Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer Fort

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest fully preserved fortified cities in the world. The fort is constructed entirely of yellow sandstone and remains a living fort. The fort contains palaces, Jain temples, havelis, narrow lanes, and a market. Four main gates — Ganesh Pol, Akshaya Pol, Suraj Pol, and Hawa Pol — provide entry.

Timing: Open daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: ₹250 (cash at counter); Camera ₹100
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Fort Palace Museum

The royal palace of the former Jaisalmer rulers — Maharawal Palace — located inside the fort at Dussehra Chowk. The museum contains a collection of royal artefacts, textiles, manuscripts, and sculptures. The palace complex includes Rang Mahal, Sarvottam Vilas, Gaj Mahal, and Moti Mahal.

Timing: Open daily, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: 
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Jain Temples

A complex of seven interconnected Jain temples built between the 12th and 16th centuries inside the fort. The temples are dedicated to Parsvanath, Chandraprabha, Sitalantha, Sambhavanatha, Santinatha, Kunthunatha, and Rishabhanatha. The Sambhavanatha temple houses 600 idols.

Timing: Open daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: Varies by temple
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Patwon ki Haveli

A cluster of five interconnected havelis built between 1805 and 1860 by Guman Chand Patwa, a Jain merchant. The largest haveli complex in Jaisalmer, it is known for its elaborately carved yellow sandstone facades, jharokhas, arched windows, and mirror-studded interiors.

Timing: Open daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: ₹250 (online pay or cash at counter); Student ₹100 (student id required). Entry is free for children below 7 years
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Nathmal ki Haveli

Built in the 19th century by two brothers — Hathi and Lulu — who worked on opposite sides of the building independently. The result is a facade with subtle differences on each half while maintaining overall symmetry. The haveli blends Rajput and Islamic architectural styles.

Timing: Open daily, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Entry Fee: Outside view only
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Gadisar Lake

A reservoir built in the 14th century by Maharawal Gadsi Singh to store water for the city. The lake is surrounded by ghats, temples, and shrines — including the ornate Tilon ki Pol gateway. It attracts migratory birds in winter and is one of the few places in Jaisalmer where the pace drops significantly.

Entry Fee: No entry fee
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Bada Bagh

A complex of royal cenotaphs — chhatris — of the Jaisalmer rulers, built from the 16th century onward. The cenotaphs are arranged on a hillside with carved canopies, equestrian figures, and inscriptions. The site is particularly atmospheric at sunset when the sandstone glows against the desert sky.

Timing: Open daily, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: ₹300 (cash at counter)
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Sam Sand Dunes

The main desert dune formation accessible from Jaisalmer, approximately 42 km west of the city. The dunes are part of the Thar Desert and offer camel rides, jeep safaris, and sunset viewing. Desert camps operate near the dunes and are a common overnight option.

Entry Fee: Varies by stay
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Kuldhara

An abandoned village approximately 18 km west of Jaisalmer, inhabited by the Paliwal Brahmin community for five centuries before being deserted overnight in 1825. The reason for the exodus is not definitively established. The houses, temples, and lanes remain largely intact, maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Timing: Open daily, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: ₹100 (cash at counter), ₹50 – Vehicle entry
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Akal Wood Fossil Park

A preserved area that lies about 17 km from Jaisalmer, towards Barmer. 180 million years ago, a forest used to stand where the park is today. The area was then submersed into the sea and the tree trunks were preserved in the form of fossils. Here, you can see large fossilized trunks from trees of different sizes.

Timing: Open daily, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: 
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Metro in Jaisalmer

Metro is not available in Jaisalmer.

Local buses in Jaisalmer

Local buses are not practical in Jaisalmer. City buses run across the city but routes are difficult to navigate without local knowledge.

Ride-hailing apps in Jaisalmer

Ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber are partially practical and operate with limited availability in Jaisalmer. Select the vehicle type and book through the app; fares are shown upfront before confirmation. Drivers may call to confirm the pickup point. Before getting in, verify the vehicle number and OTP shown in the app. Payment can be made by card through the app or in cash directly to the driver at the end of the trip.

Street hailed auto rickshaw in Jaisalmer

Street hailed auto-rickshaw is practical in Jaisalmer for short distances (5-10 km) or when apps are unavailable. Tell or show the auto driver your destination — they can refuse, in which case move to the next one. Agree on the fare (approx. ₹20—₹30 per km) before you get in. Know the distance to your destination via maps before negotiating.

Desert Festival in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer's defining annual event — folk music and dance at the fort for the first two days, with the finale held at the Sam sand dunes on the third day. Events include camel races, camel polo, turban-tying competition, Mr. Desert pageant, puppet shows, and Gair fire dance performances. Entry mostly free; some events ticketed.
2026 Dates:

Gangaur in Jaisalmer

Observed in Jaisalmer with processions of women carrying clay idols through the old city's sandstone lanes. Smaller and more intimate than the Udaipur or Jaipur versions, with the golden fort as backdrop.
2026 Dates:

Camel leather products

Bags, sandals, belts, and decorative items made from camel hide — a Jaisalmer-specific craft tradition reflecting the desert's working animal economy. Available in traditional and contemporary designs.
Find it: Sadar Bazaar. Shops within and around the fort lanes.

Rajasthani embroidered textiles

Mirror-work and chain-stitch embroidered fabric — garments, stoles, and cushion covers produced by artisan communities in Jaisalmer and surrounding villages. The Sam Dunes festival stalls offer direct-from-producer pieces at lower prices than fort-facing shops.
Find it: Sadar Bazaar. Desert Festival craft stalls (February).

Wooden puppets (Kathputli)

Traditional Rajasthani string puppets with painted wooden heads and embroidered cloth bodies, produced by the hereditary Bhat community of puppet makers. Used in traditional Kathputli performance storytelling.
Find it: Sadar Bazaar. Fort lane craft shops.

Fossil stones and local minerals

The Thar Desert has significant fossil deposits — ammonite and shell fossils set into stone objects, decorative mineral specimens, and carved sandstone items are produced locally.
Find it: Sadar Bazaar and fort lane shops.

Jaisalmer's food is desert Rajasthani — built on minimum water, maximum ghee, and ingredients adapted to arid conditions: ker (wild berry), sangri (desert bean), bajra (pearl millet), and buttermilk. The cuisine is largely vegetarian but non-vegetarian preparations including mutton and chicken also appear at restaurants.

Local food to eat in Jaisalmer

Dal baati churma · Ker sangri · Panchkuta · Bajra ki roti with lehsun chutney · Gatte ki sabzi · Murgh-e-subz (non-veg) · Safed maas (non-veg) · Pyaaz kachori · Ghewar · Makki ki raab

Food streets in Jaisalmer

• Sadar Bazaar — the main market area, kachori, snacks, street food
• Fort lanes — small restaurants, Rajasthani thali, rooftop dhabas
• Gandhi Chowk area — restaurants serving Rajasthani and traveler-facing food

Jaisalmer is the westernmost major city in Rajasthan. Whether arriving or departing, use the station codes, airport, and bus terminal information below.

Jaisalmer — Stations, Airport & Bus Stands

Rail Stations: Jaisalmer Railway Station (JSM)
Airport: Jaisalmer Airport (JSA)
Bus Terminals: Jaisalmer Bus Stand

By Train
Search “Jaisalmer” as your origin (if departing) or destination (if arriving). Jaisalmer Railway Station (JSM) is the main station. Choose a train based on journey duration, departure time, and class availability.

By Flight
Search by city name across IndiGo and Air India — it cover the limited domestic network from Jaisalmer.

By Bus
Buses (AC or non-AC) operate from the bus terminal — head to the counter and ask for your destination. Or, use app-based platforms such as redBus to search and book buses on your route. Both state-run (RSRTC) and private operators are listed — prefer buses with ratings of 4★ or higher.

All fees and charges listed on this page are applicable to foreign nationals only.