Places of Interest in Jaisalmer 

The Fort crowns the 80 mt high Trikuta hill and was built in 1156 by the Rajput ruler Jaisala. About a quarter of the old city's population resides within the fort walls.

Manak Chowk is a famous market place from where one can one can go to the impressive mansions, built by the wealthy merchants of Jaisalmer, known as havelis. These are the fine carved, sandstone buildings.

This tank, south of the city walls, was once the water supply of the city and there are many small temples and shrines around the tank. In winter a wide variety of water birds flock here. The beautiful arched gateway across the road down to the tank is said to have been built by a famous courtesan.

This group of fine Jain temples were built in the 12 th to 15 th century, within the Jaisalmer Fort. They are beautifully carved and dedicated to Rikhabdevji and Sambhavnathji. The Gyan Bhandar, a library containing some extremely old manuscripts, is within the temple complex.

Akal Fossil Park is situated, on the road to Barmer, at a distance of 15 kms from the charming city of Jaisalmer. The location of the park is180 million years old. Several fossils of tree trunks are still burried under the sand, while some are scattered in the area for view.

One of the first palace havelis to be turned into a hotel in Jaisalmer in 1982, the Jawahar Niwas Palace Hotel has 8 rooms with original antique furnishings and additional, less spacious rooms in the annexe, totalling 18. The palace transports you to another world.

Built more than a century ago, to facilitate trade with Afghanistan and Persia, the Narayan Niwas Palace is a gargantuan sandstone structure in the middle of the endless Thar Desert. A new facade wrestles for space with the old one, and rooms cluttered with local Rajasthani craft.

The ancient capital of Jaisalmer, some vestiges of former glory remain. The Jain temples, rebuilt in the late 1970's are the only remainders of the city's former magnificience. The main temple has an image of Parasnath, the 23 rd tirthankar.

A desert national park has been established in the Thar Desert near Sam village. Sand Dunes lies on the edge of the park and is Jaisalmer's nearest real Sahara-like desert.

This is a charming way of experiencing life in Rajasthan's Thar Desert. Most camel safaris originate at Jaisalmer.

TA camel safari is a classic trip for the adventure seeker though it takes a little while getting used to the smells and see-saw swaying of the camel.

In the midst of the endlessly undulating, stark yellow sands of the great Thar Desert, rises the golden sandstone city of Jaialmer, like a beautiful mirage, on top of the mythical Trikut hill. Once a year in winter, the empty sands around Jaisalmer come alive with the brilliant colour, music and laughter of the Desert Festival.