Jaisalmer is the golden city of India and the second largest district. In this blog post will explore a memorable trip which you won’t forget for the rest of your life. If you think Jaisalmer is just a desert, then guys you are wrong. Jaisalmer is the only city where you can see the living fort of India, carving that kept you amaze, famous Jain Temples, lake where you can do boating, a mausoleum and a haunted village on which various movies has also been made. A part of Thar Desert where adventure activities will win your heart, and the most important thing is India Pakistan Boarder. In this blog post I have explained a Jaisalmer Trip of 3 days and 2 nights.
Let’s begin the journey…………
DAY 1 – Places to Visit in Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer was founded in the year 1156 by Jaisal Singh known as Rawal Jaisal. Jaisalmer Fort is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan. “Jaisal” is the name of king and “Mer” means fort, so Jaisalmer means “Fort of Jaisal”. The strangest thing about this fort is that even today people live inside the fort, the way they did during the king’s reign. There are many hotels in the fort, where you can stay and experience a royal life. Inside the fort, there are many palaces, monuments, temples, and views points to explore. I am explaining some of the places in this blog:
- Kings Palace: To visit this palace, the timings are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. The entry ticket is Rs. 200/- per person including camera and videography charges.
- The other parts to visit at Jaisalmer Fort is Shashtralaya, Diwan Khana, Tripolia, Statue Room, Diwane-aam, Queen’s Palace, Roof Top where you can get a beautiful view of the city.
- Jaisalmer Fort consists of a complex of seven Jain Temples built in yellow sandstone in between the 12th to 16th century.
- The Jaisalmer Fort is a famous World Heritage Site, as part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan and for its ancient Jain Temples. The temples are famous for their intricate construction which attracts tourists and devotees.
- There is a peaceful place in Jaisalmer Fort, known as “Canon Point”, from where you can get a spectacular view of Jaisalmer city, and enjoy the sunset. You can sit here and enjoy tea and snacks at the café, I would recommend tasting saffron tea.
Patwa Haveli
At the exit of the Jaisalmer Fort, you can visit “Patwa Haveli”. It is believed that Patwa was a wealthy man and a famous businessman of his time. He constructed a beautiful Palace for his 5 sons which took 50 years to complete. This is the first and largest mansion complex to be built in Jaisalmer. These gorgeous homes not only have beautiful details, but also have museums and spectacular views from the top.
Bada Bagh
It is situated on a small hilltop in honour of the Shaka Dynasty, queens, princes and other royal family members. The palace is built in varying sizes, contains monuments which are made of golden sandstone blocks. Each tomb has a monument commemoration, sacred royal houses, as well as an image of a man riding on horseback. The Bada Bagh is situated at 6kms. from the city.
Entry Ticket: Rs.150/- per person.
Gadisar Lake
As I said in the introduction, Jaisalmer is not just a deserted city, here you can enjoy boat rides. The lake is only 1.5kms. away from Jaisalmer Fort. This is an artificial lake, and it is believed that at times this lake provides water supply for the whole city. At present, Gadisar Lake gets water from the Indira Gandhi Canal, hence it never dries up. In Gadisar Lake, watching the sunset while boating gives different experiences. Here you can enjoy the Water Laser Show which starts at 7:00 pm. Boating Price starts at Rs. 300/- per person.
DAY 2 – Places to Visit in Jaisalmer
The rest of the places are on the outskirts of Jaisalmer, you can hire a bike on a rental basis to explore these places. The charges are between Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1200/-.
Khuldhara Village
This village is known as “Haunted Village” and is situated around 35kms away from the Jaisalmer City. There are some interesting stories related to this place, it is believed that the Kuldhara Village was established in 18th century and once a prosperous village inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins. The whole village was abandoned in the early 19th century for unknown reasons, and there are many stories behind the emptiness of this village. A movie with the name of “Kalo – The Desert Witch” was made based on the story related to this village.
Khaba Fort
The fort is situated at 16kms. from Kuldhara and 31kms from Jaisalmer city. Khaba Village was among the 84 villages built by Paliwal Brahmins. Once upon a time, Khaba was an important place for trade within the country and abroad. However, now in this abandoned village you can only visit a museum.
Entry Ticket: Rs.20/- per person.
Sam Sand Dunes
Your Jaisalmer Trip cannot be completed without Sam Desert. This place is so mesmerizing that you won’t forget the time you spent at Sam Sand Dunes throughout your life. You can enjoy Jeep Safari, Camel Ride, fun in desert, photography or you can just sit at this place and the vibes will keep your heart alive. After adventure activities in Sam Desert there is one more experience you should try, and that’s a night stay in the desert. There are many campsite options at this place, but I would suggest you go to Heritage Juma Resort Camp. At this camp you can enjoy breakfast, dinner, cultural programs, DJ dance party, swimming pool and enjoy stay at Swiss Tent which gives memorable experience.
DAY 3 – Places to Visit in Jaisalmer
Tanot Mata Temple
A 2-hour journey from Jaisalmer City or Sam Desert will take you to Tanot Mata Temple which is near Indo Pak Border. During the 1965 India Pakistan War, Tanot Temple was attacked by the army of Pakistan, where they bombarded around 300 bombs, but according to locals, all the targeted bombs are missed its target or didn’t explode. After 1965 war, The Border Security Force (BSF) of India took over the command of temples administration.
India Pakistan Boarder
At a distance of 20 kms from Tanot, you can visit India Pakistan Boarder. To visit this place, you will have to get a permit which is free of cost, but you need a four-wheeler vehicle to explore. If you have your own vehicle, then it’s good, otherwise you can hire a rented cab. Tourists basically hire a car that ferry with a group of 5-6 people for Rs. 1200/-. Seeing the India Pakistan Border filled you with patriotism and knowing about it will be a very adventurous experience.
Longewala
This place is about 40 kms away from Tanot. The Longewala War Memorial commemorates the Battle of Longewala which took place between the India and Pakistan in December 1971. This battle shows the courage of an Indian Army where a small platoon fought with a huge Pakistan army, and we won the war. The famous renowned movie “Border” depicts the story of Longewala War.
Best Time to Visit Jaisalmer
As you all are aware that Jaisalmer is a deserted place, and you can’t think of exploring the city in summer. The best season to visit Jaisalmer is Winter i.e; from October to the end of February.
Local Food in Jaisalmer
The local and traditional Rajasthani food that you can’t miss in your trip are:
- Dal Batti Churma,
- Dal Pakwan,
- Kachori,
- Lassi (especially Bhang Lassi),
- Saffron Tea.
There is a stall right in front of the entrance of Jaisalmer Fort, where you can taste delicious Dal Pakwan, Kachori and Bhang Lassi.
Hotels in Jaisalmer
There are various options which include both budgeted and luxurious hotels. If you want to go for the Budgeted option, choose Zostel or Hosteller. If you are planning on winter or any festival, try to make advance booking.
- Hotel Pol Haveli
- Suryagarh Jaisalmer
- Boutique Helsinki
- Hotel Garh Jaisal Haveli
- Casa De Kaku
How to Reach Jaisalmer
- By Air: Jaisalmer Airport which is 17kms away from the city. Flight options are very less in most of the season, except winters. You can take alternate flights to Jodhpur Airport which is 285 kms away from Jaisalmer.
- By Train: Jaisalmer Railway Station is the nearest one which is connected to the major cities. There are some popular trains including the Delhi-Jaisalmer Express, Jodhpur-Jaisalmer Express, and luxury trains like the Palace on Wheels.
- By Road: Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) and Volvo buses ply from major cities.
Final Thoughts
In this blog I have explained the 3 days 2 nights budgeted trip wherein I explained the places to visit, hotels to stay, best season, how to reach Jaisalmer. Now it’s time to know what the minimum budget would be to explore the city. The total budget is approximately Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 10,000/- per person which includes hotel, night stay at the campsite, food, transportation, bike rental and entry ticket.
Pack your bag and explore the unexplored places with Hema………
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