisalmer in February, then you must take part in the famous Jaisalmer Desert Festival.
The Desert Festival is a celebration of Rajasthani culture held for 3 days leading up to the full moon during the Hindu month of Magh, which usually puts it around the end of February.
During this multi-day festival, which always ends on the full moon, the Thar Desert comes alive as thousands of tourists from India & abroad gather and adorn the sand dunes with colour & music.
The festival takes place in the Sam Dunes, which is about 40km from the town of Jaisalmer. Here, against the backdrop of desert and rolling sand dunes, the festivities include cultural shows, dancing, religious ceremonies and even some interesting competitions (like camel polo).
The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is a cultural extravaganza, and without a doubt the best time to visit the town.
9 - Khaba Fort
The Thar Desert is full of the abandoned forts and villages of communities driven away by the harsh landscape, and Khaba Fort is another fascinating example of this.
While Jaisalmer Fort sits in the middle of town with a lively community living within its walls, Khaba Fort stands in complete contrast, isolated and alone in the middle of the desert.
When it was built in the 1300s CE, this fort was the centre of a thriving village. It remained in use up until the 1700s when drought forced the community to move elsewhere.
The remains of this village are little more than rubble, but the fort itself is in relatively good shape, and is becoming a popular tourist stop for those interested in the ghostly atmosphere of such abandoned places.
Exploring the expansive ruins of the town and fort offer a unique glimpse into the lives of the communities that used to populate the Thar Desert.
Khaba Fort is located just outside of Jaisalmer, not far from the Kuldhara ghost village. Despite being a bit out of the way, some tour companies will take you there on your way to the sand dunes for a camel.
You can also speak to any taxi driver in town to arrange a ride for a small fee.
If you’re interested in seeing all the amazing historical places near Jaisalmer, then Khaba Fort should be on your list.
10 - Vyas Chhatri
Thanks to all the dust in the air, sunsets in the desert are second to none. It can be hard to choose the best place to watch the sunset in Jaisalmer, but most people say it’s Vyas Chhatri.
Built in the 1700s, Vyas Chhatri is a collection of ‘cenotaphs’, which are essentially memorials in honour of important people who have passed away. The cenotaphs here were built in memory of several holy men who once lived in Jaisalmer.
These sandstone cenotaphs are a beautiful example of the local Rajasthani architecture. Combined with panoramic views of the fort and the surrounding desert, Vyas Chhatri is one of the most picturesque spots in Jaisalmer, making it a great place to watch the sunset.
Vyas Chhatri shares a lot of similarities with Bada Bagh. If you can only visit one, Bada Bagh is the better option. But if you want to see everything Jaisalmer has to offer and explore its best historical sites, be sure to check out Vyas Chhatri.
Vyas Chhatri is completely free to enter, and is within walking distance of the fort.
How many days are enough for Jaisalmer
Despite being a small town, Jaisalmer is jam-packed with things to see and do, and when you’re planning your trip it can be hard to know how many days are enough for Jaisalmer.
The minimum amount of time you need to experience Jaisalmer is 3 days and 2 nights, with one of those nights being an overnight desert safari. This is just enough time to experience Jaisalmer’s highlights.
If you want to experience everything that Jaisalmer has to offer, including all the full list of things to do above, you’ll want to extend your trip to 4 or 5 days.
There you have it, the ultimate Jaisalmer travel guide.
Planning a trip to India? Check out our posts on other historical destinations in India below…
