Jaisalmer, a culturally and historically rich land, is a well-known city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Nestled beautifully amidst the hot Thar desert, it was once ruled by the great Bhatti Rajputana clan. The ancient trade route, Silk Road, stretching from East Asia to the west of Europe, traced its path through this nearly century-old city. Rajasthan earns worldwide attention for its palaces, forts, art and crafts and various other customs and traditional practices. Adding its flavor, Jaisalmer grandly showcases the vibrant Rajasthani culture.

Historic forts, majestic lakes, colorful caravans, decorated camels, low dunes, night bonfires; this briefly describes the ambiance of the city. Here are the 5 things you should definitely do in your next visit to Jaisalmer.

Sightseeing

Jaisalmer Fort, standing massively atop the ‘Trikut Hills’, perfectly camouflaging the background, tops the list. The city owes its name, the Golden City, to the yellow sandstone colored walls of this fort. Since its foundation in 1156 AD by King Rawal Jaisal, this marvelous architecture has been a witness of the past and survived the times. Patwon ki Haveli, Moti Mahal, and Nathmal ki Haveli are some other royal heritage.

Desert Safari and Desert Camping

Desert Safari is a loved sport among the adventurers’ community. What else can get better than riding an SUV over the soft dunes, making a way through on your own! This luxurious sport is one of the most sought activity at Jaisalmer. As the sun goes down the horizon, campers gather around a bonfire. Desert camping. Put down your belongings and set up a tent amidst the desert. A beautiful night sky awaits your gaze, to narrate stories of the desert.

Here you can find some luxurious desert camping sites whose glory reflects the royalty of this land.

Camel Safari

Camels are also known as ‘friends of the desert men‘. Camels are mostly kept decorated with handloom artifacts. Ride it along the fanciful streets of Jaisalmer, or traverse the never-ending desert, on a caravan. Camel race is also a thing people do. The famous Pushkar Mela, a livestock trading and cultural fair, which attracts significant foreign tourists, hosts camel races every year. Pushkar is an eight hours drive from Jaisalmer.

Boating

The climate of Jaisalmer remains mostly hot throughout the year. The summers are unforgiving at times. Beautiful lakes provide perfect spots to relax after day-long touring activities. Gadisar Lake is located in the south of Jaisalmer city. It is surrounded by beautiful shrines and ghats. Boating remains open till 8 at night. Sitting along the ghats and admiring the reddish sky, the experience is soulful. Amar Sagar is another lake on the outskirts of Jaisalmer city.

Shopping

People always love to keep a souvenir from the places they’ve explored. Jaisalmer has much more to offer. Sadar Bazaar, Bhatia Bazaar, Manak Chowk and Pansaari Bazar are popular markets in the city. Hundreds of vendors and hawkers line up the streets selling all sorts of merchandise; ranging from attractive handicrafts to colourful textile items, ornaments to home decor, jewelry to clothing. Nice restaurants, bars, clubhouses, hotels and luxurious resorts spread throughout the city.

There’s much more to explore in the Royal land- Jaisalmer. This July, gear up to experience the majestic vibes of the Golden city.