Sam sand dunes are indeed one of the most authentic desert dune sites in whole India and truly deserves to be on your list of things to do in Jaisalmer. Here, you find 30 to 60-meter tall sand dunes and many travellers enjoy Desert Safari on camels or jeep. Sam is 45 kilometres west of Jaisalmer city where you can reach by hiring a vehicle. You may further choose to stay in one of many desert camps that are mostly built in 2 to 3 km radius of sand dunes.
Located 18 km away from Jaisalmer, the Kuldhara village is known as the ghost village. Lying abandoned from the past few centuries, this village has no signs of human life and is also known as one of the haunted places in Rajasthan. However, during the contemporary times, this hamlet has become one of the significantly visited places in Jaisalmer.
Located on the outskirts of Jaisalmer, Khuri sand dunes are a popular visiting spot. The Khuri village is one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer to witness how people live in a desert. You can see the many mud and straw houses at Khuri. These homes have impressive exterior decorations.
Amongst all the places to see in Jaisalmer, the Jaisalmer Fort is the largest. It is in fact, one of the largest forts around the world. Located on the Tirukuta Hill, this fort was built by Rao Jaisal, one of the mightiest rulers of Jaislamer. Due to its location at the golden stretches of the Thar Desert, this fort is also known as the ‘Sonar Quila’ or the ‘Golden Fort’.
Maharwal Gadsi Singh, the then Maharaja of Jaisalmer constructed this lake in 1400 AD. The lake was originally built as a conservation reservoir for rainwater harvesting; during the ancient times, and it happened to be one of the major water sources for the entire city.
Even though Jaisalmer is known to be a desert city, the rulers made attempts to add some greenery to its landscape. The Bada Bagh was one such endeavour that stood the test of time and is now a sprawling garden. Located six kilometers from Jaisalmer, this garden complex is home to the royal tombs and is among the popular places to visit in Jaisalmer.
This haveli is one of the popular tourist attractions in Jaisalmer. Salim Singh-ki Haveli is built on an older structure. This building was constructed during the early part of the eighteenth century. It was the residence of the Mehta family, one of the influential families in Jaisalmer during the early 18th century. Salim Singh, the then Prime Minister of Jaisalmer commissioned the building of this haveli.
An architectural marvel in the streets of the city and marked by intricate carving and murals is what Patwon ki Haveli is. Built in the 19th century, this Patwon ki Haveli is a combination of 5 different havelis in one single premise. It consists of a museum having rare artifacts, furniture work, miniatures, mirror-work and a large collection of paintings and interestingly, used to be a hotspot for travelers all around the world.
Established in AD 847, the highly revered Tanot Mata Temple is believed to be Goddess Hinglaj Mata’s incarnation. This is a miraculous temple located in the proximity of Longewala that used to be a battle site during the 165-71 Indo-Pak war.
This haveli has derived its origin from the late 19th century and has extraordinary exterior, dripping with carvings. The 1st floor of the haveli has some beautiful paintings that are made using 1.5kg of gold leaf. Apparently, the left and right wings were the work of two brothers-Hathi and Lulu. The competitive spirit in them apparently produced this virtuoso work. If you closely observe, the two sides are similar, however not identical.
Vyas Chhatri is an air array of brilliant sandstone chhatris and is located on an old Brahmin graveyard on an ascent on the northwestern edge of town and make it as one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer.
A conspicuous historic point in this staggering legacy city is Mandir Palace, which had been the living arrangement of the leaders of Jaisalmer for over two centuries.
The Indian Army has set up a historical war museum in Jaisalmer. This war museum which is the first-of-its-kind on the western front traces the evolution of the Indian Army and covers in detail its inspiring contribution in mainly 1965 Indo-Pak War and 1971 Longewala battle including all combat operations and other nation building activities.
Located within the vicinity of the Kuldhara village, the Khaba Fort is an abandoned structure that is yet another eerie place in Jaisalmer. This fort holds great potential for photography enthusiasts and is one of the best places to visit in Jaisalmer to click amazing snapshots. The surroundings of the fort are intriguing enough to let you have a chilling experience!
Longewala War Memorial is the spot where the battle of Longewala in 1971 between India and Pakistan was fought. The popular movie "Border" is based on this story. It is the last point up to which civilians are allowed, just 12 km from Pakistan. The museum was constructed right on the spot of the battle and is maintained by Indian Army. This area faces rather harsh conditions such as the temperature in summer easily goes beyond 50 degrees, and water is rare, no vegetation, food transportation from Ahmedabad or Mumbai. Despite all these conditions, the museum is well maintained.
