Visit Jaisalmer — The Golden City of Rajasthan

Ride Boat at Gadisar Lake

Gadisar lake is located in the heart of the city about 1 km from Jaisalmer Fort. It is an artificial lake constructed by Raja Rawal Jaiswal in 1400 AD for conserving rainwater. Tourist will find temples, ghats, historic monuments and Chattries near the shore of this lake. The entrance to the lake is created from yellow sandstone which offers a breathtaking view. Riding a boat on the Gadisar lake is one of the best things to do in Jaisalmer.

In winters, the boat rides become even more fascinating as you can locate various species of migratory birds at the lake coming from Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Tourists can also visit Tilon Ki Pol gate located near the lake.

• Visiting Time: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

• Entry Fee: For 30 mins of boat ride: ₹ 20/- for Row Boat, ₹ 50/- Paddle Boat

Explore Jain Temples of Jaisalmer

One of the major attractions of Jaisalmer is Jain Temples which dates back from the 15th and 16th centuries. These are a stunning series of 7 interconnected Jain temples created from yellow sandstones which are located inside the Jaisalmer Fort. These temples are dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras and are recognised for their notable architectural style modelled after the Dilwara temple of Mount Abu.

• Visiting Time: 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Entry Fee: No fee for Indians, ₹ 10/- for foreign tourists, ₹ 50 per still camera, ₹ 100/- for a camcorder.

Enjoy Pictorial Views of Dessert National Park

Desert national park is one of the largest of its kind in the country stretched in an area of 3162 km² which also covers the area from Jaisalmer/Barmer all the way to the India-Pakistan border. Irrespective of arid, dry and sandy desert, it offers an incredible opportunity for all tourists to witness the plethora of wildlife such as Camels, Desert Fox, Chinkara, Bengal Fox, Wolves, and the Blackbuck.

The best way to discover the majestic wildlife at the Desert National Park is by going for an adventure ride from jeep safari which will give you a new & exciting experience. Dinosaur fossils have been found in this region. Sam Sand Dunes are also located here.

• Visiting Time: 10:00 AM -5:00 PM, Closed on Sunday

Explore Fairy Tale Like Havelis

Jaisalmer is also known as majestic historic Havelis constructed in fairy-tale architecture. In this area, the 19th century Patwa Haveli is the city's biggest and most important one due to its breathtaking intricate stonework and artwork. All the main Havelis of Jaisalmer are mentioned below:

1. Patwon Ki Haveli: Guman Chand Patwa and his sons have constructed this haveli which is located in the centre of the city. It is a five-storied building which consists of 5 decorated huge suits, large corridors, fully furnished walls with stone carving. This haveli is a masterpiece of the legendary architectural wealth of Jaisalmer.

Visiting Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Entry Fee: ₹ 20/- for Indians, ₹ 100/- for Foreign Tourists, ₹ 50 for Normal camera and ₹ 100 for Videography.

2. Salim Singh Ki Haveli: Among all the Havelis, Salim ki haveli is the most admired one and known for its unique and eye-catching architecture. It is now a part of the national heritage and consists of 38 balconies with their own distinguishing style of architecture and a peacock shaped roof. Visiting Time: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Entry Fee: ₹ 10/- for Indians, ₹ 15/- for Foreign Tourists, ₹ 50 for Normal camera and ₹ 150 for Videography.

3. Nathmal Ki Haveli: This haveli is known for its beautiful interior design which is filled with artistic paintings and modern antiques. This Halevi is constructed by two Muslim brothers and designed its outing with extraordinary carvings. This Haveli blend of Rajputana Culture and Islamic architecture. Visiting Time: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Entry Fee: No Fees

Also Read: Thing You Should Know Before Travelling To Jaipur

Experience the Thrill of Desert Safari

Thar desert is one of the beautiful golden sand deserts in India. It is the only desert destination where you can visit for the sand dune dashing experiences. The Thar Desert is also famous for its Jaisalmer desert festival which is organized in the months of February and March. Tourist will love & enjoy the Camelback safari and Jeep safari. Visit the desert during the evening time so that you can watch the scenic sunset on the desert.

At night you also get to experience the Rajasthani style cuisine which is followed by local music and traditional Kalbelia dance. Apart from Desert safari, you can try various adventure activities on the Thar Desert such as parasailing, dune bashing, paramotoring, quad biking and many more.

Walk Through The Bada Bagh

Bada Bagh is the big garden famous for similar lookings Cenotaphs (monuments) which are constructed in the honour of royal rulers of Jaisalmer from 16th to 20th century. The last monument was dedicated to Maharaja Jawahar Singh, however, it remains incomplete due to his death. It is located on a small hilly region which is about 6 km away from Jaisalmer. The tourists can reach the Bada Bagh from the bottom of the hill and stroll to the top where artistic monuments and chhatris are situated.

You can wander inside the garden area, and around the edge of the lake to enjoy scenic views of the water and its surroundings. This place is also considered as an excellent spot for bird watching activities in Jaisalmer.

• Visiting Time: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

• Entry Fee: Indians: ₹ 50 for Indians, ₹ 100 for foreigners, Video Camera - ₹150

Discover Akal Wood Fossil Park

Akal Wood Fossil Park has located around 17 km from the Jaisalmer city. When you will visit this Fossil Park, you will observe 180-million-year old fossils, which are placed on the floor of the Thar Desert. The main attractions of this park are fossilized remains of a huge forest which are submerged into the sea, exposed tree trunks protected by iron grilled cages and tin shade roofing. There are also residues of non-flowering trees such as Redwood, Deodar and Chir. Most of the fossils are secured in cages to prevent them from theft.

It is believed that fossils are lying deep inside the soil. In the year 1972, Akal Wood Fossil Park was declared the National Geological Monument by the Geological Survey of India.

• Visiting Time: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

• Entry Fee: ₹ 5/- for Indians, ₹ 20/- for Foreign Nationals and ₹ 10 for car parking

Conclusion:

There are many other tourist spots you can visit in Jaisalmer and understand its culture, local heritage, traditions at Cultural Museum, Jaisalmer War Museum, buy Rajasthani handloom products from Desert Handicraft Emporium, enjoy dining at royal rooftop restaurants, take quad bike tour and try dune bashing at sand dunes of Thar Desert, get unforgettable experience of camping at Sam Sand Dunes, unfold the mysteries of the Abandoned Village of Kuldhara.

Also Read: Mount Abu – The Only Hill Station In Rajasthan

Still, after visiting all these places if you are left with some energy then you can attend the Jaiselmer Dessert Festival and go for local bazar for shopping.