Jaisalmer is a popular tourist destination and a major city, located in the state of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer is also one of the royal cities of this desert city, adorned with magnificent palaces, forts and many other royal institutions. The city is also fondly referred to as ‘the Golden City,’ due to the yellow sand and sandstone used in every building of the city that gives the city a yellowish look. Jaisalmer is an interesting region to explore, with loads of character and history associated with this place.
Formerly known as Jaisalmer State, the city sits in the heart of the Thar Desert, standing on a ridge of yellow sandstone, crowned by a fort, which give the region a very royal feel. The city was founded by Maharaja Jaisal Singh in 1156 AD, after whom it is named and is believed to mean ‘the Hill Fort of Jaisal’
For tourist attractions there are plenty of things to see and do in Jaisalmer, ranging from the various havelis or palaces to the forts and other monuments. Some of the popular attractions of Jaisalmer includes the Patwon – ki – Haveli, Salaam Singh – ki- Haveli, Nathmalji – ki – Haveli, Haveli Shreenath, Jaisalmer Fort, GadiSar Lake, Jain Temples and much more. Along with sightseeing, tourists can also take advantage of the various desert safaris offered in the region, enjoy a camel ride, enjoy the cultural song and dance performances and gorge out n the delicious Rajathani cuisine.
Jaisalmer, being a popular tourist destination, the region draws in huge tourist crowd annually, as such catering to the accommodation need of these many tourists are the various Jaisalmer hotels, widely renowned for their warmth and hospitality. The hotels in Jaisalmer are present across all budget groups, catering to the varying needs and preferences of the multitude of travelers visiting the region.
The city is best visited from October to March, Jaisalmer celebrates the desert festival in January and February and hence these two months are one of the best periods to explore the city in its full vibrancy and grandeur.
Jaisalmer is well connected to the rest of the country. An airport has been planned for the region, till then a military airstrip is open for limited civilian use. In addition to that, the city is well connected via the massive rail network to various corners of the country. Lastly, there are plenty of buses and jeeps are widely available from various regions of the state and neighboring areas for Jaisalmer.
