//
City in Rajasthan, India
Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Jaisalmer (Hindi: जैसलमेर), the "Golden City", is on the westernmost frontier of India in the state of Rajasthan. Close to the border with Pakistan, the city is known for its proximity to the Thar Desert. A desert safari in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer is an unforgettable experience.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Also known as the “Sonar Quila” or "Sonal Kella" or "Sonar Kila" as pronounced differently in parts of India. Colourful shades of the setting sun and golden hues of the desert ambience give a fairy tale look to this mega structured fort. The interior of this fort is amazing. It is a 'working fort' meaning that unlike every other fort in India, there are people living and working within its walls. Tourists can also visit many 'havelis' or Grand Houses of rich merchants, which are also having a touch of great classical interior and design.
Gadaria Lake
This is a rainwater lake which supplies water to the city. It is surrounded by temples and tombs of saints. Boat rides are offered. Nearby is the desert cultural centre and a local museum built out of the collections of a local schoolteacher Mr N.K. Sharma. This centre conducts puppet show in the morning and evening. There are people who will try to sell you bread to feed the huge number of catfish in the lake.
A museum displaying India's modern military history. There is a hall dedicated to the noted Battle of Longewala fought near Jaisalmer during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Desert Cultural Centre
A museum showcasing Rajasthan's folk heritage, arts and customs. There are two nightly half-hour long traditional puppet shows, starting at 6:30PM and 7:30 respectively, which is the highlight in the museum.
These sand dunes are around 50 km from Jaisalmer city but one has to go there to have this altogether different experience. This is an amazing sight and the sunset view from there is stunning. Also don't miss the camel ride or a camel cart ride over the semi desert. You can stay overnight in one of the tented lodges along the road. There are many to choose from - the lodges stretch for about 10 km.
It's "only" a hotel, but you still wonder how they built it in the middle of the desert. Lush gardens, lovely pools and fountains, impressive stone carving techniques. While most cannot afford to stay there, stopping to have tea is an option that allows you to have a look at lesser cost.
Lovely cenotaphs. Fantastic pictures.
Fresh kachori and samosa.
The restaurant has one of the highest rooftops in Jaisalmer. They serve a combination of Tibetan, Chinese, Indian and European cuisine. The thukpa is highly popular. It is more affordable than the other restaurants with good views of the fort.
Good lemon cake. Decent croissants. Almond cookies. Delicious tea. Great place to have a "western-style" breakfast.
This restaurant serves excellent food. The Porridge w/ Banana Honey (₹40), Mushroom Cheese Tomato Burger (₹65) and the 'Speghatti Spinesh Tomato Cheese' (₹70) are highly recommended. The service is excellent as well because of the speed and courtesy of their staff. The restaurant has some of the best views in all of Jaisalmer, at the second level of the restaurant. They also have free WiFi at the restaurant and the attached Hotel Surja.
Real pizza, with actually good mozzarella cheese. Very decent pasta as well. Amazing view on the Fort from the terrace, fun low tables-and-cushions concept inside.
This restaurant is in front of the Golden fort. The view is amazing and the food is fine with friendly service. The homemade Dutch apple pie is delicious. Pullavs are great.
The unique thing about this restaurant is that everything is made fresh; however, it is a bit dingy.
The seven spice restaurant give you a real taste of Indian spice with Indian cuisine or Tibetan food. located at heart of the city with nice market view. Best sunset location.
Nice food. Reasonable prices.
This heritage hotel is in the national monument/museum Jaisalmer fort at high altitude on the rampart, in a closed ended street. It offers the unique experience of staying in an ancient historical fort. This building was once allotted as a place of residence to a noble person who held the position of Divisional Magistrate. It was converted into a guest house with permission from the archeological survey department.
It overlooks the entrance to the fort. It has an amazing rooftop deck overlooking the city. Each room is decorated in jewel-like colours.
Good view from the roof.
Traditional- Heritage style hotel, 16 AC Super Deluxe rooms, hot & cold water, 24-hr service, safari booking facility, and restaurant with full fort view. From its terrace you can also see a sunrise or sunset while enjoying a cocktail. Rooftop restaurant.
Traditional-style hotel, rooftop restaurant.
In the heart of town. Built in a traditional Rajasthani style, well decorated, offering different types of rooms and surrounded by a warm staff. Facilities like air conditioner, full Wi-Fi connectivity, TV, and restaurant are available. They also provide two camps in Sam Dunes and Khuri Dunes for their customers.
10 AC double rooms, hot & cold water, 24-hr service, safari booking facility, and restaurant with full fort view. From its terrace you can also see a sunrise or sunset while enjoying a cocktail.
Hotel Surja
It's on the fort with one of the best views in town. They have rooms varying from ₹300 to ₹800, depending on the room and view. They have a free taxi pickup if you contact them in advance by phone or email with your scheduled arrival time. They have free Wi-Fi for the hotel as well as their attached Lakeview Lounge Restaurant (see restaurant section).
It's at a very approachable area on the State High Way No.11. consists of 24 well equipped and well furnished rooms. The facilities include a multi-cuisine restaurant and a banquet hall with capacity of 70-90.
Comfy, relaxed place, very entertaining owner will pick you up from train station if you call in advance. Roof-top restaurant/lounge with good Indian and authentic Korean food. Nice old building with fort view.
A premier hotel.
Desert camp in the Sam Sand Dunes. It features well-equipped tents, camel and jeep safaris, and activities like folk performances and quad biking.
A desert resort tented camp attached to a desert farm with nice swimming pool. Meals are served under the stars with Rajasthani folk music, dance and camp fire.
Hindu statues in bronze or silver plated Buddha statues. Various collectibles: prayer mills, thangkas, mandalas.
Large choice of silver jewellery, Tibetan jewellery, precious and semi-precious gemstones. Lovely Kashmiri textiles collection. Singing bowls and statues. Friendly service.
Sushil Barsa's
Mr. Sushil Kumar, the owner, is a very honest and knowledgeable person. In this store, there is a nice collection of cashmere pashmina shawls.
Scarves, shawls, stalls, kurtas. Silk & cashmere blends, with or without embroidery.
Silver Rajasthani jewelry (necklaces, bangles, pendants, earrings, rings). Gemstones (rings and pendants), Tibetan jewelry (turquoise & coral inlaid jewelry).
Nice informative brochures available about jewelry making and different jewelry styles in India, detailed explanations about textile production. Insight into Indian history and local history as well: Jaisalmer, the silk trade, etc. For those interested in alternative medicine, there is even information about ayurveda, chakras and meditation tools. Nicely presented and fairly well researched.
By train
There is a direct train service from Delhi. Delhi-Jaisalmer Express "Shalimar Exp", departure time at 5:30PM, reaches Jaisalmer at 11:30AM the next morning.
By bus
Buses from Jodhpur and Bikaner are available. A daily bus runs to and from Jaipur.
By car
Various tour operators and travel agencies offer chauffeured car-taxi services; these are charged on a per-kilometre, per-day basis.
By camel
Another option is to arrive by camel; Jaisalmer is famous for camel trips. The most grueling is the 14-day trip from Bikaner.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Regional · JSA
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Jaisalmer and India.
Travel tipsExplore the rainy seasons in Asia month by month. Compare Southwest and Northeast monsoons, typhoon belts, dry island escapes, and travel dates.
8 min read
Travel tipsSpot and avoid common tourist scams in India, including fake train ticket offices, closed hotel lies, rigged auto-rickshaws, and temple donation tricks.
8 min read
Travel tipsFull 2026 list of visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries for Indian passport holders. Check entry requirements, stay limits, and transit visa rules.
7 min read
InspirationThe premier first-time India travel guide covering Delhi monuments, the Taj Mahal in Agra, Jaipur royal forts, sacred Varanasi, and Kerala backwaters.
6 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.