A giant fortress in which you can walk around for hours is THE attraction of the fairy tale like city of Jaisalmer, in the north-west of India.
Jaisalmer is situated in the state of Rajasthan, India’s most colourful state oozing with the imposing fortresses and fairy tale palaces. The population catches the eye with its bright and richly decorated clothing. Rajasthan is for tourists therefore one of the most visited parts of India.
Jaisalmer has to offer exactly where the region is so famous for. It often gets nicknamed ‘the Golden City’ because of its magnificent sandstone architecture reflected golden in the bright sunlight. During the old days, the city was made part of the Silk Road. The colourful narrow streets full of shops, markets, ports and squares make you feel to have ended up straight in the middle Ages. There is no lack of restaurants in the evening. Countless of cosy eateries are tucked away in and above the houses and squares. The impressive rock fortress majestically shines above the city, which of course contributes a lot to the fairy tale like aura of Jaisalmer.
On the outskirts of the small town lies the famous fortress, for which you would definitely need a few hours to wander around in. Walk upstairs or take a tuktuk. Once you are up, you will have to wander the narrow streets on foot. Wander around the ruins, temples and the homes of locals who live within the gates of the fortress. Regularly you will hear music coming out of the houses and numerous streets will lead you to surprisingly beautiful panoramic views over the city.
The fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the largest fortresses in the world. It was built in 1156 and it was the centre of several wars in the region. Currently there are approximately 3,000 people living within the walls of the fortress and you will also find a handful of hotels and restaurants. ‘Must sees’ include the palace, the seven sandstone temples of Jain which are all interconnected and the Hindu Laxminarayan Temple. Something you will also notice are the havelis; beautiful houses with richly decorated facades, balconies and doors.
Tip: visit the fort in the morning before the heat of the day and take your time. While wandering through the streets and in the temples time will fly, so soon, you will already have spend your entire morning before you know it..
The Sam sand dunes outside of Jaisalmer are popular to visit from out of town. The picturesque dunes are 3 kilometres long and 1 kilometre wide.
At about 40 kilometres outside the city lies the Thar Desert, a vast desert with an unexpectedly rich flora and fauna. You can also book jeep safaris into the desert from Jaisalmer which includes sleeping a night in the desert. A camel safari is also part of the program.
