Move it in Jaisalmer
In the middle of the desert, full of vibrant cultures, traditions, and dunes & most important one of the most famous vacation destinations. Exploring the rich heritage & culture of Jaisalmer or call it the ‘golden city. The city has the charm to attract visitors and stay in their memory for a lifetime.
The golden city is crowned with the impressive Jaisalmer fort along with the royal forts and many other things. It is located in the lap of the Thar Desert and is around 350 km away from the pink city ‘Jaipur’.
As we know, Rajasthan is known for its royalty & history of kings. The place Jaisalmer is also named after the Bhati ruler Rawal Jaisal. He is the one who founded the city in the year 1156 AD. Looking at the meaning of Jaisalmer, it says the Hill Fort of Jaisal, which goes with the name.
There are many things that you can enjoy & explore in Jaisalmer like the Jain Heritages, forts, history of the kings, etc. Along with this, you can enjoy exciting safaris, camping in dunes, adventure sports also. The place is more fascinating than you think and here are some things that you should not miss in Jaisalmer.
Jaisalmer Fort
The most famous location in Jaisalmer is the Jaisalmer Fort, which is considered one of the few living forts across the globe. The first exciting thing about the fort is around one-fourth part of the old population lives within the fort.
The Jaisalmer Fort is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan, which the Bhati ruler built, Rawal Jaisal during 1156 AD. The fort is also called ‘sonar quila’ as the walls are made up of yellow sandstone, and it gets the lion color in the daytime & changes to honey-gold during sunset.
The fort is situated on the Trikuta Hill in between the Thar Desert, and in the year 2013, it was declared as the world heritage site by UNESCO.
Inside the fort, you can experience the Jain temples, ancient architecture, Laxminath temple, and the temples has more than six hundred idols and many old scriptures. If you are in Jaisalmer you must visit the fort and explore it.
Gadisar Lake
Earlier, the places were like estates and the rulers used to build many beautiful locations for enhancing the beauty of their home. One such location is the Gadisar Lake, which was created by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal but later was rebuilt by Gadsi Singh during 1367 AD, and from there the location got its new name the Gadisar Lake.
It is said that this artificial lake once provided water supply to the entire Jaisalmer city and the lake never dries as it receives water from the Indira Gandhi Canal. Earlier the lake was named Jaisalasar Lake, but it was renamed after the reconstruction.
You can enjoy boating in the lake and watch the scenic beauty in the sparkling lake and even enjoy the sunset, which is the best view you will get in the lake. The lake is open from 7 am to 7 pm, and you have to rent the boats according to your choice.
Thar Desert
Jaisalmer city lies in the heart of the Thar desert and it is more interesting if you are fond of off-roading activities and the dunes. Explore the Thar desert in the SUV, and that is one of the famous activities in Jaisalmer.
The sports SUV will take you for the adventure ride that includes extreme turns, and you will be experiencing something very unique as it is not an often thing to drive in the dunes for tourists. Everything stunt is done under strict supervision, and it is easily accessible for the tourists. It would help if you tried the dessert off-road driving. It will give you the thrills you are looking for.
You can also enjoy quad biking in the sam dunes; exploring the sand topography is fun gives you the feel of Dubai. You get a lot of space & the dunes give you the perfect sense of riding the ATV.
The quad biking costs around Rs 1,700, but it changes with the time and season.
Jaisalmer Local Market
Every group has a shopping spree, but it does not even matter if you are out on a vacation; you will visit the markets & buy the local kinds of stuff and Jaisalmer offers many unique things for travellers.
The colorful markets of Jaisalmer will amaze your eyes; it includes handmade jewellery, clothes, antique items, bags, and many more, which you will buy at higher prices in other parts of India.
You can shop for decorative items, handicrafts, leather items, puppets, wooden items, ornaments, etc. The best place to explore street shopping is the Sadar Bazaar, Manak Chowk, Pansari Bazaar, the oldest market in Jaisalmer city).
Desert Camping
You may have experienced camping in the forests in the lush greenery, by the waterfalls but you must try dessert camping and it is one of the very famous activities in Jaisalmer.
You can opt for the camping packages offered by many and even you have the option of modern facilities in the camping but the best thing is watching the sunset in the desert and the cold breeze along with the folk Rajasthani dance, music, and the authentic Rajasthani cuisine. What else you need, perfect camping with relaxation and enjoyment.
Some of the famous places for desert camping are the Prince Desert Camp, The Serai, and the Royal Desert Camp. You can also enjoy the camel safari along with the camping for some extra pay and the camping costs between Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,000 overnight & depends on the facility you choose.
Desert National Park
Admire the astonishing wildlife in the Jaisalmer, the park is located near the Barmer & Jaisalmer town, and it is counted in one of the largest national parks. You can explore the Thar region very well and its ecosystem which consists of rocks, compact salt lake bottoms, fixed dunes, and intermedial areas.
You can explore the broader area of the national park via Jeep safari and one of the most exciting things is you will get to see the endangered Indian bustard. You will also find reptiles like Russell’s viper, monitor lizard, saw-scaled viper, common krait, spiny-tailed lizard, etc. Apart from these, you can experience the desert fox, desert cat, hedgehog, chinkara, sandgrouse, falcons, and many more.
You must not miss the chance to visit the Desert National Park, the park is open from 9 am to 5 pm.
Rajasthani Taste
The taste of Rajasthan can not be refused, and the authentic Rajasthani food brings the water to the mouth. The cuisine is influenced by the Rajputs as well. Foods are always one of the top priorities for everyone; you can not complete the list of food items.
Rajasthani cuisine offers a wide range and you can not miss the Pyaaj Kachori, Lauki Ke Kofte, authentic Dal Baati, Mirchi Bada and they have many options for sweet dishes as well like Churma, Balushahi, Besan Chakki, Sutar feni, Ghevar, milk cake, Makkhan Bada, and the list won’t end. Go and order the Rajasthani thali. You will get everything, your tummy will be , complete but you won’t stop licking your fingers.
Salim Singh Haveli
One of the marvelous beauty you can experience in Jaisalmer. The Haveli was built by Salim Singh in 1815, who was the Prime Minister and at a time Jaisalmer was the capital city of Rajasthan. So Salim Singh made this marvelous haveli with excellent architecture.
One of the interesting facts about this Haveli is, it was not constructed with mortar and types of cement, but they are connected with the strong iron rods, which is a fantastic wonder in itself. The whole architecture of the Haveli is based on the dancing peacock along with the 38 delicately designed carved balconies.
It is one of the most beautiful places in Jaisalmer, and you must pay a visit to the Salim Singh ki Haveli.
Jain Temple
It is one of the most famous locations in Jaisalmer and attracts a lot of tourists. The temples were constructed during the 12th & the 15th century, and those were dedicated to various Tirthankars. The walls of the Jain Temples are carved with human and animal structures.
The temple also has a library known as the Gyaan Bhandar, it attracts a lot of tourists from different parts. All the Jain temples are among the oldest temples you will find in Jaisalmer and try not to miss the location.
Kuldhara
The village was established during the 13th century, but now it is an abandoned village. Once this village was home to the prosperous Paliwal Brahmins, but in the 19th century it was abandoned. The reason remains unknown.
Some claim that it was because of the atrocities of Salim Singh and many different reasons, but the truth is unknown. Locals say that while leaving Paliwals cursed the village, no one will be able to reoccupy the town. Later, whoever tried to stay at that place experience the paranormal activities, and the city is still abandoned and was considered as a haunted place.
Nathmal ki Haveli
The haveli was constructed from the order of Prime Minister by two Muslim jeweler brothers, and both of them started the construction from the opposite that ended similar in between but different on the left & right side.
It is considered one of the architectural marvels and apart from that, it is very famous for its interior that is well equipped with modern facilities and paintings. The haveli has a unique Rajputana and Islamic architecture combination and is one of the most beautiful Havelis of Jaisalmer. You can visit the haveli from 8 am till 6 pm.
Khaba Fort
A place in between the barren desert located around 35 km away from Jaisalmer is one of the famous & interesting places to visit in Jaisalmer. It is said that the place was abandoned 200 years ago and the Paliwal Brahmins also curse it.
The place still has the ruins of houses of the families who used to live here. The Khaba fort was once a part of Kuldhara and it was constructed during the 13th century AD. The fort was used as the residence place for the traders who came to Rajasthan for silk trading.
The fort is under restoration work currently, and you can look at the small museum that displays old artifacts and is a perfect spot for photography, and even you can spot peacocks roaming around.
Suryagarh
If you are travelling to Jaisalmer, you should not miss the opportunity to enjoy dinner in between the dunes at Suryagarh. Travellers and especially foreigners love the concept, and it is one the best time you will spend in Jaisalmer along with the classic arrangements.
It will give you the experience like the royals used to eat and the beautiful lamps and bonfire. The food will be prepared on-site by professional chefs and it has a nomadic menu. Meanwhile, you can watch the singers and dancers along with the lip-smacking food.
So these are some of the best activities & locations that you must experience in Jaisalmer.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
