Standing on the ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain temples, houses and temples finely sculptured and where men and their camel mingle in a melange, the city of Jaisalmer is a world heritage site situated in the heart of the Thar Desert (the Great Indian Desert).
Once known as the sleepy desert city, Jaisalmer today is one of the major tourist destinations of India. Nestled right in the middle of quaint Thar Desert, Jaisalmer is named after Maharawal Jaisal Singh, a Rajput king who founded the city in 1156 AD. “Jaisalmer” means “the Hill Fort of Jaisal“.
Jaisalmer is sometimes called the “Golden City of India” because the yellow sand and the yellow sandstone used in every architecture of the city gives a yellowish-golden tinge to the city and its surrounding area.
Majestic palaces, great food, a rich cultural heritage and endless opportunities to shop make Jaisalmer the best place for an authentic ‘desert’ travel experience. No matter what kind of traveller you are, Jaisalmer will take your breath away at every step of the journey. You can visit the Sand Dunes of the great Thar desert, enjoy an exciting Camel safari to reach the heart of the desert and visit GadiSagar Lake, Golden Fort and famous havelis in Jaisalmer.
Gadsisar (or Gadi Sagar) Lake – Excavated in 1367 by Rawal Gadsi Singh, it is a scenic rainwater lake surrounded by the small temples and shrines of Amar Sagar. Earlier, this lake was used to be the main water source of Jaisalmer. Read more
Jaisalmer Fort also known as ‘Sonar Kella‘ or Golden Fortress. The origin of this goes to 1974 when Satyajit Ray’s made his epic bengali film ‘Sonar Kella’ based on his eponymous novel featuring his creation, the detective Feluda, with the story based in Jaisalmer and surrounding areas. Read more about it here In search of Felu da in Sonar Kella – Jaisalmer Fort
The other places worth visiting are the many traditional mansions or ‘Havelis’ as called locally. Salim Singh ki Haveli, Nathmal ki Haveli and Patwon ki Haveli are worth as special mention. the Bada bagh and many Jain temples around cannot be ignored, while in Jaisalment
Around Jaisalmer, Kuldhara is an abandoned village, that lies 20 miles from Jaisalmer. The settlement, which had some 84 villages, was abandoned almost overnight as the villagers mysteriously left their homes to save their honour. Unravel the mystery here Kuldhara – a village abandoned and cursed
The best time to visit Rajasthan is from October to March, when the Sun is not too fiery and intense. Winter season is the perfect time to visit most cities in Rajasthan. Summer season in Rajasthan is hot and humid. Average temperatures can rise up to 45 degrees. Monsoon stretches from July to September with increased humidity.
A desert safari through Jaisalmer evokes an amazing picture of the brilliance and the desolation of the desert. For a truly unique experience, spend the night in the desert under a clear sky with millions of stars shining their light upon you. Sam Sand Dunes (A carnival in the desert at Sam Sand Dunes) are the most popular but if you like to be away from the crowd, Khuri (Desert-escape at Khuri) can be the alternate destination.
Kesariya Balam, Padharo Mhare Des…Welcome to Jaisalmer !
ANIL VOHRA 
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