The city of Jaisalmer rises above the sand like a mirage and is a popular travel destination due to its location deep in the Thar Desert. The city is also called the «City of Gold» due to its abundance of large sand dunes and palaces made of golden sandstone.
The most prominent landmark of the city is the Jaisalmer Fort, which contains a large part of the city and resembles a massive sand castle rising from the surrounding dunes. Jaisalmer also has many other attractions to offer including camel safaris, Jain temples and Havelis.
1. Explore Jaisalmer Fort
Built in 1156, Fort Deisalmer is the main focal point of the city. The structure is also known as the Golden Fort as it is made of mixed gold and yellow sandstone.
Jaisalmer Fort was built by the Bhati Rajput ruler, Rawal Jaisal, and has been the site of several battles and wars. The fortress complex contains several buildings, including palaces, temples, houses, wells and traditional mansions (Havelis). Ver más: Complejos turísticos imperdibles de Udaipur
The fort has several entrances namely Hawa Pol, Ganesh Pol, Rang Pol and Jawahar Pol. The main attraction of the fort is the Maharawal Palace known for its marble throne. There is also a five-story tower called the Tazia Tower which is located in front of the Maharawal Palace.
Jaisalmer Fort is also known for its Jawahar Palace which was once used as a royal residence. Here, guests can also visit the palace museum which contains a large collection of artifacts representing the rich culture and heritage of the city.
Today, the fort is home to a population of around 4,000 people who are largely descendants of the Brahmin and Rajput communities. It contains numerous hotels, guest houses, temples, craft shops and restaurants that travelers can visit for a fee.
- Ubicación: En el centro de la ciudad de Jaisalmer
- Mejor época para visitar: Octubre a marzo
- Cómo llegar: Taxi, tuk-tuk o a pie desde cualquier parte de la ciudad
- Mejores experiencias: Explorar las murallas, el palacio y los templos dentro del fuerte
- Atracciones cercanas: Mercado local, Puerta de Surya
2. Visit the Jain Temples
One of the main attractions of Jaisalmer Fort is a series of interconnected Jain temples dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Temples are very significant in Jain religion and have a lot of wholesome knowledge attached to them.
The Jain temples are a good example of the Dilwara style of architecture that involves structures carved entirely from sandstone. Dilwara architecture also often includes carved figures of animals and people decorating the wall, a dome that is covered with a notched stone disc, and a water pot containing a lotus flower.
There are a total of seven Jain temples inside the Jaisalmer Fort. Parshvanath Temple is the oldest and the most beautiful. Rishabhnath Temple is the second most important Jain temple and is situated near the ruins of Moomal Palace along the Kak River.
The Sambhavnath Temple has two pyramidal domes on top and its walls are intricately carved with different designs and stories.
To enter these temples, visitors will have to remove their shoes and all leather items.
- Ubicación: Dentro del Fuerte de Jaisalmer
- Mejor época para visitar: Octubre a marzo
- Cómo llegar: A pie desde cualquier punto dentro del fuerte
- Mejores experiencias: Admirar la arquitectura y las esculturas intrincadas
- Atracciones cercanas: Palacio del Maharajá, templos hindúes
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3. Walk through Havelis
The beautiful Havelis of Jaisalmer are mansions that were built by wealthy merchants with the oldest of them dating back almost 300 years. Havelis are symbols of true Indian architecture without any European influence.
These structures are built of sandstone and many of them can be found in the city both inside and outside the Jaisalmer Fort. Havelis have exquisite details in their patterns that are carved into the stone and decorative lattice work on the facades.
Within the Jaisalmer Fort, the 19th century Patwa Haveli is the largest and most important traditional mansion in the city. The Patwa Haveli is a group of five mansions built by a rich Jain merchant and his sons. The mansion includes fine wall paintings, beautiful balconies and high arches.
The Salim Singh Ki Haveli is known for its distinctive and eye-catching architecture. This 17th-century structure has 38 balconies and an extended peacock-shaped vaulted ceiling.
- Ubicación: Varios lugares en la ciudad de Jaisalmer
- Mejor época para visitar: Octubre a marzo
- Cómo llegar: A pie, en tuk-tuk o en taxi
- Mejores experiencias: Visitar Patwon Ki Haveli, Salim Singh Ki Haveli y Nathmal Ki Haveli
- Atracciones cercanas: Lago Gadsisar, mercado de Sadar
4. Go on a camel safari
One of the most unforgettable and enchanting experiences you can have in Jaisalmer is to go on a camel safari. This will allow you to witness the rural life of the Indian desert and ride through the windswept desert on the back of a camel.
The most popular place for camel safari trips is Sam Sand Dunes which are beautiful but have become more commercial and crowded nowadays. The tranquil sand dunes near Khuri village in the Desert National Park are now a better place to go for travelers who want a more authentic experience. You can also take a camel safari to Bikaner and Osian.
Camel safaris take place twice a day (once before sunrise and once before sunset) and will last around two hours. The price varies depending on the route, the standard of food and the comfort provided. Rates start from Rs 1,000 per person for a sunset camel ride to Rs 1,600 for a full-day package.
Some items you will need to bring with you for the safari include sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, toilet paper, insect repellent, a bottle of water, and plenty of warm clothing, as it can get cold in the desert at night.
- Ubicación: Desierto de Thar, Jaisalmer
- Mejor época para visitar: Octubre a marzo
- Cómo llegar: Tours organizados desde la ciudad de Jaisalmer
- Mejores experiencias: Disfrutar del atardecer en el desierto, pasar una noche en campamentos en el desierto
- Atracciones cercanas: Dunas de Sam, Khuri
5. Visit Bada Bagh
One of the relics of Rajasthan’s royal past , Bada Bagh is a series of cenotaphs situated in the middle of a desert garden located about 6 kilometers from Jaisalmer.
The construction of Bada Bagh Gardens was commissioned by Maharaja Maharawal Jai Singh. When he died, his son built a pavilion in his memory by the lake in the garden. Since then, a new cenotaph was added to this garden to commemorate each king of the dynasty of Maharaja Maharawal Jai Singh.
Bada Bagh is a very beautiful and peaceful place to explore. The garden pavilions match the color of the surrounding landscape and are situated close to each other creating a labyrinth of rounded sandstone roofs.
The cenotaphs are arranged from newest to oldest. The size of the cenotaph also corresponds to the grandeur of the ruler for which it was built. The greater the height of the ruler, the greater the cenotaph.
Each pavilion has an engraving of the ruler’s name at the entrance and texts inscribed on them. The roofs of the pavilions are designed to resemble shrines and symbolize the sanctity and divinity of the structure.
- Ubicación: A 6 km de Jaisalmer
- Mejor época para visitar: Octubre a marzo
- Cómo llegar: En taxi o en moto
- Mejores experiencias: Ver los cenotafios reales y disfrutar de la tranquilidad del lugar
- Atracciones cercanas: Lago Amar Sagar, Ruinas de Kuldhara
Explore Jaisalmer with Tusk Travel Spanish
The golden city of Jaisalmer is packed with history and attractions to explore. If you want to add Jaisalmer to your India trip without the hassle of doing all the research and planning yourself, contact Tusk Travel Español . We can help you make the perfect trip where everything is tailor-made to suit your preferences.
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