Exploring Rajasthan: The Best Places to Visit in Jaisalmer + Where to Stay & What to Eat!

A Guest Post by Claudia of My Adventures Across The World

Of all the places to visit in India, Jaisalmer, in Rajasthan, quickly became my favorite. It is a tiny city by Indian standards, with only 90000 inhabitants. In fact it is a million miles away from the chaos of India capital, Delhi or even from that of the holiest city of the country, Varanasi. Yet, it remains vibrant and full of life, and altogether gorgeous.

Jaisalmer City is perhaps one of the major tourist attractions in India, and it is easy to see why: it is simply splendid. I am hardly bothered by the presence of tourists and in any case Jaisalmer remains quiet and peaceful despite being touristy and is perfect for a weekend break.

I spent 2 days in Jaisalmer, which were plenty to explore the city, get its vibe, and even relax a bit. Here are some fantastic things to do in Jaisalmer in 48 hours.

Incredible Things to do in Jaisalmer

Visit Jaisalmer Fort

The Fort is a key attraction in Jaisalmer

One of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer Rajasthan is its gorgeous golden fort. This is located on top of a hill and the views from a distance are simply stunning. There are several impressive gates traditionally used to enter the fort, the most famous of which is the Surya Gate, whose beautiful carved facade is definitely worth seeking out. The uniqueness of Jaisalmer Fort is given by the fact that around 3000 people still live within its walls. The fact that restaurants and boutique hotels have been created inside the fort is endangering its survival, as it is collapsing onto itself – to the point that the city council invites tourists to actually opt to stay outside.

Explore the Fort Palace

Jaisalmer The Golden City

The beautiful seven-storey palace where the former rulers of Jaisalmer used to live is partially built on top of the fourth fort gate. It’s possible to take audio guided tour of the palace (they last around 90 minutes) that also go into the gorgeous Rang Mahal, the mirrored and painted room of 18th century ruler Mulraj II.

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Admire the Jain Temples

The whole fort of Jaisalmer is scattered with beautiful Jain temples that date back to the 15th and 16th century. Jain temples are characterized by incredibly intricate carvings and decorations. In order to enter the temples, shoes and all leather items, as well as food, drinks and cigarettes, have to be removed.

Discover the havelis 

The various Havelis inside the Fort are one of the main Jaisalmer attractions

Havelis (Nathmal Ki Haveli) are beautifully carved stone doorways, jali screens, balconies and turrets. Throughout Jaisalmer fort it is possible to discover and admire many of them and it is these Havelis intricately carved in the golden yellow sandstone which gave the Jaisamler the nickname ‘The Golden City’.

Walk around the tiny alleys

The thing I loved the most about Jaisalmer were its narrow alleys where life seemed to go on at a different pace. Dogs resting in the middle of the street, cows placidly walking buy, and the occasional bike or a scooter were the typical sight I’d get. I never tired of it.

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See The Ghost Town of Kuldhara

Located 32km (around a 50 minute drive) lies the abandoned village of Kuldhara was once a prosperous town occupied by Paliwal Brahmins. Legend has it that the then state minister wanted to marry the village chief’s daughter and delivered an ultimatum to the village chief to accept his demands or let the whole community face dire consequences. Rather than giving in to the minister’s demandsa, the whole village decided to move away and vanished overnight. But before they left they cursed the land that no human settlement would ever be made on the land, and it has been proved true to this day.

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Shop till you drop

Shopping is one of the top activities in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is the perfect place in India to go shopping, because it is much smaller than other places and far less intimidating. Among the things to buy in Jaisalmer, there are beautifully embroidered spreads; oil lamps; antiques; and even traditional and less traditional clothing like sarees and cotton shirts.

The large selection of good souvenir shops is matched with a great market where it is possible to catch a bit of local action and also buy some delicious fresh fruit.

Visit Bada Bagh

Bada Bagh, also called Barabagh (which literally means ‘Big Garden’) is a garden complex located near Jaisalmer (about 6 km north) which is home to a set of royal cenotaphs, or chhatris, of Maharajas of Jaisalmer state starting with Jai Singh II.

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Take a morning stroll by the gadi sagar lake

Right outside Jaisalmer in the Madhya Pradesh region, Gadisar Lake is an artificial lake built around 1400 as a water reservoir for the city. It is a lovely place for a morning stroll, to spot the locals who go feed the fish or pray at one of the temples located around the lake. Right before reaching the lake, walking up the hill allows splendid distant views of Jaisalmer Fort. The lake is one of the main ‘activities’ in Jaisalmer.

Enjoy the sunset and a Camel Safari in the Thar Desert

The Thar Desert is a mere 20 minutes drive from Jaisalmer and can be the set of many adventures, first and foremost being a desert safari in the Sam Sand Dunes or a camel safari in the Desert National Park. For the more adventurous there is also the opportunity to go dune bashing on a quad bike! Those who don’t have time for a camel rides or jeep safaris and don’t fancy dune bashing can still enjoy it by going there to admire a spectacular sunset and then have dinner at one of the desert camps, accompanied by the sound of traditional music and dances and with the chance of admiring an incredibly starry sky.

Gorge on some delicious food…

Food in India is delicious, and Jaisalmer is packed with some great restaurants. Although there is a decent selection of international cuisine, I recommend eating local food as it is bound to taste amazing and at the same time be much cheaper. The typical Indian meal includes boiled jasmine rice, bread (can be pita or chapati), dhal (a lentils soup) or other pulses like chickpeas, and a selection of vegetable dishes like aloo ghobi (cauliflower and potatoes).

…and finish off with a masala chai and a great view

There’s no going to India without trying the fabulous masala chai, a spiced, sweet black tea with milk. The good thing about Jaisalmer is that it is packed with lovely cafés right outside of the fort, where it is possible to enjoy a drink, rest in the shade, and at the same time admire a great view of the city.

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Where & What to Eat in Jaisalmer

Gaji’s restaurants is a good option for food, with a wide selection of local and international dishes. Also, don’t forget to take in the views above the city from one of the many rooftop cafes.

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Where to stay in Jaisalmer

Though I can appreciate the charm of staying inside the city fort, I wholeheartedly recommend to find accommodation options right outside it, and to support the effort of the local authorities to protect the fort. There are many hotels in Jaisalmer but I recommend Narayan Niwas, which has good sized rooms located around a gorgeous courtyard.

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So there you have it – hopefully this Jaisalmer travel guide has given you enough information to plan your trip to Jaisalmer – and given you a great list of Things To Do in Jaisalmer to make sure you get the most from your visit. Don’t forget to let me know you’re own highlights once you’re back!

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