Jaisalmer, which lies in the heart of Thar Desert, is a popular town in the state of Rajasthan, India. This city is also called 'the Golden city' and one should not confuse it with Amritsar! Bhati ruler Rawal Jaisal built the historic fort and Jaisalmer literally translates to'the hill fort of Jaisal'
The Bhati Rajputs driven away from Punjab took refuge in the desert. As the community grew, a small kingdom seems to have developed. Deoraj is said to be the founder of Jaisalmer dynasty. The capital was Lodhruva , which is about 15 kms away from today's Jaisalmer. Rawal Jaiswal is the sixth in the dynasty. He built the fort at Jaisalmer and made it the capital city.
Jaisalmer witnessed many attacks, fights and battles. In the attack by Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1294, the fort was occupied and damaged. In 1762, many provinces were lost in battles.
Brijraj Singh is the present descendant and the royal family is quite popular today for their welfare work. This desert town has a small population of about 80,000 with a good literacy rate of 59.5%.
Jaisalmer gets very hot in the summer between April to August. The temperature during this period may be around 42°C, and sometimes, it reaches as high as 46°C. However, the temperature may fall down to 25 °C in the night.
Weather is at its best during the winter in Jaisalmer between Mid-November and continues till February end. The temperatures fluctuate between 24°C in the daytime to a chilly 7 to 8°C. The lowest temperature recorded being1°C.
Best time to visit Jaisalmer is between October and March.
Do not forget to carry Indian currency - Indian Rupee. Credit cards may be accepted by many shops dealing with handicrafts etc. Money changers are available in many places and you may find one in your hotel lobby itself.
Jaisalmer is a border town and its proximity to Pakistan border makes it important for you to carry your travel documents. It is preferred that Foreign nationals carry their valid passports.
By Air There are limited flight services to Jaisalmer. It is advisable to use the Jodhpur airport which is around 280 kms away. From Jodhpur take a taxi to Jaisalmer.
By Railways Jaisalmer is reasonably well connected to major cities of India. It is a pleasure to travel on Palace on Wheels to Jaisalmer, if one can afford it.
By Road Jaisalmer is very well connected to other parts of the State/ country by roads. Government run buses as well as private buses operate from/to Jaisalmer. The roads are well maintained and the drive is enjoyable.
International flight:
There are no direct International flights to Jaisalmer. A military airstrip has recently been opened to limited civilian flights, with Kingfisher offering flights from Delhi. A new, dedicated airport is planned for 2010.
Major Airport:
Being a historic place, Jaisalmer attracts many tourists, both Indian as well as foreigners. Indian Airforce operates Jaisalmer airport with a runway 9000 feet long. This airport is approximately 9 Kms. from Jaisalmer City Center. However, this airport seems to be operational between September to March.
The airport at Jodhpur is approximately 280 kms from Jaisalmer. This Jodhpur Airport operates through out the year. The Indian and Jet Airways operate from/to Jodhpur Airport. This airport is used by the visitors to travel to Jaisalmer.
First and foremost is the Jaisalmer Fort built by Rajput ruler Jaisal in 1156. This fort is different as many people live inside the fort even today unlike many other forts. There are five palaces inside the fort - Sarvottam Vilas, Akhai Vilas, Gaj Mahal, Rang Mahal and Moti Mahal. The places you may like to visit inside this fort are Jain temples and the Laxminath temple.
The Havelis like Patwon-ki-Haveli, Salim Singh-ki-Haveli and Nathmalji-ki-Haveli attract many visitors. Patwon-ki-Haveli is a five-storey complex built by Guman Chand Patwa, who was not one from a royal family but was a wealthy merchant and banker. This is said to have taken 50 years to complete the construction. Salim Singh-ki-Haveli was built by Salim Singh in 1815.
People who love artifacts and curios, Jaisalmer is just the place for you. Other places of interest are the Desert Culture Centre & Museum, Jaisalmer Folklore Museum and Government Museum. In Jaisalmer, one can view the Sand Dunes located about 40 kms from Jaisalmer.
Gadsisar Lake is a rainwater lake created by Rawal Gadsi Singh in 1367. Temples and shrines around this lake, make it an interesting tourist place.
You will find many interesting places to eat in Jaisalmer depending on what you enjoy eating. If you are game for trying something different, ask for the local specialty. You will enjoy the food in Jaisalmer, be it be murgh-e-subz or ker sangria or kadi pakora.
All the hotels have their own restaurants. However they may serve the traditional North Indian food, with some specialties of Rajastan.
One of the most popular joints is 'Trio', that serves authentic Rajasthani cuisine. The ambience and the food are excellent. Another good place to eat is 'Chokhi Dhani'.
Jaisalmer attracts many tourists not only from all over India, but from many other countries. The specialty being the desert city, many visit due to the curiosity of living in a desert. It is not surprising to see some of the best hotels here. Some palaces and forts are converted into Hotels and you can experience the royal splendor.
If you have a good budget, look out for Jaisalmer heritage hotels like Jawahar Niwas Palace, Narayan Niwas Palace, Gorbandh Palace, Hotel Rang Mahal and Hotel Mandir Palace.
Fort Rajwada, a four star Hotel and Dhola Maru, a three star hotel are worth their money for the affluent class. If one does not want to spend lot of money on accommodation, they may look for Economy Hotels like Mahadev Palace and Paradise Palace.
Jaisalmer has lot of budget hotels, which are very economical.
Usually you will not find it difficult to get accommodation. However check the reservation status before going to Jaisalmer, particularly during the desert festival
Amar Sagar Lake, Bada Bagh, Desert National Park, Khuri Sand Dunes, Lodurva, Mool Sagar, Sam Sand Dunes, Wood Fossil Park
One must experience the night halt in the tourist camps at the sand dunes to enjoy the sun rise and sun set.
Highly recommended. Generally three to four days are required to cover all the places in and around Jaisalmer. Plan your trip much in advance for your Jaisalmer tour during the desert festival.
