JAISALMER - Travel Guide

Jaisalmer is the Golden City of India and in closest proximity to the Thar Desert. It is a part of India’s frontiers as the Thar Desert borders Pakistan. The Jaisalmer Fort, also known as Sonar Quila, is not a mere tourist attraction, but a plethora of houses, shops and old forts. The vast expanse of desert here offers many fun activities for tourists that you wouldn’t find easily in the other cities of Rajasthan. 

WHEN TO VISIT JAISALMER

Being in close proximity to India’s largest desert, Jaisalmer tourism is absolutely unadvisable in summers. You can, however, visit the Golden City in winter, when the weather will be quite pleasant. We have provided you here with a breakup of the three Indian seasons, you will get a fair idea on the best time to head for Jaisalmer tour.

Summers: -

Summers are quite the worst time you can choose to go touring the city of Jaisalmer. The daytime temperatures are at a high 44˚C and all tourism activities during this season are best avoided lest the tourists get dehydrated. You will also notice massive discounts and offers on Jaisalmer tour package during this period.

Monsoons: -

Monsoons, while not as unadvisable as summer, is still not a very pleasant time to go sightseeing. Jaisalmer receives a very less quantity of rainfall, and it only serves to increase the humidity in the atmosphere.

Winters: -

Same for all across Rajasthan, pick this season if you want to go sightseeing in Jaisalmer. In fact, the Rajasthan tour packages are at all time rise in winters. The days are pleasantly cold, but the nights can get chilly. Most tourist activities offered by Jaisalmer take place in or around the desert, and winter is the best time to undertake them.

Here is a quick resume…

HOW TO REACH JAISALMER

Every major city of Rajasthan is very well connected to the rest of India by road, rail as well as air. Jaisalmer may not be directly connected to the large Indian cities, but you can always break a long journey at Jaipur and continue from there. Ask the Jaisalmer package provider which is the best route. Meanwhile, we have provided here a quick summary of all the requisite details.

By Air: -

Jodhpur Airport is the closest to Jaisalmer, about 5 to 6 hours away. It receives regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. From the airport, you can hire taxis to take you to Jaisalmer.

By Rail: -

There are many trains such as Delhi Jaisalmer Express, Jodhpur Jaisalmer Express and Lalgarh Jaisalmer Special that connect Jaisalmer directly to the cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Jodhpur, and many others. Once you reach the station, there will be many rickshaws and taxis to take you further into the city.

By Road: -

In this case, you can travel by bus or car. There are no direct buses to Jaisalmer as the journey is quite long, spanning around 17-18 hours. You will have to reach Jaipur, Jodhpur or Udaipur first and take a bus from there heading to Jaisalmer. If you are planning to travel by car, be sure to break your journey at either Jaipur or Ajmer as it is relatively easier to find accommodation in these cities, and you will need to rest after your long drive.

PLACES TO VISIT IN JAISALMER

Jaisalmer is the closest city in Rajasthan to the Thar Desert, but not all attractions here center on sand and camels. Of course, they occupy the largest share in Jaisalmer attractions but wait till you check out the others. Your Rajasthan tour would be incomplete without visiting these places in Jaisalmer:

Jaisalmer Fort: -

The imposing fort of Jaisalmer is the most popular landmark in the city. It is appropriately called Sonar Quila, due to its burnished gold appearance. The massive construction houses havelis, shops, hotels, eateries and even a museum. It is a city within a city and a must-visit for Jaisalmer visitors. Its striking appearance is credited to an amazing blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture.

Image Source: -

https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/:Jaisalmer_Fort.jpg

Salim Singh ki Haveli: -

This haveli was the residence of Salim Singh, the formidable Prime Minister of Jaisalmer. It is almost 300 years old, and the gold tinge in its color sparkles beautifully in the sunlight. A part of the haveli is still occupied by Salim Singh’s descendants. The main pull factor of this haveli is its uniquely arched roof in the shape of a peacock.

Gadsisar Lake: -

The Gadsisar Lake is a man-made water reservoir for the city of Jaisalmer. It was built by Raja Rawal Jaisal, the first king of the Golden City. Once upon a time, it was the only source of water for the desert city. The lake is surrounded by ghats and temples, thus lending a serene quality to the atmosphere. Most tourists here prefer to spend some quiet moments at the banks of the lake, and some choose to go boating on its calm waters.

Kuldhara Village: -

This mysterious attraction in Jaisalmer is for those who are looking for a bit of thrill and spookiness. The Kuldhara town was located around 20 kilometers from the main city of Jaisalmer and consisted of around 84 villages. The villages were mysteriously abandoned overnight, and now the sandstone houses and temples stand intact among the ruins of the spooky town. Tourism here is only allowed during the daytime, due to the tales of hauntings that surround the abandoned town.

Image Source: -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuldhara

THINGS TO DO IN JAISALMER

Can such a magical and intriguing city not have interesting things for its guests to do? Come hither and discover the various activities you can participate in to maximize your experience of Jaisalmer.

Camel Safari: -

Being a desert city, this activity would be number one on Jaisalmer’s tourist activity charts. You can choose the type of safari you want to take. If you have time on your hands, be sure to pick an overnight stay in the desert, which is an experience quite unlike anything else you will have. You can ride over the desert on a camel (with an experienced guide, of course) or you can ride in a camel cart. Either way, you can spend a few hours in the sand with your family and friends and watch the dunes change size with every breeze.

Image Source: -

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Camel_Safari_at_Jaisalmer.jpg

Shopping: -

Jaisalmer is the perfect place to buy Rajasthani crafts and artifacts such as lamps, clocks, and even beautiful bedspreads. Shopping in Jaisalmer will give you the perfect opportunity to find that special something that you always knew would spruce up your home. You can also get a few things for yourself – maybe a bright printed kurti or a pair of dangly jhumkas? To lay your hands on these treasures, you would need to visit the shops near and within the Jaisalmer Fort. You can also drop by the Patwon ki Haveli to visit the famous Handicrafts shop.

Image Source: -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthan

Culture Blending: -

There’s absolutely no effort involved in this. Jaisalmer folk music and dance start from right outside the fort and permeate the entire city. From street magicians and musicians to impromptu puppet shows, you will always find something to brighten your day. Some hotels even offer culture themed stays for their guests. The overnight desert safari always has a folk art display put on for the tourists. Be sure to dress up in the traditional outfits and get some good photographs to cherish for life.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN JAISALMER

There is a considerable amount of fairs and festivals celebrated in Jaisalmer. They are very colorful and enjoyable and carry with them all the rich heritage of the Golden City.

The Desert Festival: -

The Desert Festival is the grandest one in Jaisalmer. Sponsored by Rajasthan State Tourism Corporation, it lasts for three days and was originally started to attract foreign tourists. It served to introduce them to Rajasthan’s exotic culture.  The Desert Festival is held in February with multiple dance shows, music, and music shows. The camels can also take part in this festival, and they are entered into camel races, camel polo, and camel decoration competitions.

Image Source: -

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:04_DesertFestival.jpg

Teej Festival: -

The Teej Festival is celebrated by married women in Jaisalmer. In fact, it is a popular festival all over Rajasthan. Women and girls of marriageable age dress up in bright new clothes and wear jewelry. They apply mehndi on their hands in preparation for the prayers. Married women pray to Goddess Parvati and fast for the long and prosperous lives of their husbands. Unmarried maidens pray to the Goddess to bless them with good husbands.

The other two popular festivals of Jaisalmer are Deepavali and Holi, both very common all over India. Deepavali is the festival of lights, wherein people clean their homes and light lamps to welcome the Hindu New Year. Holi is the Festival of colours, when people smear colored powder on each other and promise to begin friendships and relationships afresh, forgetting any bad memories of the previous year.

FOOD IN JAISALMER

Unlike other parts of Rajasthan, the local cuisine of Jaisalmer does not use a lot of oil and butter. Rather, you can find a lot of shredded vegetables in the food. The local cuisine makes for a filling and wholesome meal. It is mildly spicy, a level which most people can tolerate. Famous Jaisalmer preparations include Kadhi Pakoras, Bhang, Masala Raita, Dal-Baati-Choorma and Ghotua (a local dessert).

Image Source: -

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kadhi_Pakora.jpg

To taste this food, you can visit Desert Boy Dhani, a strictly vegetarian restaurant which serves authentic Rajasthani food with live folk music. The Trio in Mandir Palace is a sophisticated dining spot which again is famous for authentic cuisine. Jaisal Italy is an Italian luxury restaurant located in Aakhe Pol, where you can enjoy Italian food such as pizza and Chardonnay.

If you want a really unique experience, head to Café Kaku. It serves Japanese, Mexican, Indian and Chinese cuisine. The seating arrangements here are on mattresses and blankets. It is a scene straight out of the Arabian Nights, especially if you try the traditional hookah.

You can visit Hanuman Chowk and Amar Sagar Pol for the tasty street delicacies of Jaisalmer.

Can’t wait? Neither can Jaisalmer!! Grab the best deal on Jaisalmer tour package and arrive as soon as possible to take in this royal city with its unique aura.

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Created on Nov 7th 2019 04:07. Viewed 333 times.

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