Jaisalmer Tour

Facts and Figures
» Location from Major Metros : Delhi (793 kms), Mumbai (1140 kms), Calcutta (2030 kms), Chennai (2417 kms).

» Known for : Havelis, fort and handicraft items.

» Climate & the best time to visit : Jaisalmer has the typical desert type climate, extremely hot summer days with cool nights and bitterly cold winter with freezing cold nights. In summers, the average temperature is around 41°C but can go as high as 50°C while the minimum average is around 25° C. Winter days in the months between November and March are warmer than expected with average temperatures of around 23.6°C, partly because the desert sun still retains its intensity but night temperatures fall to below -1°C, though the average is approximately 5° to 6° C. Frost is a common phenomenon in the winter nights. Rainfall is minimal with the region barely receiving 15cm of rain annually. The best time to visit Jaisalmer is between the months of November to February.


The city
Jaisalmer, the golden city of Rajasthan, carries the essence of Rajasthan. There are very few places in India, as mesmerizing and as intriguing as Jaisalmer. It is an important ancient trading center, famous for its desert fort, havelis and parks. The Jaisalmer fort was built by Rawal Jaisal in the 12th century and it stands on the 80 metre high Trikuta hill, with beautifully carved Jain temples and parks. There are many havelis which can be found elsewhere in Rajasthan, but nowhere are they quite as exquisite as in Jaisalmer. Even the humblest shops and houses display something of the Rajput love for the decorative arts. Thus, Jaisalmer is definitely one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rajasthan.

Attractions in the city
» Jain Temples : There are fine Jain temples, built in the 12th to 15th century within the Jaisalmer Fort. They are beautifully carved and dedicated to Rishabdevji and Sambhavnathji. The Gyan Bhandar, a library containing some very old manuscripts, is also present in the temple complex. The temples are open till 12 noon . There are also Shiva and Ganesh temples within the fort, which also close at 12 noon . The emerald icon of Mahavira here is an unique gem.

» Jaisalmer fort : The Jaisalmer fort stands about 100 meters over the city and houses a citadel within its huge ramparts. Just walk through the fort and you can experience the Jaisalmer. Several entrances called Pols, including the Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Bhoota Pol and the Hava Pol guard the Megh Durbar and the Jawahar Mahal which were occupied by the royal family.

» Havelis : There are beautiful mansions in Jaisalmer, built by the wealthy merchants and are known as 'havelis'. Several of these fine sandstone buildings are still in beautiful condition. Patwon ki Haveli is the most elaborate and magnificent of all the Jaisalmer havelis. The Salim-Singh-ki-Haveli is a splendid edifice whose two upper storeys had to be demolished and yet looks magnificient. Particularly noteworthy are the rows of peacocks below the jharokhas. The projected balconies or jharokhas are a perfect example of jeweler's art applied to stone carving.

» Godi Sagar : This tank, south of the city walls, once held the town water supply, and befitting its importance in providing precious water to the inhabitants of this arid city, it is surrounded by small temples and shrines.

Other places of interest
» Lodurva : Lodurva is 16 km away from Jaisalmer. It is an important pilgrimage center for Jains and was once the ancient capital of Jaisalmer rulers. A masterpiece of architectural grandeur is 'Toran' or the ornate arch at the main entrance with its exquisite carvings. 'Kalpatru' or the divine tree is another attraction.

» Sam Sand Dunes : These dunes are located 42 kms from Jaisalmer. No trip to Jaisalmer is complete without a visit to these picturesque dunes. The ripples on the wind-caressed dunes create enchanting mirages, a photographer's delight. Various cultural programmes are organized against the backdrop of these fascinating dunes. Adventure lovers can go out on a camel safari, getting the real feel of the desert on the camel-back.

» Wood Fossil Park : This park is about 17 kms away from Jaisalmer, lying on the Barmer Road. It takes you back to the jurassic period with 180 million year old fossils, which are the geological landmarks for the study of the Thar Desert.

» Desert National Park : At this park you may encounter the Indian Gazelle, Chinkara Eagle and exotic avian variety in this 3000 sq. km. vast protected Biosphere Reserve. The park lies to the south-west of Jaisalmer.


How to reach
» Air : The nearest airport is Jodhpur around 285 kms away.

» Rail : Jaisalmer is connected with Jodhpur, which is connected to the rest of the country.

» Road : A good network of roads joins Jaisalmer with many destinations in and around Rajasthan and with all the major cities of India.