 Location
Jaisalmer is situated in the westernmost part of the state of Rajasthan, the heart of the great Thar Desert. 793 kms from Delhi, 1140 kms from Mumbai, 2030 kms from Calcutta and 2417 kms from Chennai.
Famous for:
Havelis, fort and handicraft items.
Climate
The climate of Jaisalmer is very hot and dry. Summers experience an average temperature in the range of the 41.6° C (max) to 25° C (min). At times, the temperature may even rise to 45° C. The place is generally windy and chilly in winters with an average temperature ranging between 23.6° C (max) to 7.9° C (min). Not much rainfall is received in Jaisalmer.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit jaisalmer is between the months of November to February.
The City
The golden city of Jaisalmer, which lies audaciously as the western guard of India, is a place worth visiting. With golden rays of dying sun, the sands of Jaisalmer seem to be heavenly. Named after a Bhatti Rajput king - Rawal Jaisal, the city is divided into the old city and the new city. The city was once enclosed by a wall and has seen many ages coming and going. Amongst the many attractions of the city, the main one is Jaisalmer fort along with Jain Temple, Salim-singh-ki-Haveli, Patwon-ki-Haveli, Gadsisar Sagar Tank, Bara Bagh, and Jaisalmer Culture Center. The camel fair is held during the winters, which is one of the major tourist attractions of the city.
Attractions in the city
Jaisalmer Fort : Visiting Jaisalmer itself means a visit to the Jaisalmer Fort. The fort is constructed over the Trikuta hill and is considered the principal landmark of the city. Today, it is taken by various stalls, business concerns and shops. This fort accommodates quarter of the city's population. The famous marketplace of Jaisalmer – Manakchowk is situated outside this fort. If one is looking for local products of Jaisalmer, this is a good place to come.
Jain temple, Jaisalmer, Jain Temples : The Jain temple, a place worth visiting, is also situated inside the fort itself. The temple, made between 12th and 15th century, bears testimony to Rajasthan's exceptional originality. Dilwara style architecture is popular worldwide in which these temple are built. This architectural style owes its name to the popular 'Dilwara Temples' in Mount Abu. The temple complex is open throughout the morning till 12noon, for the visitors. So, try and wake up a bit early or you might miss this splendor.
Havelis : Haveli are the places, which served as the residence of Wazirs i.e. ministers and landlords. Usually they are very big having lots of rooms with open space. Havelis are the hall built by the wealthy merchants, which are still in very good condition. The complicated artisanship is beyond comparable. The havelis like the Patwon-ki-Haveli and Salim-Singh-ki-Haveli are famous for their cutwork and peacock decoration.
Godi Sagar : The beautiful yellow sandstone gateway bend across the road down to the tank is the Tilon-ki-Pol, and is said to have been built by a famous prostitute, Tilon. This lake is situated in south of the city walls, once held the town water supply, and apply its importance in providing precious water to the inhabitants of this dry city, it is surrounded by small temples and holy place.
Other places of interest
Sam Sand Dunes : Sam Sand Dunes, is 45kms from Jaisalmer, situated at the edge of the Thar Desert, is a place gaining incredible tourist attraction. The silken smooth sands of Sam looks like a tale out of the Merchant of Venice and camel safaris are much in vogue here. You can enjoy the lights, sounds and sights of the temple on an all night trip. Do not miss gazing sunset and a camel ride full of fun. Many a tourist have fallen in love with the haunting beauty of the dunes – there is a definite aura of romance about it.
Lodurva : This place is the most important tourist attraction because of its shell of Jain temples, and is 16kms away from jaisalmer. The most exciting experience will be the peacock dance among exotic Lodurva ruins. Plenty of peacocks are found here, which makes it an attraction among the tourists. Lodurva is also known for its Jain temples, which are made of bright yellow sandstones.
Desert National Park : The Desert National Park is an outstanding example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert and its rich fauna. Cactus, thorny trees and shrubs grow and sustain here, without any deliberate effort. Species like monitor lizard, desert foxes, porcupines and black bucks, etc., are also found here.
Wood Fossil Park : Fossil Park, located 17 Km from Jaisalmer and is spreads over 21 hectare. The age of this park is believed and estimated to be 180 million years. There is a possibility of fossils further lying deep inside, which is motivating the undertaking of excavations. This is a perfect tourist spot for ecological and Archeological enthusiast.
How to reach
By Air : Nearest airport is Jodhpur, which is at a distance of 285 km from Jaisalmer. Jodhpur is connected to all the major sates by air.
By Rail : A good network of rail connects Jaisalmer with Jodhpur as well as other main cities of India.
By Road : With well-maintained roads, Jaisalmer is well connected to the rest of state. One can choose from various semi-deluxe and deluxe A/C buses, especially to Jodhpur that commence at regular intervals.
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