Owing to splendid castles, golden sand dunes, ornate Jain temples, etc., Jaisalmer beguiles avid holidaymakers. Bountiful of places to visit in Jaisalmer have a lot in store for the visitors of all age groups. The attractions in the ‘Golden City’ echo tales of the glorious bygone era and epitomize chivalry of the royal past. Above all, the vast Thar Desert invokes images of Arabian Nights fable. Overall, one can rest assured of memorable holidays in India.
When on your trip to Rajasthan, make sure that you explore these top tourist attractions in Jaisalmer.
Top Tourist Attractions in Jaisalmer
- Jaisalmer Fort
- Patwon Ki Haveli
- Gadsisar Lake
- Jain Temples
- Sam Sand Dunes
- Vyas Chhatri
- Bada Bagh
- Thar Heritage Museum
- Desert Culture Centre and Museum
Jaisalmer Fort
Made up of yellow sandstone, Jaisalmer Fort is definitely an architectural marvel. Reckoned as one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer, the majestic fort turns into honey-gold during sunset. Adorned with ornate windows, walls and doors, the ‘Sonar Quila’ displays the brilliant craftsmanship. No less than a mini-town the massive fortifications holds within itself temples, houses, restaurants and shops. Another point to note about this is that the fort overlooks the city making it outstand amongst the rest of the top tourist attractions of Jaisalmer. Moreover, the iconic fort is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What’s special?
- 99 turrets
- Many eateries offering delicious dishes.
- The fort looks stunning at night
Timings: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Patwon Ki Haveli
Flaunting its ornate huge suites, the Patwon Ki Haweli has a fairy-tale architecture. Crafted by Guman Chand, the 19th-century haveli is definitely one of the best tourist attractions in Jaisalmer. The cluster of 5 grandiose havelis with intricately adorned jharokhas, gateways and archways exude an ethereal charm. Furthermore, out of the five, one haveli has been turned into a museum. Exploring the haveli is obviously one of the best things to do in Jaisalmer.
What’s special?
- Architectural style
- Arts and crafts of local artisans
- Detailed inscriptions
Timings: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Gadsisar Lake
Tagged as one of the best winter destinations in India, the Gadsisar Lake welcomes migratory waterfowl during the coldest season. Surrounded by several shrines and temples, the most famous lake in Rajasthan is a perfect place to spend quality time with family.
In fact, to make your vacations memorable, hire a boat and explore the lake or soak in the rustic feel. Offering a handful of experiences, the lake is the best place to visit for sightseeing tour in Jaisalmer.
What’s special?
- Scenic views during sunrise
- Close vicinity to the Jaisalmer Fort
- Feed the fish
Timings: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Jain Temples
The pride of Jaisalmer, the Jain Temples are popular tourist destinations in India. Enshrined within the Jaisalmer Fort, these sacred places replicate the architectural style of the famous Dilwara Temples.
Dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras, the temples boasts of a series of seven interconnected shrines. Counted as one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer, the historic temples are also a highly revered pilgrimage site.
What’s special?
- Priceless historic manuscripts and texts
- Legends associated with each of the temples
- The entrance of the Parsvanath Temple
Timings: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sam Sand Dunes
Luring adventure enthusiasts and holidaymakers alike, the Sam Sand Dunes are unarguably one of the best tourist attractions in Jaisalmer. During the evening, these sand dunes are beautifully adorned with bonfires all around.
Besides bringing these dunes to life, the magical performances like Kalbelia Dance present India’s rich culture like never before. Additionally, the Jaisalmer Desert Festival lures huge a number of tourists from all over the world.
What’s special?
- A perfect place to try adventure activities in Rajasthan like camel safari, jeep safari and camping
- Golden sand dunes everywhere
- One of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer Rajasthan to witness mesmerizing sunset and sunrise views
Timings: Any time of the day or night
[ Check out list of thrilling adventure sports in Rajasthan ]
Vyas Chhatri
Standing beautifully amidst the Bada Bagh, the Vyas Chhatri is dedicated to Hindu Sage Ved Vyas Ji. Displaying typical Rajasthani architectural style, the edifice ranks amongst the best places to visit in Jaisalmer. Furthermore, the grandeur of the memorials is beyond description.
Built on raised platforms, the cenotaphs are carved out of yellow sandstone just like other must-visit places in Jaisalmer. To put it differently, a trip to Jaisalmer is incomplete without visiting this marvelous site.
What’s special?
- Awe-inspiring views of Jaisalmer
- Breathtaking views during sunrise and sunset
- The chhatris in the backdrop offer some of the candid shots
Timings: 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Browse the list of Unique Experiences in Rajasthan before planning a trip to the royal state
Bada Bagh
Commemorating the nobles who fought for the city, the Bada Bagh echoes with several historic legends. Because of housing the bountiful of cenotaphs of royal families, the place ranks amongst the most intriguing tourist attractions in Jaisalmer.
Perched on a foothill, the cenotaphs further display a perfect mélange of Mughal, Paliwal and Rajputana architectural style.
What’s special?
- The Govardhan Stambh (pillar)
- A dam, a tank and a garden that make the place more beautiful
- Enchanting sunset and mesmerizing sunrise views make it one of the best places to see in Jaisalmer
Timings: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thar Heritage Museum
Exhibiting an eclectic variety of the artifacts, the Thar Heritage Museum offers a clear picture of the city’s heritage. The museum is also one of the most visited places in Rajasthan to attend the puppet shows in the evening.
Because of meticulously exhibiting documents, postcards, ornaments, weapons and coins, the privately-owned museum never fails to engage the visitors. No wonder, it is reckoned as one of the best places to visit In Jaisalmer, India.
What’s special?
- The snakes and ladder game
- Displays of types of turbans, kitchen equipment, death & birth customs
- Collection of fossils
Timings: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Desert Culture Centre and Museum
A treasure trove of craftsmanship and rich cultural heritage, the Desert Culture Centre and Museum entices researchers and scholars. Besides this, the museum is famous amongst international tourists as one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer.
A notable reason for this is the traditional opium mixing box which is housed in the museum. A trip to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is definitely incomplete without an excursion to this museum.
What’s special?
- Costumes of the erstwhile maharanis and maharajas
- Displays of types of turbans, kitchen equipment, death & birth customs
- Collection of fossils that makes it one of the fascinating tourist places in Jaisalmer.
Timings: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Evoke the wanderer in you and embark on a sojourn to explore all these top tourist attractions in Jaisalmer.
[ Explore Packages to Plan your Trip to Jaisalmer]
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Daksha Rastogi
Emerging from an Engineering background Diksha is a travel freak. Go through her penned down travel experiences on indianholiday.com
Very beautiful and amazing blog on places to visit in Jaisalmer.
Nice article
Hey Vaishali
Thanks for your kind words! Keep on following our blogs for more such informative posts in the future.