Jaisalmer Fort (Sonar Qila)
The living golden fort that rises from Trikuta Hill, with palace rooms, Jain temples, narrow lanes of shops and guesthouses, and sunset light that turns the sandstone to honey.
Rajasthan, India
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is the Golden City of Rajasthan, a medieval trading town on the edge of the Thar Desert where a living sandstone fort rises from a hill and glows honey-gold at sunset.
Inside and below its walls, carved merchant havelis, Jain temples, lake ghats and lanes of mirror-work and silver shops tell the story of the caravan routes that made the city rich. Beyond the town, camel safaris, jeep rides, desert camps and starry nights bring the dunes of Sam and Khuri within easy reach. Twickly gathers the best of it, with 20 experiences, 10 hotels from palace-style stays to fort guesthouses and dune camps, and six practical guides.
Don't miss
Jaisalmer Fort (Sonar Qila)
The living golden fort that rises from Trikuta Hill, with palace rooms, Jain temples, narrow lanes of shops and guesthouses, and sunset light that turns the sandstone to honey.
Patwon Ki Haveli
A cluster of grand merchant mansions with intricately carved sandstone balconies, mirrored rooms and painted ceilings, the most celebrated haveli complex in the Golden City.
Sam Sand Dunes Sunset Camel Safari
The big rolling dunes west of town, reached by jeep or camel, where visitors gather for sunset, folk music and a first taste of the Thar Desert.
Overnight Camel Safari in the Thar Desert
A slow ride by camel into the dunes at sunset, dinner cooked over a fire, a night sleeping under a huge sky and a morning ride back as the light returns.
Things to do in Jaisalmer
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Patwon Ki Haveli
A cluster of grand merchant mansions with intricately carved sandstone balconies, mirrored rooms and painted ceilings, the most celebrated haveli complex in the Golden City.
Nathmal Ki Haveli
A nineteenth-century prime minister's mansion with famously asymmetrical halves, carved by two brothers who each worked on one side without comparing notes.
Salim Singh Ki Haveli
A dramatic old mansion with a sweeping arched roof often likened to a peacock's tail, set above a hillside lane and rich in balconies and legend.
Jain Temples in Jaisalmer Fort
A cluster of finely carved Jain temples tucked inside the fort walls, with marble and sandstone interiors, ornate ceilings and some of the best stonework in Rajasthan.
Gadisar Lake
A tranquil rainwater lake ringed by sandstone ghats, small temples and a grand arched gateway, loveliest at sunrise and when the fort glows across the water.
Bada Bagh Royal Cenotaphs
A field of golden domed cenotaphs to Jaisalmer's rulers, set among a green garden and wind turbines, and one of the best places in the region for sunset photographs.
Old City Bazaars and Markets
Lanes of mirror-work textiles, appliqued bedspreads, silver, camel-leather goods and spices, explored on foot with a local guide who knows which shops are worth your time.
Jaisalmer at Night Walking Tour
A guided evening stroll through the lit lanes of the old city, when the heat fades, the sandstone glows under lamps and the rooftops fill with music.
Jaisalmer Street Food Crawl
A guided tasting walk through the old city for kachori, sweets, desert thali dishes and other local bites, with a guide who explains the ingredients and the stories behind them.
Home Cooking Class with a Local Family
A hands-on lesson in a family kitchen, grinding spices, rolling bread and cooking Rajasthani dishes before sitting down to eat the results with your hosts.
Sam Sand Dunes Sunset Camel Safari
The big rolling dunes west of town, reached by jeep or camel, where visitors gather for sunset, folk music and a first taste of the Thar Desert.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Taj Gorbandh Palace
Outside the Old City
A palace-style luxury hotel built in the local sandstone tradition, with carved facades, courtyards, a pool and the full service of a Taj property outside the busy old city.
Check rates →Hotel Killa Bhawan
Inside Jaisalmer Fort
A small heritage hotel within the fort walls, with rooftop views, carved sandstone details and the lanes of the Golden Fort on the doorstep.
Check rates →WelcomHeritage Kalyan Bhawan
Jaisalmer Town
A heritage-style hotel in the sandstone tradition, with courtyards, carved details and comfortable rooms within reach of the fort and havelis.
Check rates →Hotel Pleasant Haveli
Old City
A friendly haveli-style guesthouse close to the fort, with rooftop dining, simple comfortable rooms and easy access to the lanes and bazaars.
Check rates →
$$Hotel Golden Haveli
Old City
A traditional-style haveli hotel near the fort with carved stone details, comfortable rooms and a rooftop to watch the sunset over the Golden City.
Check rates →Hotel Royal Haveli
Old City
A budget-friendly haveli stay in the old city, with simple rooms, rooftop seating and an easy walk to the fort, markets and lake.
Check rates →Hotel Heritage Haveli Jaisalmer
Old City
A traditional haveli-style guesthouse near the fort, with carved details, a rooftop restaurant and a family-run feel.
Check rates →The Jaisalmer Resort
Outskirts of Jaisalmer
A resort-style stay outside the old city, with space, gardens and a quieter pace, suited to families and travellers who like a pool day between sights.
Check rates →Seven Palms Luxury Camp
Sam Sand Dunes Area
A desert camp near the Sam dunes with tented rooms, evening folk entertainment and easy access to sunset camel rides and stargazing.
Check rates →Desert Heritage Camp and Resort
Sam Sand Dunes Area
A dune-country camp and resort west of Jaisalmer, with tented stays, evening entertainment and quick access to sunset rides.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Jaisalmer Fort (Sonar Qila)Stay
Hotel Killa BhawanInside Jaisalmer Fort
Do
Patwon Ki HaveliStay
WelcomHeritage Kalyan BhawanJaisalmer Town
Do
Sam Sand Dunes Sunset Camel SafariStay
Seven Palms Luxury CampSam Sand Dunes Area
Jaisalmer guides
Jaisalmer in Three Days: Fort, Havelis and Desert
A practical three-day plan that starts with the fort and havelis, adds the lake and cenotaphs, and ends with a night in the dunes.
Jaisalmer Desert Safari Guide: Camels, Jeeps and Camps
How to choose between a sunset trip, a jeep ride and an overnight safari, plus what to pack and how to pick a responsible operator.
Where to Stay in Jaisalmer: Fort, Old City, Resorts and Camps
A guide to the different kinds of stay in Jaisalmer, from fort guesthouses and haveli hotels to palace-style hotels and desert camps.
Best Time to Visit Jaisalmer: Seasons, Heat and Festivals
A season-by-season guide to Jaisalmer weather, crowds, prices and desert conditions, so you can pick the right months for your trip.
Eating in Jaisalmer: Desert Dishes, Street Food and Sweets
A guide to the food of the Thar Desert, from dal baati churma and ker sangri to street snacks, sweets and rooftop dinners.
Getting to Jaisalmer and Day Trips from the Golden City
How to reach Jaisalmer by road, rail and air, how to get around town, and which day trips and excursions are worth the time.
