Jaisalmer, the Golden City of Rajasthan, is a mesmerizing blend of ancient architecture and vibrant culture, set amidst the vast Thar Desert. With its golden sandstone fortresses and rich history, it's a must-visit for travelers seeking a unique desert experience.
Traveling with a toddler in Jaisalmer during extreme heat was a challenge, but we made it manageable by sticking to early mornings and late evenings for sightseeing, avoiding the scorching midday sun. This way, we could explore the city's beauty while keeping our little one comfortable and safe.
Day 1: Travel from Jodhpur to Jaiselmer and then sunset at Gadisar Lake
We arrived at Jodhpur airport and took a pre-booked private taxi to Jaisalmer, which took about 4 hours. Afterward, we reached our Airbnb which is a 500 year old Haveli in the main market. Everything from our Airbnb was a walkable activity.
Sunset at Gadisar Lake – a mesmerizing man-made reservoir built in the 14th century by Maharawal Gadsi Singh. Once the lifeline of Jaisalmer, this lake not only provided water to the city (only rain-fed) but also became home to stunning temples, chhatris, and ghats that reflect beautifully in its still waters.
We found this cozy mugs4cafe cafe by the lake which served us great dinner options overlooking the sunset
Day 2: Jaiselmer Fort and Desert Safari
Jaisalmer Fort, also known as Sonar Quila (Golden Fort) due to its golden-yellow sandstone structure, was built in 1156 AD by Maharawal Jaisal, a Bhati Rajput ruler.
It is one of the largest and oldest forts in the world and remains a *living fort*, with thousands of residents still inhabiting its walls.
Situated atop Trikuta Hill in the Thar Desert, the fort was a crucial trade hub on the ancient Silk Route, connecting India with Persia, Arabia, and Africa.
The fort remained largely unconquered due to its strong defenses, but it saw many battles, particularly against Alauddin Khilji in 1299 and later Mughal Emperor Humayun in 1541. Despite these attacks, it was reclaimed and ruled by Rajput rulers for centuries.
The Marwari tradition of inviting the entire village to a wedding is reflected in the fort’s architecture. Ganpati images on the front walls of houses serve as an open invitation, welcoming anyone who sees the wedding card.
Note: Jaiselmer is a hot terrain so we started our day @ 8 am and took us about 3 hours to tour the entire fort with an experienced guide Mr Lalitji who stays inside the fort himself.
Although, Rajputs were not Jains but their bankers were. To respect their religion, there were several beautiful Jain temples built inside in the 12th century.
Later in the day we took our taxi/private car to KK resort in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer called as Sam Sand dunes (part of Thar desert) for a desert safari. We did the following activities
Jeep car ride and dune bashing
Photos with camel (avoid camel rides to support against the animal abuse)
Cultural show + dinner
Note : The desert resorts bargain a lot for these activities so make sure you research well. We paid 1400 rupees per person for all of these activities and still feel we paid a bit more.
Day 3: Sunrise @ Bada Bagh and Haveli Tours
We took a sunrise trip to Bada Bagh. This a nice spot to enjoy your morning tea. There is an entry fee of 150 Rs per person
Bada Bagh, meaning “Big Garden,” is a historic site located about 6 km north of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India. It is famous for its cenotaphs (chhatris) of the royal family of Jaisalmer, offering a stunning view of the golden desert landscape.
We had our breakfast at the famous Pakwan wala near the fort entrance - Shri Hinglaj Daal Pakwaan He serves delicious daal Pakwaan and has also been invited to Sonam Kapoor’s wedding buffet dish.
Post breakfast we started out again to explore the famous Havelis’s of Jaisalmer namely
Patwon Ki Haveli
Nathwal Ji Ki Haveli
Our guide was very knowledgeable to explain us the details about both of these and who built it and what led to its current state. Here are beautiful snippets of the Haveli’s
We ended our day with some local shopping of textile with elephant and camel prints.
Comentários