If the thought of walking barefoot on the sands of an endless desert gives you an adrenaline rush, chances are that Jaisalmer is your calling. Jaisalmer, also known as ‘the City of lights’ or ‘the Golden City’ has a pride of place in the list of World’s Heritage Sites, and has been attracting tourist from across the world.
Warm people, clear sky & a village market
If you are taking a bus to the city, you will be welcomed by “Paddhaaro mhare desh” message painted on walls on your both sides, the very moment you enter the city perimeters. Its warm hospitality & culture will make you a part of the city before you even know it. As evening falls, a blanket of calmness engulfs the city. The streets light up with lamps and evening markets are set up. You can cover the entire city on foot in a matter of 2 hours, and you will cherish this experience. Photographers, especially, will have a field day playing with the criss-cross of lights that colour the city yellow.
Golden Fort (Jaisalmer Fort)
The Jaisalmer Fort is located on a hill in the center of the city. The fort’s massive yellow sandstone walls give it a honey-gold colour as the sun sets, thereby giving it the name Sonar Quila or Golden Fort. You can walk around the fort to get bird’s eye view of the entire city of Jaisalmer. There are a few temples and a museum inside the fort apart from a lot of good shopping options.
Sam Sand Dunes
Around 40 kilometres from the city, Sam Sand Dunes are very much in the heart of the Great Indian Thar Desert. The dunes can be reached on rented bikes or rented cars (available readily) that run on a 4-8 hour package. You also have the option of night camping which includes transfer to & from Sam, Camel safari, a savoury meal & accommodation in the tents. Folk singers and dancers can be seen here and this makes Jaisalmer a must-explore destination.
Desert Festival
Desert Festival of Jaisalmer is a three-day annual festival and is generally held around first week of February. Dates for the festival are decided only few months in advance so as to coincide the last day of festival with full moon day. You can witness camel races, turban tying competitions, etc. It is advised to book your itinerary well in advance for the festival as the city sees a huge surge in tourists and accommodation becomes a problem for last minute planners.
Festival Dates: 29th – 31st January, 2018
Patwon Ki Haveli
Jaisalmer is studded with huge enchanting havelis that are famous for their intricate architecture and beauty. Most famous of these havelis is Patwon ki Haveli – a cluster of five small havelis. Patwon ki Haveli, with its fine wall paintings, beautiful archways & attention-to-detail architecture, is one of the finest monuments in Jaisalmer. It took about 55 years to build the haveli. .
How to reach Jaisalmer?
Jaisalmer is well-connected by bus and rail routes. The nearest airport from Jaisalmer is Jaipur. There are many SpiceJet flights that connect Jaipur with all major airports across India. You can take a direct overnight train or bus to Jaisalmer from Jaipur.
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Best time to Visit:
Winters is the best time to visit Jaisalmer. You can plan your travel anytime between start of November to Mid-February. The weather is calm and cold and it is easier to venture out at any time of the day. One should strictly avoid April to July as city becomes extremely hot during this time.
