A golden sandstone fort rising out of the Thar Desert.
Jaisalmer is known for its fort: a ring of yellow sandstone bastions on a low hill, built from 1156 by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal. Unlike most Indian forts, it is still lived in. Houses, shops, Jain temples and small hotels fill the lanes inside the walls, which is why it is often called a living fort.
The town grew rich on the camel caravans that crossed the Thar Desert between India and Central Asia. Its merchants spent that wealth on havelis carved so finely that the stone looks like lace. Today Jaisalmer is the best base in India for a night among the sand dunes.
Travellers come for three things that are hard to find together anywhere else: a fort you can wander through like a village, some of the finest carved sandstone in Rajasthan, and the open desert an hour's drive away. It suits people who like to explore on foot, photographers, and anyone who wants a quieter, slower part of Rajasthan after the busier cities.
Jaisalmer Fort is one of the six Hill Forts of Rajasthan listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The 12th-century fort on Trikuta Hill, with the Raj Mahal palace museum, a group of Jain temples carved between the 12th and 16th centuries, and lanes of homes still occupied by local families.
A row of five connected merchant mansions built in the 19th century by the Patwa family, with carved balconies, painted rooms and a small museum.
Two more carved havelis in the old town: one built for a powerful prime minister of the state, with a distinctive peacock-shaped roof, and one carved by two brothers working on opposite halves.
A reservoir built in the 14th century to supply the town, lined with shrines and a carved gateway. Calm and photogenic early in the morning and at sunset.
The best-known dunes, about 40 km west of the town, with camel rides at sunset and desert camps. The Khuri dunes, further south, are usually quieter.
An abandoned village of the Paliwal Brahmins on the road to Sam, its stone houses left empty since the 19th century.
Arrive and walk the fort with a guide: the palace, the Jain temples and the lanes inside the walls. Sunset from a rooftop or at Vyas Chhatri.
Gadisar Lake early, then Patwon ki Haveli and the old town. In the afternoon, drive to the dunes via Kuldhara for a camel ride at sunset and a night at a desert camp.
Sunrise in the desert, then continue to Jodhpur or Bikaner.
Two nights is the minimum to see the fort and town and spend an evening in the desert; three nights gives you a full day in the town and a night at a desert camp without rushing.
October to March. Days are warm and nights in the desert can be cold, especially from December to February. The Desert Festival is held each winter, usually in late January or February. From April to June, daytime temperatures are extreme, and many desert camps close.
Most travellers arrive by road from Jodhpur, about 285 km away. Overnight trains connect Jaisalmer with Delhi and Jaipur, and the small airport has flights in some seasons only.
Jaisalmer is usually combined with Jodhpur, about five hours away by road, and Bikaner, about five to six hours. A classic western Rajasthan loop is Jaipur – Bikaner – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur, or the reverse.
Opening hours, fees and seasonal conditions change. We confirm current details when we plan your trip.
Two nights is enough for the fort, the havelis and one evening in the desert. Three nights is better if you want to sleep at a desert camp.
The Sam dunes are about 40 km west of the town, roughly an hour by car. Most visitors go in the afternoon for sunset and either return to town or stay at a camp.
Yes. Several thousand people still live and work inside the walls, which makes it one of the few living forts in India.
Private itineraries you can take as they are or change to suit you.
6 nights / 7 days
Seven days of forts and palaces, from the Taj Mahal to the golden walls of Jaisalmer on the edge of the Thar Desert.
Price on request, quoted for your group
6 nights / 7 days
The desert side of Rajasthan: Shekhawati havelis, Bikaner, Jaisalmer's dunes, Jodhpur and Jaipur.
Price on request, quoted for your group
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