Jaisalmer is a city of an Indian state Rajasthan. It is famous as “Golden City”, the city was named after a Bhati ruler Rawal Jaisal who founded the city in 1156 AD. Jaisalmer houses many forts that are among the world’s largest forts, there are many cenotaphs, big and old Havelis that will surely mesmerize you with its architectural designs and intelligence.

Here are some top 16 places that you should not miss out when you are in Jaisalmer –   

1. Jaisalmer Fort

One of the rare “living forts” in the world, Jaisalmer Fort is situated in the city of Jaisalmer Rajasthan. One-fourth of the city population resides within the fort, there are many shops, temple, restaurants and houses. The fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is one of the “Hill Forts of India”. It is popularly known as the Sonar Qila or Golden Fort which is nestled on the golden sand of THAR Desert. The aesthetic beauty of the fort exhibited by its massive structure attracts tourists. This fort is also one of the largest forts in the world, it was built in 1156 and was named after the former Bhati Rajput ruler Rao Jaisal. You must visit the fort and your walk through the labyrinthine lanes of this huge fort is an experience worth having. 

2. Bada Bagh

Bada Bagh means ‘Big Garden’, it is located 6km north of Jaisalmer on the way to Ramgarh. Bada Bagh is a series of Cenotaphs, it is a popular tourist site as it has cenotaphs of all the Maharajas of the Jaisalmer and other prestigious family members of all royal Rajput Kings of 6 centuries. The Bada Bagh is stunning the great architecture, Chhatris has the same colour as the sand and hence looks like a mirage of the desert. The domes have various shapes some of them are circular, some are squarish and pyramidal-shaped and the chhatris are squared or hexagonal shaped. The places depict the past of Rajasthan. 

3. Pokhran Fort

Pokhran means the place of five mirages enclosed by rocky, sandy and salt ranges. The fort was built by the Marwar Thakur, Rao Maldeo in the 14th Century, the fort is also popular as Balagarh Fort. Pokhran which is situated in the Thar Desert has served as the site for India’s first underground nuclear weapon detonations. The fort has a huge door with sinister spikes made to stop the elephant stampede. The fort has a museum which displays the historical items of Maharajas their armoury, pottery, costumes worn by them and miniature paintings. There is a small town in the surroundings of the fort, and village people will surely welcome you with a warm heart. There are many things to see and enjoy in the village too, you can experience the safari of dunes, you can enjoy pot making in the village.       

4. Jain Temples

Jain Temples are situated in the Jaisalmer Fort, the temple has ancient knowledge attached to them and has high religious significance. The temples are made in world-famous Dilwara architectural style and are dedicated to famous Jain hermits known as ‘Tirthankaras’. There is a total of seven temples which are connected and are built using golden-yellow Jaisalmeri Stone. These temples attract the tourist by their stunning sculptures around the walls and pillars carved with Gods and celestial women. If you are interested in the ancient remains and history of these temples there is a place named Gyan Bhandar which is a small library consisting of all the information. If you have an interest in architecture and history, this is a must-visit place for you.    

5. Kothari’s Patwaon-Ki-Haveli

Patwaon-Ki-Haveli is a famous tourist attraction in Jaisalmer which is also known as Mansion of Brocade Merchants. You will see the windows and balconies with intricate carvings from the outside of the Haveli, it’s a grand Haveli which was built by a rich trader in the 19th century. The Haveli is the cluster of five small Havelis which possesses the arts crafts and stonework that gives the glimpse of Patwa family. The Haveli attracts the tourists by its architectural work the paintings on the wall, mirror works on the wall, the Mural work each part of the Haveli is uniquely designed. The Haveli has 60 balconies that open to a panoramic view, the unique styles of ceiling, pillars and walls are worth watching.       

6. Jaisalmer War Museum

A museum which is located on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway, it was inaugurated in the year of 1965 India-Pakistan war. The museum was built to display India’s rich military history, the museum also showcases the real war scenario. The main of the museum is to aware people about the sacrifices made by Indian Army heroes in wartime. You will find much information about the Indian armed forces and their sacrifices through various miniatures and the large informative boards. If you are interested in knowing about Indian soldiers then this place is worth visiting.  

7. Gadsisar Sagar Lake

This beautiful Gadsisar Sagar Lake lies on the outskirts of the Jaisalmer. The lake was built by Raja Rawal Jaisal to fulfil the needs of local people, as in the huge desert a source of water was needed and this lake sits like an oasis in the heart of the desert. The best part of the lake is that there is a small fort near the lake which adds immense beauty to the lake while the sky turns blood red and the sun rises, it gives scenic and picturesque views that are worth watching.

8. Desert Thar Safari

The Desert Safari in Jaisalmer is one of the most famous revered activity in the Thar Desert. People do this adventurous trip to witness the beauty of the spectacular sandy terrain and see the people living the life in that region. It is more thrilling to the people who visit the desert for the first time as they can see people living there which are impossible for them. The Safari includes a whole day trip in the desert, camel ride, authentic and delicious Rajasthani cuisine along with folk dance performances at the Camps. In modern-day, people also do various activities like quad biking, jeep safari, blasting dunes and paragliding in the desert during the safari. The fascination with spending the whole night in the middle of the desert with cultural programmes and campfire is a unique experience in itself. Presently, the facilities have upgraded so much with modern amenities as organisers offer deluxe tents and luxury Swiss Cottages which is comfortable for everyone.

9. Desert National Park

Also famous as DNP, it is one of the largest national parks in India which is a sanctuary for flora and fauna. This is in the list of one of the UNESCO World Heritage Centres which is spread in an area of 3162 km². It is one of the most beautiful places in Jaisalmer which is worth visiting to witness several exotic animals and bird species. Some of the endangered and rare species like great Indian Bustard is also found here in fair numbers and are preserved by the park. The park also has many fossils of plants and animals which is about 180 million years old including fossils of dinosaurs of 60 million years old which are one of the main reasons of attraction of visitors to this palace. It is a pure combination of history and nature and thus is visited by people of different perspective like people who want to see the nature, people who want to see the history and fossils and also people who want to enjoy their time with their friends and family in this wonderful park. This park is a paradise for bird watchers and people can enjoy events like a bonfire, camping and other activities in this place which makes it a perfect tourism destination.

10. Tanot Mata Temple

Tanot Mata Temple is located near the border of India and Pakistan in Tanot village in Jaisalmer. This heritage site is preserved by Border Security Force of India and gained nation-wide renown during India and Pakistan war in the year 1971. The deity of this temple is Tanot Mata who is an incarnation of divine goddess Hinglaj Mata. There is also a museum beside the temple which showcases the artefacts from the time of war and this temple near the national border is so famous because according to Legend, it is said that when thousands of bombs were shelled during the war not even one bomb fell near this temple blasted and thus protected the soldiers and local people of that region which we can see in the museum. This admirable story encourages army personnel and also give then confidence and strength to protect our county. This is a must-visit place in Jaisalmer to witness the combination of bravery and religion of the war.

11. Salim Singh Ki Haveli

Salim Singh Ki Haveli is also known as Jahazmahal and is considered as one of the well-known Haveli’s located in the heart of Jaisalmer. It is a famous tourist’s attraction which is considered by tourists as an amazing destination for tourism. Salim Singh built the Haveli 1815. This Haveli consists of 38 elegantly carved balconies and is famous because of its distinctive architecture and is ahead of its time when it was built 300 years ago. The elegance and beauty of this haveli are very mesmerizing and people visit this marvellous blue cupola roofed Haveli to remind how blissful this place is. This is one of the must-visit places in Jaisalmer if you want to witness the rich history and culture of the bygone era.

12. The Thar Heritage Museum

The Thar Heritage Museum is a compact and private museum which is famous for its historical collection which preserves and features folk art and artefacts. This historical reservoir showcases rich culture and heritage with the help of several historic valuables like sea-fossil, postcards, manuscripts, weapons, documents of Jaisalmer state, musical instruments, coins and so on. Many events like puppet show and snake and ladder game attract the tourists to enjoy while visiting this heritage museum. This museum is one of the best places which tells you about the history as well as shows you the present belongings and is preferred by a lot of history and culture-loving visitors.

13. Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli

Also known as Nathmalji’s Haveli, Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli is one of the most Haveli’s in Jaisalmer which was constructed in the 19th century which was the residence of Prime Minister of Jaisalmer and currently is attracted by a lot of tourists for its unique architecture and ornate exterior carvings. This is one of the most beautiful Havelis in Rajasthan which is an amalgamation of Rajputana and Muslim architecture. This Haveli has beautiful interiors in which paintings and modern facilities add more charm to this place and is considered as the best place in terms of splendour. It is famous for its irregular shape as the two brothers who made this place worked on different sides and they haven’t seen the modern amenities they carved in this haveli they carved with mere help from people descriptions.

14. Tazia Tower

Situated in the excellent, famous and beautiful Badal Palace complex which is located near the well-known Aman Sagar Gate in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It is one of the main tourist attractions in the city because it is different from the Rajputana architecture you’ll see in Rajasthan as it was built by Muslim craftsmen which formerly was the home of the royal family. It is a five-storey building and every floor has a balcony which is famous for its designs. Tazia is nothing but the replica of tombs of several imams which are made up of wood, thermocol and coloured papers. It is visited by several tourists to give their eyes a break from visiting Rajputana Palaces and see something different Muslim architectural style which is an amalgamation of the rich tapestry of Muslim artists and architectural splendour.

15. Sonee Art Gallery

Sonee Art Gallery is one of the main attractions to people who love Art which is located inside the famous Jaisalmer Fort. This Art Gallery has a decent collection of art of hard-working and talented artists. Most of the paintings in this gallery revolves around the Rajasthani culture, tradition and inspiration and you can also find a large variety of present-day art. It is a private gallery owned by Manish and everyone is so pleasant and helpful people who will also explain the things to you thoroughly about the art. If you are an art lover this is one of the must-visit places for you and you can also buy some amazing paintings to add to your collection.

16. Jaisalmer Art Palace

Jaisalmer Art Palace is also termed as Alibaba’s house as this place is full of antiques and traditional textiles and is considered one of the best places for shopping of valuable items in Jaisalmer to add to your collection if you are an arts and crafts lover. You’ll find some good stuff here and can keep it as a memory from this place. This Art Palace is situated in a beautiful building which is itself a treasure in itself in which you can get not only traditional textiles and antiques but you can also find some beautiful décor items which are one of a kind like wooden showpieces and carved wooden doors. This is the best place for having a unique shopping experience and must not be missed by antique lovers.

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