At a glance This desert fortress close to Rajasthan's border with Pakistan is straight out of an Arabian fairy tale, glowing with the luminescence of a mirage at sunset. Jaisalmer is a city with crenellated city walls, a magnificent fortress and exquisitely carved stone and wooden havelis (homes).On an ancient trade route in the Thar Desert; the border with Pakistan is a few miles to the west. About the city The golden city of Jaisalmer, which lies courageously as the western sentinel of India, is a place worth visiting. The golden ray of the setting sun draws a heavenly picture on the sands of Jaisalmer. The magnificent wood- and stone-carved mansions and buildings display the love of the Rajputs towards the fine arts. This desert city lying on an old trade route connecting India to Central Asia, is an important tourist destination today famous for camel rides across Thar Desert and its golden sand dunes. How to reach By Road Jaisalmer is well connected to the nearby towns and cities. The nearest important city is Jodhpur. Indianvisit can offer A/C or non-A/C chaufferur -driven four-wheel vehicles to make your journey to this majestic city in Rajasthan a remembering affair. By Rail Palace on Wheels - the king's train has Jaisalmer in its itinerary and that remains the best and most luxurious way of reaching Jaisalmer and explore it in opulence. There are direct trains from other cities of Rajasthan also which connects to Jaisalmer. By Air To visit this place by air, one has to take the flight operated by Indian Airlines between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. Getting Around: Jaisalmer is a small, walkable town and the fort, built on a small hill called Trikuta, is its essence. The rest of the town exists to its east and north. The main entrance to the fort is from the east. The square outside the main entrance is called Gopa Chowk. The fort is small and its streets narrow, and therefore, vehicles are allowed only till the main courtyard out'side the palace. The town outside the fort can also be covered on foot. The railway station is 3 km from the fort entrance to the east, and the bus stand 11/2 km to the south-west (north-west). Unmetered taxis and autorickshaws are available. The minimum charge for autos is Rs 20-25. Taxis charge Rs 700 for a 3- to 4-hr long excursion and Rs 1,200 for 6-7 hrs. The Jaisalmer Municipal Corporation has introduced a tax (Indians Rs 10, foreigners Rs 20) for entering Jaisalmer City. Distances 280 km North West from Jodhpur 352 km South West from Bikaner 624 km 670 km West from Jaipur via Jodhpur via Bikaner 884 km South West from Delhi From Jaipur NH8 to Beawar via Dudu and Ajmer NH14 to Bar via Sendra State highway to Jodhpur via Bilara and Dangiawas State highway to Pokaran via Agolai and Dechhu NH15 to Jaisalmer via Odania and Chandan. Best Seasons October to March is best. Avoid summers. Places in and around Jaisalmer Fort Jaisalmer Fort Visiting Jaisalmer itself means a visit to the Jaisalmer Fort. Built over the Trikuta hill, this fort is the biggest and the most beautiful landmark of the city. The fort is occupied by shops, stalls, and a number of other business concerns. This fort accommodates quarter of the city's population. Just outside the fort is the Manakchowk, the famous marketplace of Jaisalmer. It is a good place for bargaining the local products. Jain Temple The Jain temple, a place worth visiting, is also situated inside the fort itself. The temple, made between 12th and 15th century, bears testimony to Rajasthan's unique artistry. Havelis Haveli Havelis are the mansions built by the wealthy merchants, which are still in very good condition. The intricate craftsmanship is beyond parallel. The havelis like the Patwon-ki-Haveli and Salim-Singh-ki-Haveli are remarkable for their exclusive cutwork, yellow and red stone treatment and the bracket-shaped decoration of peacocks. Gadsisar Sagar Tank Gadsisar SagarGadsisar Sagar Tank is a famous place for an outing. Earlier it used to be the source of water for the entire city. A number of migratory birds flock this place during the winter season. Desert Culture Center and Museum Desert Culture Center and Museum is another place that would give the visitor a clear insight of the place. The museum has a number of old coins, different kinds of textile, traditional Rajasthani instruments, and some fossils that were found in the desert. Bara Bagh Baba Bagh is an oasis at the bank of a man-made dam. It has greenery all around to give a much-needed relief to the local people. Sam Sand Dunes Sam Sand Dunes, situated at the edge of the Thar Desert, is a place gaining tremendous tourist attraction these days. This sandy place is famous for watching sunset and taking a camel ride. Khuri Khuri, another place in this glittering golden sand, impresses the tourists with its mud houses and straw roofs. Desert National Park Desert National Park is another place that preserves the natural ecosystem of the desert land. Cactus, thorny trees and shrubs could be seen growing easily without being taken care of. It has some vegetation that survives in the dry and arid soil. It also has few animal species like the monitor lizard, desert foxes, porcupines and black bucks, etc.