Jaisalmer Tours

Fact Files : Jaisalmer Location : 285 km from Jodhpur Renowned As : Desert Destination of Thar Must Visit : Fort (Golden Fortress), Havelis When To Go : During Desert Festival (February) To See : Jaisalmer Fort, Rajmahal, Parsvanath Jain Temple, Chandraprabhu Temple, Gadisar Lake, Salim Singh-ki-Haveli, Nathmal-ki-Haveli Famous Festival : Desert Festival - a Prime Attraction, celebrated in Month of February. Do Not Miss : Boat Ride and Feeding of numerous Catfish in Gadisar Tank, Viewing Exquisite Paintings Patwon-ki-Haveli, Camel Safari on Sand Dunes. Getting Around : Baisakhi 16 km, Luderwa 16 km, Mool Sagar 8 km, Kuldhara and Khabha Villages 30 km, Sam sand dunes 45 km. To Shop : Rajmahal - Embroidery and mirror work, Jain Temples Lane - Mineral Specimens like Zeolites, Rajasthali at Gandhi Chowk - Handicrafts, Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan - Woolen Blankets Getting There : Air : 5 km in the cantonment area, operational only in September to March. Alternative Jodhpur Airport - 300 km Rail :Railway Station is10 minutes drive from Gadi Sagar Pol. Road : 18 hrs drive from Delhi, 14 hrs from Jaipur, 6 ½ hrs - Bikaner, 5 hrs- Jodhpur. Inside Tip : Visit to Sam dunes and watch the Sun set in the evening. Explore desert on your own but always within the proximity of your tour. Important Distances : 280 km from NW of Jodhpur, 352 km SW of Bikaner, 624 km W of Jaipur via Jodhpur, 884 km SW of Delhi, Pokran 110 km, Barmer 153 km, Agra - 802 km, Mumbai - 1140 km. Staying Options : Hotel Fort Rajwada, Hotel Rawal Kot, Hotel Killa Bhawan, Hotel Jaisal Castle, Narayan Niwas Palace.

About Jaisalmer

The name Jaisalmer evokes utter magic and vibrancy of the desert. It’s straight out of an Arabian Nights fable. The hostile terrain notwithstanding the warmth and colour of people is simply overwhelming. One of the main draws is the daunting 12th century Jaisalmer Fort. The beautiful havelis which were built by wealthy merchants of Jaisalmer are yet another interesting aspect of the desert city. And you can let your eyes caress the sloping sand dunes while you ramble your way in a camel safari. The desert citadel is truly a golden fantasy in the Thar Desert. Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, after whom the city finds its name, founded Jaisalmer in 1156 AD.

On advice of a local hermit Eesaal he chose the Tricut Hills as his new abode, abandoning his vulnerable old fort at Luderwa just 16 kilometres northwest. In Medieval times, its prosperity was due to its location on the main trade route linking India to Egypt and Arabia. The Bhati Rajput rulers lined their coffers with gains from traditional taxes levied on passing by caravans. They also amassed wealth through questionable means.

Tourist Attractions in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer
Like various other cities of Rajasthan, in Jaisalmer too you will find different facets of its own glorious heritage. Though you can find historical monuments scattered all over the city, the living Jaisalmer Fort, immense in size, will immediately command your attention.

If you visit the fort at the crack of down, the beauty of the Jaisalmer Fort would mesmerize you. As the early morning rays dawn on the fort, they cast a midas touch. As far as your eye takes you the yellow sandstone fort turns magical golden yellow, lending the fort its name, ‘Sonar’ or the golden fort. The Jaisalmer fort is dominating structure in the sand-scape.

The Jaisalmer Fort is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan after Chittaur, and commands the desertscape from its 250 feet high pedestal on the Trikuta Hill. Three strong walls protect the citadel. The fort has five palaces called Sarvottam Vilas, Akhai Vilas, Gaj Mahal, Rang Mahal and Moti Mahal.

Jain Temple
Another attraction of Jaisalmer is the Jain temples of the place. Three exquisitely sculptured Jain temples are dedicated to Rishabhdevji, Sambhavanathji and Ashthapadi.

The ornamentation of the temples have been done in the style of the Dilwara temple at Mt. Abu and looks fabulous. There is also an emerald icon of Mahavira inside the temple premises. Visitors are allowed only till 12 O' clock in the afternoon.

Patwon Ki Haveli
This grand mansion is one of its kind in the Jaisalmer city. The haveli was built by the family of a rich merchant - Guman Chand Patwa. Putwa and his sons started the construction work in the year1800 A.D., and after six decades the mansion was all ready to stand high in glory.

Havelis - Symphony In Stone
The main attraction of Jaisalmer's architecture lies in the decorative latticework covering their sandstone facades. The merchants built magnificent mansions (Havelis), all carved from wood and yellow sandstone. These havelis are perhaps, the last truly Indian buildings, designed without a tint of European architecture. These colossal residences can be found elsewhere in Rajasthan (as in Shekhawati), but nowhere are they as attractive as in Jaisalmer. Walk along the cobbled stone pathways to reach the most elaborate and magnificent of all the Jaisalmer havelis, Patwon ki Haveli (1800-1860), an opulent relic of lost pleasures, Some of the rooms are empty, topped with gilt ceilings. In others, the walls are embellished by faded paintings of women, men with broad moustaches and colorful turbans, battles and hunting trips.