Take one step into Jaisalmer and also you’ll see why additionally it is referred to as “The Golden Metropolis”. The Rajasthan metropolis lies in northwest India on the border with Pakistan, and is surrounded wall-to-wall by a deep beige-coloured sandstone: a sign that you just’re by no means too removed from the desert.
Although the overwhelming majority of vacationers take a look at “The Golden Triangle” to discover a few of India’s most iconic landmarks and vacationer sights, belief me once I let you know that there’s far more to this wondrous nation that you just’re lacking out on in case you don’t enterprise past Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
Jaisalmer is a must-visit metropolis in your journey by way of Rajasthan, and it was a spotlight of our journey again to India – the nation that retains beckoning, time and time once more. Learn on for a fast information to visiting Jaisalmer – locations to see, the place to remain, tips on how to get round and extra.
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What it’s worthwhile to know earlier than touring to India
- Finest time to go to Jaisalmer: India’s peak tourism season runs from round October/November to March, and Jaisalmer experiences pretty excessive temperature modifications so that you’ll must be ready for searing sizzling climate through the day, and frosty mornings and evenings. When you go to outdoors of this season you may discover the warmth too intense, or painful even. Compared to Agra, Delhi and Jaipur, the crowds on the foremost sightseeing landmarks are barely extra tolerable.
- Methods to get to Jaisalmer: Jaisalmer has a small airport (airport code: JSA) which has occasional flights from Delhi, or you can additionally choose to fly to Jodphur airport (JDH) and drive the remainder of the best way which can take just below 5 hours. The drive from Jaipur to Jaisalmer or Udaipur to Jaisalmer will take roughly 9-10 hours, or alternatively you can too take a bus or prepare.
- Native foreign money: The native foreign money is the Indian Rupee or INR. The alternate price is roughly 60 INR to 1 USD – most locations solely settle for money, so ensure you get some cash out or alternate a small quantity while you arrive in India.
- Gown code in India: In case you are a feminine traveler, depart any revealing garments at dwelling – your finest guess is to deliver lengthy pants or attire and sweaters you could layer on simply due to the chilly mornings and evenings.
- Keep linked in India: With the intention to get a neighborhood SIM card, you will want to offer a duplicate of your passport and passport photograph. Airtel has a sales space within the arrivals corridor at Delhi airport and you should purchase a neighborhood SIM card for a number of hundred Rupees. You get 1 GB a day and the SIM is legitimate for 30 days, although the SIM card itself will want 12+ hours to be activated.
- India visa course of: The dreaded India visa course of has been simplified through the years, however you continue to have to get the appliance began as early as attainable. When you maintain a passport from one of many international locations on the “accepted” checklist then you might be eligible to use for an e-visa. The official e-visa web site is positioned right here and the country-specific visa charges may be checked right here – don’t fall for some other India visa web site as there are lots of fakes on the market. When you maintain a passport of a rustic not on the pre-approved e-visa checklist, you will want to go to your native consulate and undergo the normal offline visa software course of. Upon getting acquired an e-mail confirming that your e-visa software was profitable, it’s essential to return to the e-visa web site to verify your visa standing and print out the official visa – a print out of the e-mail affirmation just isn’t adequate.
Methods to get round India
Do you want a tour information to journey round India? No. However does having one make your life simpler? 100% sure. For our journey to Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur we as soon as once more turned to Prime Indian Holidays to assist plan our journey, set up a driver and organize a neighborhood information. Nand Singh and his crew deliberate our non-public Golden Triangle tour a number of years in the past, and we have been so impressed with their professionalism, information and hospitality that my mum and I knew that this was the easiest way to expertise extra of India.
When you’re a longtime reader then you definately’ll know that I solely suggest providers, accommodations and experiences that I’ve had optimistic private experiences with. And simply so you understand, we have been paying prospects with Prime Indian Holidays (for a second time!) and I used to be not compensated for this text. Our non-public information, Yuvraj, confirmed us round Jaipur and Agra the primary time round, and we have been thrilled that he was obtainable to host us by way of extra cities in Rajasthan – his dwelling state.
In fact, additionally it is attainable to prepare the journey completely by your self, however you will want to discover a dependable driver (or try to determine India’s sophisticated and generally completely unreliable railway/bus system), and likewise probably have to hunt out non-scammy tour guides. In case you are quick on time and don’t need to muck round with logistical nightmares, and also you desire a deeper understanding of the historical past and cultural significance of the monuments, then I completely suggest that you just enlist the assistance of a certified and skilled tour company.
Finest accommodations in Jaisalmer
Questioning the place to remain in Jaisalmer? Though we solely had 2 days in Jaisalmer we have been capable of keep at 2 of the highest accommodations within the metropolis: Suryagarh and Mandir Palace.
Suryagarh is without doubt one of the finest luxurious accommodations in all of India – the desert-set lodge was designed to resemble an historic palace and options elegant courtyards, gorgeous structure and spacious rooms throughout the sprawling advanced. The palace is positioned outdoors of Jaisalmer city and affords a beyond-the-ordinary keep within the Golden Metropolis. Click on right here to see present charges and availability for Suryagarh Jaisalmer!
Mandir Palace is the proper lodge in Jaisalmer for a really genuine heritage keep – the palace is greater than 200 years outdated and has been dwelling to the royal household of Jaisalmer for generations. We have been lucky to satisfy a few of the household together with their lovely child woman! The keep at Mandir Palace was the proper option to spherical out our time in Jaisalmer, and is positioned proper within the coronary heart of town for these trying to get round simply on foot. The on-site restaurant is outrageously good, they usually set up conventional Rajasthan dances and performances for its friends within the evenings. Click on right here to see present charges and availability at Mandir Palace!
Have greater than 2 days in Jaisalmer? You may need to expertise one of many luxurious desert camps for a glamping keep below the celebs – listed below are some extremely rated choices!
You may also like: A 1 Week Rajasthan Itinerary for First Time Guests
The most effective locations to see in Jaisalmer
Although Jaisalmer could also be lesser-visited than different cities in Rajasthan I might nonetheless suggest venturing to the far west to expertise the Golden Metropolis. Questioning what number of days in Jaisalmer is sufficient? I might suggest at least 2 days if you wish to go to the entire high Jaisalmer vacationer sights and immerse your self within the residing historical past of town. Learn on for unbelievable issues to do and locations to go to in Jaisalmer!
1. Discover Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer Fort is also called “Sonar Quila” and dates again to the 12th Century. Not like different forts round India, Jaisalmer Fort is a “residing fort” which signifies that it’s nonetheless inhabited right this moment by roughly 4000 residents who dwell within the havelis, and function outlets and accommodations. Along with the opposite hill forts of Rajasthan, the Jaisalmer Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Website.
Tip: ask your information in regards to the hand prints on the fort partitions, and the normal gown of Rajasthan Rajput warriors.
Wander and weave up the cobblestone highway by way of the most important gateways of the fort, designed to decelerate any incoming invaders and their elephants, and you’ll want to go to the panoramic views from the fort’s cannon. Your Jaisalmer sightseeing itinerary just isn’t full with out a go to to the Jain Temple inside Sonar Quila – an historic temple that includes gorgeous design and a glimpse into the practices of the faith.
Entry prices 200 Rupees and it’s essential to depart any meals, water and leather-based merchandise outdoors. You could be approached by one of many monks for a donation – that is completely as much as you and never required as your entrance fare can also be a donation to the temple; in case you so really feel like giving an extra quantity, you possibly can go forward and place it instantly within the donation bowl fairly than to the priest.
2. Go to the service provider havelis
Upon getting traversed by way of the principle streets and Jaisalmer Fort, head to the Havelis of native retailers to study on a regular basis life and gatherings within the chowks or foremost courtyards, and maybe even take pleasure in some conventional avenue meals.
When you solely have time to discover 2 service provider townhouses take a look at the Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli constructed by two brothers within the 19th century, and the Patwon Ki Haveli – a five-story haveli that includes intricately carved facades on all sides.
3. Be nonetheless at Gadisar Lake
Gadisar Lake is a man-made reservoir relationship again to the 14th century, designed to offer water for the encircling metropolis. There are a number of temples, shrines and ghats across the small lake and is a well-liked vacationer attraction in Jaisalmer. Some individuals supply boat rides across the lake for a small charge, and it’s not unusual to see a number of Indian {couples} right here taking their pre-wedding pictures.
Keep some time and take within the tranquility of the lake, and also you’ll see why it’s some of the fascinating sights in Jaisalmer.
4. Try Bada Bagh
Bada Bagh is a sprawling backyard advanced housing the royal cenotaphs, or “empty tombs” of the royal household of Jaisalmer. Cremations have been held by the lake, their ashes have been unfold and cenotaphs have been erected inside the backyard.
Bada Bagh is changing into more and more standard and one of many high sights in Jaisalmer right this moment. You possibly can stroll across the backyard for a small charge of 150 Rupees per individual (plus 50 Rupees per digital camera) to see the monuments and memorial stones: the stones are carved in a means that depicts how they died, and what number of of their wives dedicated sati – a observe during which a widow sacrifices herself on her husband’s funeral pyre.
It’s mentioned that if the ruler is depicted on a horse that has 2 legs raised that he died combating in warfare, if the horse has 1 leg raised the ruler succumbed to warfare accidents, and if all Four legs are on the bottom then he died from pure causes.
5. Go to the Desert Nationwide Park
Visiting the Thar Desert of Jaisalmer and watching the fiery sundown from the sand dunes is an absolute should for anybody visiting the Golden Metropolis. The Desert Nationwide Park is roughly 45 minutes to an hour away from the guts of Jaisalmer Metropolis and options wonderful terracotta-coloured sand and delicate dunes. The park can also be a well-liked place for individuals who need to expertise a camel safari in Jaisalmer – one thing I had zero curiosity in doing, on condition that there appears to be little to no rules on camel welfare within the desert.
As an alternative, I urge you to go for a barefoot stroll and end up a (considerably) quiet dune to observe the solar go down. Although we have been in India in direction of the top of the height season, there have been nonetheless many vacationers within the desert – and sadly, additionally a ridiculous quantity of trash buried within the sand. Depart no hint while you go to the Thar Desert, and take any trash with you on the finish of your desert safari in Jaisalmer!
6. Keep at Mandir Palace
After the golden age of India’s maharajas had handed, many royal households transformed their palaces and forts into museums and heritage accommodations: the Mandir Palace is one such place. The royal household of Jaisalmer wished to share a chunk of the household and metropolis’s residing historical past with guests, and affords a small on-site museum in addition to gorgeous courtyards and rooftops that friends can go to. Its tower, the “Badal Vilas”, stands because the tallest construction under the Jaisalmer Fort.
These searching for a memorable keep ought to take a look at Mandir Palace: top-of-the-line heritage accommodations in Jaisalmer. The rooftop affords stunning views of Jaisalmer Fort, and the courtyard is used to host vibrant Rajasthan dancers and museums within the evenings – we liked watching the proficient performers and even discovered ourselves holding our breaths a number of instances when the dancer stood on nails and even damaged glass. Don’t do this at dwelling!
Able to go sightseeing in Jaisalmer? The compact Golden Metropolis enchanted with its wealthy tradition, heritage and structure, and is a superb cease throughout your 1 week in Rajasthan.
Searching for one of the best accommodations in Jaisalmer? I like to recommend Suryagarh, top-of-the-line luxurious accommodations in all of India, or the Mandir Palace for a really genuine heritage keep. Click on right here to see present charges and availability for Suryagarh Jaisalmer or click on right here to see present charges and availability at Mandir Palace!
Have greater than 2 days in Jaisalmer? You may need to expertise one of many luxurious desert camps for a glamping keep below the celebs – listed below are some extremely rated choices!
The place to go after Jaisalmer
Due to Jaisalmer’s location on the far west of India, it isn’t essentially the simplest metropolis to journey to. The closest main metropolis in Rajasthan is Jodhpur, the Blue Metropolis. Jodhpur options the 15th century UNESCO-listed Mehrangarh Fort, seen from virtually all corners of town and standing proudly at 400 ft above the skyline. You possibly can learn my information to spending 1 day in Jodhpur right here.
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