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Jaisalmer City - Thar Desert

Main Languages : Hindi, English, Marwari and Rajasthani

Population :about 78000

Location :Jaisalmer is situated in India, the land of diverse cultures and people. It is one of the major tourist attractions and cultural hub in South Asia. Jaisalmer is situated in the western Rajasthan region amid Thar Desert, close to Indo-Pak boarder.

Climate :Jaisalmer is known for the typical desert type climate with hot and scorchy summer and cold and freezing winters. During summer maximum temperature varies between 41 degree celsius to 50 degree celsius and minimum goes down to 25 degree celsius. Similarly in winters the maximum temperature touches to 23.6 degree celsius and minimum drips to -1 degree celsius. October to February is considered to be the best period to visit Jaisalmer. The tour cannot be interrupted by rainfall because Jaisalmer witness very minimal rainfall that hardly cross 15cm.

Best Time to Visit :The perfect time to visit the golden city is during the Desert Festival, held in Jan/Feb. every year, when the city reverberates to the sound of melodious tunes and rhythms. Folk dances, exciting competitions an contests, especially the turban-tying contest. Mr. Desert contest and camel races enliven the festivities. Colorful craft bazaars are set up for the occasion and a sound and light spectacle is organized wit folk artists performing against the splendid backdrop of the famous Sam sand dunes on the full moon night. Surely a not-to-be missed event.

Prime Attractions of Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer Fort
Known as SONAR QUILA, rising from the sand , the mega structure merges with the golden hues of the desert ambience and the setting suns in its most colourful shades gives it a fairy tale look. Its simply a magic, the bastions envelops a whole townships that consist of palace complex various security sources and the havelis of rich merchants carved with an incredibly light touch, several temples and the residential complexes of the armies and traders placed strategically on the trade route, from where the ancient caravans passed en-route passing all the riches for the prosperity to an otherwise non source full kingdom.

Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli
Two architect brothers built it in the 19th century. Interestingly, while one concentrated on the right, the other concentrated on the left and the result is a symphony epitomising the side by side symmetry during construction. Paintings in miniature style monopolise the walls in the interior. Mighty tuskers carved out of yellow sandstone stand guard to the haveli.

Salim Singh Ki Haveli
This haveli was built about 300 years ago and a part of it is still occupied. Salim Singh was the prime minister when Jaisalmer was the capital of the princely state and his mansion has a beautifully arched roof with superb carved brackets in the form of Peacocks. The mansion is just below the hill and it is said that once it had two additional wooden storeys in an attempt to make it as high as the maharaja's palace, but the maharaja had the upper storey torn down.

Patwon-Ji-Ki-Haveli
This is one of the largest and most elaborate Haveli in Jaisalmer and stands in a narrow lane. It is five storeys high and is extensively carved. It is divided into six apartments, two owned by archaeological Survey of India, two by families who operate craft-shops and two private homes. There are remnants of paintings on some of the inside walls as well as some mirror work.

DesertNational Park
The Desert National Park is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert and its rich fauna. The Sudashri forest post is the most ideal place for observing wildlife in the Desert National Park. Sand dunes form less than 20 percent of the Park, which consists of craggy rocks, pavements and compact salt lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes.

Akal Wood Fossil Park
Just 17 kms from Jaisalmer and a kilometre away from the Barmer Road are fossilised remains of 180 million-year-old forests. These are beautiful forest vistas and any forester around can show you. There is a ticket to visit the Park for foreigners Rs 20 and locals Rs 5 plus Rs 10 for vehicle.

Gadi Sagar
This tank, south of the city walls, once held the town water supply, and befitting its importance in providing precious water to the inhabitants of this arid city, it is sourrounded by small temples and shrines. The beautiful yellow sandstone gateway arching across the road down to the tank is the Tilon-ki-Pol, and is said to have been built by a famous prostitute, Tilon . When she offered to pay to have this gateway constructed, the Maharaja refused permission under it to go down to the tank and he felt that this would be beneath his dignity. While he was away, she built the gate , adding a Krishna temple on top so that king could not tear it down

Desert Festival ( JAN - FEB )
Once a year in winters and on the middle of the continually rising and falling stark yellow sands of the great Thar Desert, the empty sands around Jaisalmer come alive with the brilliant colour, music and laughter of the Desert Festival. The festival is organised by the tourist authorities as tourist entertainment around January-February.
Rajasthani men and tall beautiful women dressed in their brightly costumes dance and sing lingering ballads of valour, romance and tragedy. Traditional musicians attempt to outdo each other in their musical superiority.The high points of the festival are - snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats, folk performers do rapid trade. Camels, the lifeline of the desert, play a foremost role.

Excursions
Lodurva : Located at a distance of 16 km from Jaisalmer, Lodurva was ancient capital of Jaisalmer. One of the famous excursion sites located on the outskirts of Jaisalmer, Lodurva is known for the famous Jain temple that attracts huge number of pilgrimage throughout the year. The main attraction of the temple is a divine tree called as 'Kalptaru' and the famous carvings and dome add extra charm to the temple

Sam Sand Dunes
The beauty of Thar Desert is best described with the help of Sam Sand Dunes, located at a distance of 42 km from Jaisalmer, Sam Sand Dunes is one of the best nature's gift to the human beings. Hundreds and thousands of visitor come to Rajasthan to witness this wonderful artistic view of the nature and the place can be best covered with the help of camel safari.

Amar Sagar
One of the best havelis of Jaisalmer, Amar Sagar is known for the carved pillars and extensive corridors and chambers. Constructed in the pattern of apartments, the Amar Sagar haveli is a five story high haveli adorned with beautiful painted murals.

How To Reach

By Air : Jackson Airways has started flight to Jaisalmer from Delhi. You can also fly to Jodhpur and Jaipur. But the flight is 8-seated plane operates only in peak season (Dec-Feb). For the rest of the time Jodhpur is the nearest airport.

By Rail :
Jaisalmer is connected to Delhi Via Delhi-Jaisalmer Exp. The train starts from Delhi (17.00) and reaches next day at (12.45). There is also train from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer.

By Road :
Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe & air conditioned buses from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner. The roads are very good and fairly comfortable.