Jaisalmer is located west of Jaipur in the heart of the Thar Desert. The city is built almost entirely from yellow sandstone, giving it the name the Golden City. It contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site fort that is still inhabited, a cluster of elaborately carved merchant havelis, and direct access to the desert dunes at Sam — making it one of the few cities in India where the built heritage and natural landscape are equally significant.
Places
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:
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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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Getting There
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). Choose a train based on journey duration, departure time, and class availability.
By Flight
Search by city name across IndiGo and Air India. Jaisalmer Airport (JSA) operates limited domestic services.
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 or AbhiBus 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.
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