Getting the train to Jaisalmer was one of the very first rail journeys we ever took in India. Though it was this first train trip in India that we almost missed entirely!
Picture us: non-train-riding travellers from New Zealand with absolutely no idea how to find a platform, read a carriage code, or locate our berths, let alone navigate the chaotic, sensory storm of an Indian railway station. We panicked, boarded the wrong end of the train, and found ourselves trapped in a carriage that felt kilometres away from our actual booked seats just as the train began chugging out of the station.
The great news is that now, with seven trips to India under our belt – and many thousands of kilometres clocked on the tracks – we consider ourselves fairly well seasoned pros.
If you are planning your own train to Jaisalmer adventure, this firsthand guide breaks down everything you need to know: the best routes from Delhi, Jaipur, and Jodhpur, what to expect from the various train classes, and our top survival tips for the tracks.
- Train to Jaisalmer
- Route Options
Delhi to Jaisalmer
Jaipur to Jaisalmer
Jodhpur to Jaisalmer - Indian Train Classes
- Booking Tickets
- Tips for Train to Jaisalmer
- Arriving in Jaisalmer
Why Take the Train to Jaisalmer?
Jaisalmer sits in the deep desert near the international border of India with Pakistan. Because of its remote location, getting there requires a bit of planning.
While you could hire a private car or ride a bumpy long-distance bus, the train to Jaisalmer wins hands down on all levels.
Route Options: Train to Jaisalmer
Depending on where you are starting your Rajasthani adventure, you have several options by train to Jaisalmer. Here are the most practical routes connecting Delhi, Jaipur, and Jodhpur to the Golden City.
1. Train from Delhi to Jaisalmer
- Distance: ~750 km
- Journey Time: 14 to 16 hours
Taking an overnight sleeper train to Jaisalmer is a good time-saving option. It also saves you a night’s hotel bill and you arrive into Jaisalmer just after breakfast.
- Recommendation: Jaisalmer Express (#14659) or Runicha Express (#14087). These long-distance trains to Jaisalmer depart Delhi in the late afternoon or evening and pull into Jaisalmer the following morning.
2. Train from Jaipur to Jaisalmer
- Distance: ~560 km
- Journey Time: 11 to 12 hours
After exploring the Pink City, it is a cool option to take the train to Jaisalmer overnight (though shorter) from Jaipur.
- Recommendation: The Leelan Express (#12468) departs Jaipur late at night (around 22:00) and gets you to Jaisalmer by 10:00 the next morning.
3. Train from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer
- Distance: ~280 km
- Journey Time: 5.5 to 6 hours
This is the shortest, easiest, and most classic leg of the desert route. If you are nervous about your first Indian train experience, this is the perfect journey to cut your teeth on. It is easy to get flights from other major Indian destinations to Jodhpur.
- Recommendations:
- Jodhpur – Jaisalmer SF Express (#14810): This is your quintessential daytime run. It departs Jodhpur early in the morning (around 06:10) and arrives just before noon.
- Ranikhet Express (#15014): A legendary long-haul train to Jaisalmer that cuts through Jodhpur in the late afternoon (around 17:00) and arrives late in the evening.
Decoding Indian Train Classes
Stepping up to book an Indian train ticket for the first time can feel daunting. (Especially for us having not ridden many trains before!). The ticketing systems are packed with codes like 1A, 2A, 3A, and SL.
Here is what those letters actually mean:
AC First Class (1A)
This is the most premium, luxury tier on the Indian Railway network. You are booked into a fully enclosed, lockable compartment that contains either two berths (a coupe) or four berths (a cabin).
AC 2-Tier (2A)
This is our personal favourite way to travel by train in India. The 2A carriage is broken up into open bays containing four bunks (two upper, two lower) plus two side berths running parallel along the corridor aisle.
There are no lockable doors, but each individual bay and side berth is screened off from the main aisle by a privacy curtain.
- Tip: Sheets, a pillow, and a blanket are handed out to every passenger. Power sockets are usually available for charging devices.
AC 3-Tier (3A)
This class is the backbone of long-distance transit for middle-class India. The configuration scales up the density by squeezing six bunks into a single bay (lower, middle, and upper bunks on each side), along with the two side berths across the aisle.
- Tip: There are no privacy curtains here. It is louder, more social, and more crowded than 2A, but you still get air conditioning and clean bedding.
Sleeper Class (SL)
This is the non-air-conditioned equivalent of 3A. It features the exact same 6-bunk layout, but without climate control, privacy curtains, or provided bedding.
Booking Logistics: Train to Jaisalmer
Indian trains run on a strict reservation system, and popular tourist routes through Rajasthan sell out weeks – sometimes months – in advance. Do not expect to just rock up to the station on the day of travel and get a berth.
How to Book the Train to Jaisalmer
You can brave the official (and notoriously temperamental) Indian Railways website (IRCTC), which often rejects international credit cards.
Or alternatively, you can use third-party booking portals like 12GoAsia. This is what we recommend.
Average Ticket Costs (eg. Jodhpur Train to Jaisalmer)
- AC First Class (1A): ₹1,400 – ₹1,800 ($17 – $22 USD)
- AC 2-Tier (2A): ₹800 – ₹1,100 ($10 – $13 USD)
- AC 3-Tier (3A): ₹600 – ₹800 ($7 – $10 USD)
- Sleeper Class (SL): ₹200 – ₹350 ($2 – $4 USD)
Essential Tips for Trains in India
As with all travel in India, a bit of planning and a heads-up makes things feel smoother on the day.
- Find Your Station Position Early: Indian trains are long – sometimes over 20 carriages. Look up at the hanging digital platform displays; they show exactly where your specific coach code (e.g., A1, B2, S3) will stop. Stand there ahead of time.
- Embrace the Food & Chai: While these desert trains to Jaisalmer don’t carry full kitchen cars, railway staff will march down the aisles taking orders for vegetarian lunches (dal, rice, and chapati). And, of course, you will head the chai-wallahs shouting “Chai, Garam Chai!” (Hot Tea!). Keep some small cash change in your pocket for a steady stream of 10-rupee hot cups.
- Lock Up Your Gear: AC carriages are generally safe, but petty theft can happen on any rail network. Bring a simple cable lock to secure your backpacks to the metal rings beneath the lower berths, especially on overnight runs.
- The Bathroom Reality: Every carriage features both Western-style and Indian-style squat toilets. While attendants do clean them, they get heavy use on long routes. Always pack your own toilet paper, wet wipes, and a bottle of hand sanitiser.
Arriving in the Golden City
Jaisalmer is a terminal station – meaning it is the literal end of the line. Once your train arrives, the tracks stop, which makes the disembarkation process much more relaxed compared to mid-route stations where you only have two minutes to throw your bags off the train before it departs!
Jaisalmer is a terminal station – Jaisalmer Railway Station (JSM) – meaning it is the literal end of the line. Because it is the end of the line, the station is small, quiet, and surprisingly relaxed. It was a good feeling for us on our very first train journey to step out past the platform and see the welcoming faces of our Jaisalmer host waiting.
Where to Stay in Jaisalmer
If you are looking for the absolute best place to stay in Jaisalmer, we cannot recommend Wanderlust Guesthouse enough. It is hands down our favourite accommodation, and the hospitality is unmatched.
The Train to Jaisalmer
Taking the train to Jaisalmer isn’t just about moving from point A to point B – it is a cool Indian train journey for any traveller exploring Rajasthan.
Secure your berths early, grab a window seat, book accommodation in Jaisalmer and enjoy the adventure on the tracks! 🙂
Do you have questions about traveling by train in India? Ask us in the comments – we love sharing our tips!
Safe travels, adventurers!
Read More India Inspiration
- Our Detailed & Easy 2-Day Itinerary Of Jaipur.
- Train Travel In India.
- India Tourist e-Visa: Our Step-By-Step Guide.
- 10 Things To Do In Mumbai.
- 10 Things To Do In Kochi & Kerala.
- Best Tourist SIM Card For India.
- What To Wear In India.
- 4-Day Kochi & Kerala Itinerary.
- Travelling India By Bus: Intercity, Tourist & Sleeper Buses.
Travel Planning for India & Beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- Skyscanner – Our favourite flight search engine. They can search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide – A huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for short or longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before booking the train to Jaisalmer!
Hi! I’m Sarah. I am the self-confessed dreamer, travel-schemer and the main editor behind this blog. I love to write, and it is a dream come true to share so many experiences together and inspire others in our stories.
