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Jaisalmer

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Jaisalmer, the "Golden City", is located on the westernmost frontier of India in the state of Rajasthan. Close to the border with Pakistan, the city is known for its proximity to the Thar Desert. Desert Safari in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer is an unforgettable experience.

The city is dominated by the Jaisalmer Fort. Unlike most forts in India, the Jaisalmer Fort is a living fort. There are shops, hotels, age old havelis (homes) inside the fort area.

Travel to Jaisalmer & Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Jaisalmer

A military airstrip has recently been opened to limited civilian flights, with Kingfisher offering flights from Delhi. A new, dedicated airport is planned for 2010.

By train

There is a direct train service from Delhi When arriving by train you will pass the station of Pokharan, India's nuclear testing area!

Buses to Jaisalmer

Bus or car-taxi from Jodhpur or by bus from Bikaner. A daily bus runs to and from Jaipur.

By camel

Another option is to arrive by camel; Jaisalmer is famous for camel trips. The most grueling is the 14 day trip from Bikaner. When booking a few days in the desert on a camel, remember you get the quality you pay for. People who go for the cheapest trips find themselves eating lentils three times a day!

Tours & Getting around Jaisalmer

The walled centre is a pedestrian area; from the gates you can get other means of transport. The Sam sand-dunes are 45 km away from the city. The rest of the city is easily walkable from one end to the other.

Jaisalmer attractions and sightseeing

One of the most magnificent attractions is the Jaisalmer Fort known as the "Sonar Kila" due to the yellow stone it was built out of.

Gadi Sagar is a rainwater lake which supplies water to the city. It is surrounded by temples and tombs of saints. Boat rides are offered. Nearby is the desert cultural centre and a local museum built out of the collections of a local schoolteacher.

Jaisalmer city tours

Just chill, Jaisalmer is a lovely and very relaxing place. Go for a stroll, visit the palace and do the camel safari (trips available from a few hours to 14 days). If you do not feel remotely attracted to camels try a jeep safari into the desert to see the scenery and watch the sun go down. Below the fort are several magnificent havelis with intricate stone carving. Several can be visited for minimal charges and are well worth seeking out.

Jaisalmer souvenirs & shopping

The usual: in Jaisalmer this means items made of camel leather, intricate textiles, especially embroidery and silver jewelry. Local advice is to seek out shops outside of the fort for better value and service.

Jaisalmer Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Lots of local eateries which offer sumptuous lunches and dinners for a measly Rs. 20 (approx. $0.45).

  • Seema Restaurant Just outside the fort. Really good and cheap food (50Rs). The main appeal is everything is made fresh. Only bad thing is the restaurant is a little dingy.

  • Artist Hotel Restaurant Near the sunset view point - in the middle of the Jaisalmer artist colony. The very best food in town(50Rs). Everything is made fresh. You will get western (also nice Austrian food) food as well as very nice Indian dishes. The restaurant is placed on rooftop and you can enjoy your meal while listening to live performed rajastani music!

Jaisalmer nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Drink delectable bhang lassi at the government authorized shop close to the haveli

Jaisalmer cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

  • Hotel Shreenath Palace [1]. The prime minister under the maharaja once inhabited this beautiful 450-year-old haveli. The gorgeous archways, alluring alcoves, sizable rooms opening onto small balconies and rich ambience must have been grand back in the old days.
  • Artist Hotel, [2], tel: 0091-(0)2992-252082, artisthotel@yahoo.com. Near the sunset view point - in the middle of the Jaisalmer artist colony. Nice and clean rooms for 1 to 4 persons. Built in 1999 to become a place of Culture, Fun, Music and lovely experience. Profits go for social activities. Heli, an Austrian runs the hotel together with people from the musician-kast. Heli, the stuff and the artists are always very nice, helpful and friendly - no cheating at all. The restaurant on rooftop offers a fantastic view of the fort - and they serve the very best food in town! Everything is made fresh. You will get western food (nice Austrian food, Swiss roesti, Italian pasta) as well as very nice Indian dishes. Nearly every night there is live music from the rajastani artists - very pure without any feeling of "just playing for tourists". The staff is very nice and will organize everything for you in a perfect way - camel-trips (without cheating!), train tickets, ajuveda massages etc. Really the best place in town!
  • Hotel Suraj, tel: 09928738269, hotelsurajjaisalmer@hotmail.com. If you like to enjoy and relax in Maharaja style in a 500 years old Haveli, well decorated as well as clean haveli provides stunning views of Jain temples and the Sunset. This all is possible at an affordable price of 500 to 1600rs. Very relaxed atmosphere. The place only has 4 mini-suites.
  • Garh Jaisal [3] opened in 2006 and overlooks the entrance to the fort. It has an amazing rooftop deck overlooking the city. Each room is decorated like a jewel tone. It is luxury in the fort and you can book directly on their website. A good combination with a desert trip.
  • However, if you fancy a break from the city, just an hour's journey by road back towards Jodhpur is the village of Sodakore where you will find Mirvana Nature Resort [4], a tented camp attached to a desert farm. Meals are served under the stars!
  • Henna Hotel, located outside the fort just left of where the market street starts. Really cheap and clean rooms. Double ensuite is only 115Rs. They claim to be hassle free, but they will want you to go on a camel safari. You can find cheaper (and more honest) camel safaris elsewhere, but the rooms are a great deal for the price.

Get out

  • Sam sand dunes Sam is about 40 km from the city. Watch the sunset from the Sam sand dunes. RTDC has limited accommodations (huts) at Sam; or you can chill out at the one of the camps/tents, right in the middle of the desert, organized by many tour operators. You can watch cultural programs and dances organized by RTDC and many private organizers. Highly recommended to spend one night at Sam (early evening to late morning next day).

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This page was last edited at 00:17, on 19 October 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Eric Polk, Marc Heiden, David, Jani Patokallio and Sanjay Chikhalikar, Wikitravel user(s) Morph and WTDuck2, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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