Amongst all the places to see in Jaisalmer, the Jaisalmer Fort is the largest. It is in fact, one of the largest forts around the world. Located on the Tirukuta Hill, this fort was built by Rao Jaisal, one of the mightiest rulers of Jaislamer. Due to its location at the golden stretches of the Thar Desert, this fort is also known as the ‘Sonar Quila’ or the ‘Golden Fort’.
Sam sand dunes are indeed one of the most authentic desert dune sites in whole India and truly deserves to be on your list of things to do in Jaisalmer. Here, you find 30 to 60-meter tall sand dunes and many travellers enjoy Desert Safari on camels or jeep. Sam is 45 kilometres west of Jaisalmer city where you can reach by hiring a vehicle. You may further choose to stay in one of many desert camps that are mostly built in 2 to 3 km radius of sand dunes.
Maharwal Gadsi Singh, the then Maharaja of Jaisalmer constructed this lake in 1400 AD. The lake was originally built as a conservation reservoir for rainwater harvesting; during the ancient times, and it happened to be one of the major water sources for the entire city.
An architectural marvel in the streets of the city and marked by intricate carving and murals is what Patwon ki Haveli is. Built in the 19th century, this Patwon ki Haveli is a combination of 5 different havelis in one single premise. It consists of a museum having rare artifacts, furniture work, miniatures, mirror-work and a large collection of paintings and interestingly, used to be a hotspot for travelers all around the world.
Located 18 km away from Jaisalmer, the Kuldhara village is known as the ghost village. Lying abandoned from the past few centuries, this village has no signs of human life and is also known as one of the haunted places in Rajasthan. However, during the contemporary times, this hamlet has become one of the significantly visited places in Jaisalmer.
Even though Jaisalmer is known to be a desert city, the rulers made attempts to add some greenery to its landscape. The Bada Bagh was one such endeavour that stood the test of time and is now a sprawling garden. Located six kilometers from Jaisalmer, this garden complex is home to the royal tombs and is among the popular places to visit in Jaisalmer.
This haveli is one of the popular tourist attractions in Jaisalmer. Salim Singh-ki Haveli is built on an older structure. This building was constructed during the early part of the eighteenth century. It was the residence of the Mehta family, one of the influential families in Jaisalmer during the early 18th century. Salim Singh, the then Prime Minister of Jaisalmer commissioned the building of this haveli.
Established in AD 847, the highly revered Tanot Mata Temple is believed to be Goddess Hinglaj Mata’s incarnation. This is a miraculous temple located in the proximity of Longewala that used to be a battle site during the 165-71 Indo-Pak war. Jawans posted near the temple share magical stories associated with this temple. For instance, the way the temple remained untainted and the soldiers alive even though Pakistan dropped over 3000 bombs, is a very enrapturing tale.
The Indian Army has set up a historical war museum in Jaisalmer. This war museum which is the first-of-its-kind on the western front traces the evolution of the Indian Army and covers in detail its inspiring contribution in mainly 1965 Indo-Pak War and 1971 Longewala battle including all combat operations and other nation building activities.
This museum and culture centre is the place to visit to know more about the culture of Jaisalmer and its rich heritage. On display in the Desert Culture Centre and Museum are artefacts relating to the ancient customs of Jaisalmer. A visit to this place reveals a lot about the people and cultures of this region. Abundant with artefacts and items of cultural interest, the museum also displays rare coins; some of the coins date back to the medieval period.
Located on the outskirts of Jaisalmer, Khuri sand dunes are a popular visiting spot. The Khuri village is one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer to witness how people live in a desert. You can see the many mud and straw houses at Khuri. These homes have impressive exterior decorations. Camel riding is one of the main activities in this village and while visiting this village, you can explore the vast expanses of the desert outskirts on a camel back. The crests and troughs of the dunes will intrigue you. Some dunes reach mesmerizing heights.
A visit to the Desert National Park will give a better understanding of how the plants and animals have survived the aridness of the Thar Desert. Displaying the unique range and collection of different species of flora and fauna, this museum attracts the nature enthusiasts and the botanists to a large extent. The terrain of this forest is multifaceted with craggy rock surfaces interspersed between the vegetation. The animals you can see here are the wolf, chinkara, blackbuck and desert cat. Considerable number of sand-grouses can also be seen near the water holes. During the mornings, you can witness the abundant activity of early birds such as the grey partridge for instance.
Enclosed in the Golden Fort (Sonar Quila) of Jaisalmer, the Dussehra Chowk sprawls as a large courtyard that is shrouded with tales of ceremonies and celebration of the festival of Dussehra during the reign of Rajput in Jaisalmer. The edifices and edges of the marvellous Royal fort can witness from all the angles from the Dussehra Chowk. Hawa Pol, Akshya Pol, Ganesh Pol, and Suraj Pol are the four getaways to enter the fort and one can reach the Dussehra Chowk by Hawa Pol (the last of the four getaways). There is a marble throne which is said to be the place where the King would sit and watch the proceedings in the complex.
Vyas Chhatri is an air array of brilliant sandstone chhatris and is located on an old Brahmin graveyard on an ascent on the northwestern edge of town and make it as one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer. It is a well known sunset point from you can have the sight of fort. You can enter in Vyas Chhatri from Ramgarh Rd, which is just opposite to the Himmatgarh Palace Hotel.
This haveli has derived its origin from the late 19th century and has extraordinary exterior, dripping with carvings. The 1st floor of the haveli has some beautiful paintings that are made using 1.5kg of gold leaf. Apparently, the left and right wings were the work of two brothers-Hathi and Lulu. The competitive spirit in them apparently produced this virtuoso work. If you closely observe, the two sides are similar, however not identical.
Located within the vicinity of the Kuldhara village, the Khaba Fort is an abandoned structure that is yet another eerie place in Jaisalmer. This fort holds great potential for photography enthusiasts and is one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer to click amazing snapshots. The surroundings of the fort are intriguing enough to let you have a chilling experience!