Jaisalmer Fort is undisputedly the Golden City’s crown jewel. It really is absolutely stunning – and it is totally unique as one of the world’s only ‘living forts’. To this day, nearly one-fourth of the old city’s population still resides inside the fort, in a vibrant community that has existed for centuries.
Having visited Jaisalmer six times over the last few years, we always find it a highlight of our trips. There is truly nowhere else in India quite like it!
Here is everything you need to know to make the most of your time in Jaisalmer and exploring the amazing Jaisalmer Fort.
Part 1: Jaisalmer Fort
Founded in 1156 AD by the Rajput ruler Maharawal Jaisal, the Jaisalmer Fort was strategically built on Trikuta Hill to overlook the ancient Silk Road trading routes.
For centuries, Jaisalmer grew incredibly wealthy by taxing the caravans’ carrying spices, silk, and opium between India, Central Asia, and Egypt. This wealth allowed the local merchants and royals to build the most intricate sandstone structures ever seen.
Jaisalmer today is something of an immersive architectural masterpiece!
Do You Recommend a Tour Guide for Jaisalmer Fort?
The Fort is doable independently. It is fascinating to explore, even on a surface level with a spare morning or afternoon before a Camel Safari.
The main thing to do inside Jaisalmer Fort is an audio tour of the Maharaja Palace. This gives a great overview of the palace and the fort itself.
Otherwise, we wholeheartedly recommend visiting the family-owned Desert Art Gallery by the first gate into the fort. Bhawani and his brother, Sawai and their family are part of the reason we keep returning to Jaisalmer every year!
Bhawani is a Registered Tour Guide and they can organise a great tour for you. Or visit them for a chai in their gallery and make plans for a special lunch in their family home.
Part 2: Logistics – Getting to the Golden City
Jaisalmer is a desert outpost in the far west of Rajasthan. It isn’t on the main tourist-trail, but reaching it is part of the adventure.
Getting to Jaisalmer
- By Train: This is our favourite way to arrive. The Jaisalmer Express or the Shalimar Express from Delhi or Jaipur pull into the station at (supposedly) dawn. Seeing the Golden City appear through the train window is a core memory.
- By Road: Many travellers hire a private driver from Jodhpur (about a 4.5-hour drive). The road is well-maintained and takes you through fascinating rural desert landscapes.
- By Air: Jaisalmer has a domestic airport with seasonal flights (usually October–March) from major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur.
Getting Around in Jaisalmer and Reaching the Fort
The city outside the fort is easily navigated by auto-rickshaws. However, the fort itself is a no-car zone.
To get to the fort, have your rickshaw drop you at Gopa Chowk, the main square at the foot of the hill. From there, you enter on foot.
The climb is a gentle ramp, but the stones can be slippery—wear comfortable shoes! It is an awesome place to just wander and explore.
Best Time to Visit
The desert is unforgiving in the summer. It is a desert after all!
The best time to visit Jaisalmer is between October and March. This is the winter season in Rajasthan. The days are sunny and pleasant (around 25°C), while the nights are crisp and cool.
This temperature makes for the perfect time of year to stay overnight in the desert on a Camel Safari!
Where to Stay in Jaisalmer
We stay in Wanderlust Guesthouse every time we visit Jaisalmer – with our family and with our Group Trips. It is one of our favourite places to stay in all of India.
Plus, we always recommend staying outside the fort in Jaisalmer.
Why? Because the ancient fort was not built for modern plumbing. High water usage from tourists inside the walls is causing water to seep into the foundations, threatening the structural integrity of the monument.
Staying outside helps preserve the fort while giving you the best rooftop views of it!
Part 3: Exploring Jaisalmer Fort – What to See
Here are the essential stops on your walk through the amazing Jaisalmer Fort.
1. The Four Magnificent Gates
To reach the heart of the fort, you must pass through four successive massive gates: Akshay Pol, Suraj Pol, Ganesh Pol, and Hawa Pol.
Each was designed to stop invading armies and elephants(!).
You will notice the sharp bends between the gates—these were strategic zones where defenders could rain arrows down on trapped enemies.
2. Dussehra Chowk (The Main Square)
This is the central heart of the fort. This wide-open courtyard was once the site of royal ceremonies and is now a bustling hub surrounded by shops and cafes.
Look up at the Maharaja’s Palace (Raj Mahal) which sits strategically over the square. The intricate marble seat on the balcony is where the King would sit to address his subjects!
3. The Maharaja Mahal (City Palace)
The beautiful Maharaja Mahal was the City Palace inside the fort. It is now a museum, and with a good audio tour it gives you a glimpse into the opulent lives of the Rajput royals.
The highlights are the Rang Mahal (vibrant paintings) and the rooftop views. It is one of the best places to understand how the royal family managed to thrive in such a harsh desert environment.
4. The Jain Temples
Perhaps the most spectacular sight inside the walls is the complex of seven interconnected Jain Temples (12th–15th century). The level of detail carved into the yellow sandstone is staggering. Every inch of the pillars and ceilings is covered in figures of dancers, gods, and animals. It looks more like delicate lace than heavy stone!
- Note: These are active places of worship. You must remove all leather items (belts, wallets) and shoes before entering.
5. Laxminath Temple
This is one of the main Hindu temples inside Jaisalmer Fort. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, it is also the oldest temple in the fort.
It is simpler than the Jain temples but deeply significant to the local Hindu population. The silver-adorned shrine is a beautifully made with traditional craftsmanship.
6. The Canon Viewpoint
Follow the narrow alleys to the northern ramparts to find the ancient canons still perched on the bastions. From here, you get a 360-degree view of the “Golden City” below. You can see how the houses outside the fort are built from the same yellow stone, making the entire landscape look like a unified piece of art.
7. The Communal Washing Area
Keep an eye out for the traditional washing areas where locals still gather. It’s a reminder that this is a living community. You’ll see women in vibrant saris washing clothes against the stone, a scene that hasn’t changed much in centuries.
8. Wedding Invitation Murals
All around the fort, as you wander the residential alleys, look at the walls next to the front doors. You will see brightly painted murals of Ganesha along with names and dates.
These are permanent wedding invitations!
In Jaisalmer, instead of sending paper cards, families paint the wedding details on their homes to invite the entire neighbourhood. How cool is that?
9. Manak Chowk: Jaisalmer Fort Market
The labyrinth of laneways inside the fort is something of a journey through history. But it’s also a vibrant hub of daily life!
As home to roughly 3,000 residents, the winding stone streets are a bustling mixture of local and touristic market shopping.
You will undoubtedly be approached by more than a few keen salesmen as you navigate the stalls, but a wander through the chaos is well worth the interruptions.
The small shops showcase an impressive variety of textiles—from silk and wool to cotton—authentic and otherwise, alongside locally made artworks, intricate stone carvings, and traditional Rajasthani garments.
10. Desert Art Gallery: Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer is world-renowned for its textiles, and the family-owned Desert Art Gallery is another of the many reasons we find ourselves returning to the city year after year.
Brothers Bhawani and Sawai have curated what is arguably the region’s most extensive collection of nomadic handicrafts. Their gallery is a treasure trove of carpets, rugs, and patchwork wall hangings sourced directly from the desert tribes and gypsy communities of Rajasthan.
As any traveller in India knows, in a market anywhere it can be difficult to distinguish genuine heritage from mass-produced imitations. But this gallery stands is something Jaisalmer can be very proud of.
- Location: You’ll find the gallery just inside the fort, situated to the left of the original Ganesh Pol Gate. If you lose your way, simply ask a local; everyone knows the brothers!
Note: Bhawani and his family are also the dear friends of ours who host a truly special lunch in their family home. It is an experience that we cannot recommend highly enough in Jaisalmer!
Part 4: Other Things to Do in Jaisalmer
While the fort is the star, Jaisalmer has much more to offer in the surrounding desert.
These are some of the other cool things to do in Jaisalmer:
- The Camel Safari: No trip is complete without a trek into the Thar Desert. We always go with Wanderlust Guesthouse for an ethical, non-tourist experience that takes you to quiet dunes away from the crowds.
- Gadisar Lake: A peaceful man-made reservoir surrounded by small temples. It’s the best place in the city for a sunset walk or a boat ride.
- The Havelis: Visit Patwon Ki Haveli and Salim Singh Ki Haveli in the old city. These are grand merchant houses with carvings even more intricate than those in the fort.
- Bada Bagh: A stunning complex of royal cenotaphs (tombs) located about 6km from the city. It’s hauntingly beautiful at sunset.
- Kuldhara Ghost Village: An abandoned village wrapped in legends and curses.
- The Villagers Market: A bustling and lively marketplace with everything from perfectly stacked fruits and vegetables to jewellery and bangles in the iconic style of the Jaisalmeri women.
- Desert Art Gallery: Bhawani and his brother Sawai have created what is the largest collection of textiles and handicrafts, carpets, rugs, and patchwork wall hangings all from the nomadic tribes and gypsies of the region.
- Lunch in a Family Home: This is another of the very special things to do in Jaisalmer! Read about our experience with a local family.
Part 5: Tips for a Smooth Visit
Jaisalmer is an incredible part of India. But as with many destinations for travel there are practical – and ethical – things to be reminded of before booking:
- Respect the Living Fort: Remember that these are people’s homes. Be mindful of noise in the residential alleys and always ask before taking photos of locals.
- Haggling: The shops inside the fort are beautiful but can be pricey. Haggling is expected, but keep it friendly!
- Best Time to Visit: Winter (October to March) is ideal, with sunny days suitable for sightseeing and comfortable nights.
- Choosing a Camel Safari: We always go with Wanderlust Guesthouse who does a great, hospitable and ethical Camel Safari in Jaisalmer.
- Meet the Locals: This is a uniquely less chaotic Indian city and a great place to slow it down and meet the people that make it special.
- Drink the Lassi: Head to the rooftops for a saffron or banana lassi. It’s the perfect way to cool down after exploring the sun-drenched stone alleys.
Final Thoughts: Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer is our favourite place in India and somewhere we know we will keep returning to. We hope our Travel Guide to Jaisalmer Fort has given you even more inspiration for your trip!
Planning a bigger trip? Check out our Golden Triangle Itinerary to see how to link Jaisalmer with the rest of the Pink and Blue cities!
Do you have questions about exploring Jaisalmer Fort? Ask us in the comments—we’ve spent many weeks wandering these alleys and love to help!
Safe travels, adventurers!
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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 planning these things to do in Jaisalmer Fort!
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.
