tourist places in jaisalmer india, tourist attractions in jaisalmer india, places to see in jaisalmer,tourist spots in jaisalmer india

Gadsisar Lake
Gadsisar Lake is a scenic rainwater lake situated in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It was built in 1156 and later rebuilt by Maharwal Garsisingh in 1367. A beautiful arched gateway decorates the lake. The lake is surrounded by ghats, temples, cenotaphs and gardens. Gadsisar Lake is an ideal picnic spot and is famous for boating. It is also home to a numerous species of birds. Gadsisar, an artificial lake that was an important source of water in the past. A natural decline was enlarged to catch every drop of rain and, in a season of drought, Gadsisar was the mainstay of Jaisalmer. Built in 1367 by Maharaja Gadsi Singh just outside the city walls, its north and east banks are flanked with ghats and temples made of the distinctive yellow sandstone and much like the fort which glow in the dimming evening light.
Patwon Ki Haveli	Top^
Patwon Ki Haveli built between 1800 and 1860, was built by five Jain brothers who made their fortunes by trading jewellery and fine brocades. This Haveli is divided into five apartments. The first Haveli is a private museum and shop, featuring displays of old furnishings and household items. The second and fifth Havelis are government run. They are empty but you can wander around and soak in the atmosphere. Only the ground floor is open on the second Haveli. The third Haveli is an antique shop and the fourth, a private residence, is not open for public. This grand mansion is one of its kind in the Jaisalmer city. The haveli was built by the family of a rich merchant - Guman Chand Patwa. Putwa and his sons started the construction work in the year1800 A.D., and after six decades the mansion was all ready to stand high in glory. This is one of the largest and most elaborate Haveli in Jaisalmer and stands in a narrow lane.
Jaisalmer Fort	Top^
Jaisalmer Fort is a monument worth visiting and worth retaining in your conscious mind. Like various other cities of Rajasthan, in Jaisalmer too you will find different facets of its own glorious heritage. Though you can find historical monuments scattered all over the city, the Jaisalmer Fort will immediately command your attention. Made of sand stones and locally known as Sonar Quila, the Jaisalmer Fort is a dominating structure amidst sands. Jaisalmer Fort is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan and commands the desert landscape from its 250ft high perch on the hill above the city. Three strong walls protect the citadel. The first was constructed by the local Jain panchayat in the 15th century. Subsequent additions and fortifications were built by the Rawals. The steep cobblestone pathway leading to the royal palace passes through four gates-Akhai Pole (Ganesh Pole), Suraj Pole, Bhuta Pole and Hawa Pole.
Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli	Top^
Nathmalji Ki Haveli in Jaisalmer is splendor among the havelis in Jaisalmer. A major among the tourist attractions in Jaisalmer, the Haveli was the house of Mohta Nathmal, the then prime minister (1885) at the Jaisalmer royal court. Conceived by two Muslim engineers, Lulu and Hathi, it is an epitome of Rajput skills. Nathmalji Ki Haveli in Jaisalmer is foremost among the places of tourist interest in Jaisalmer. Nathmal Ji ki Haveli of Jaisalmer to be built in 1885 AD by the Architect brothers Lulu and Hathi, the Haveli has a unique story to tell about its construction. The two architect brothers took to left and right size respectively for constructing the Haveli, yet the Haveli boasts of striking symmetry. Life-size replica of elephants in yellow sandstone guards the entrance of the Haveli. The right and left wing of the Haveli are adorned by miniature paintings of flora, cattle and horses. The Haveli of Nathmal still stands in excellent condition and is a major tourist spot of Jaisalmer. The haveli has two identical looking portions, which are in fact two different parts united by a common facade. The Muslim silavats (artisans) did a wonderful job here and left a marvellous legacy of craftsmanship excellent in detail and flawless in conception.
Salim Singh Ki Haveli	Top^
Salim Singh ki haveli has been built on the remains of an older haveli built in the late 17th century. The new building was built in the year 1815 and was occupied by the Mehta family of Jaisalmer. They were the most influential family of their time. This haveli was commissioned by Salim Singh, the then Prime Minister of the kingdom when Jaisalmer was the capital. Salim Singh-ki-Haveli at the eastern end of the city, is an ‘Arabian Nights’ structure and worth seeing. This 300 year old haveli of Jaisalmer’s Prime Minister to Maharaja Rawal Gaj Singh-Salim Singh, has a beautiful blue cupola roof with superbly carved brackets in the form of peacocks. This extraordinary mansion in yellow stone is covered with intricate carvings and has an elaborate projecting balcony on the top storey. The mansion is one of the most notable of the array of havelis.
Tazia Tower	Top^
Tazia Tower of Jaisalmer is one of the major tourist attractions. If you have done with the various Rajputana architectures scattered in the city, Tazia tower will come as a welcome break to you. It is situated in the excellent 'Badal Palace' complex located near Amar Sagar Gate. These were the homes of the former royal family. The Tazia tower is a 5-storied structure where each story has significance in its own. On each floor there is a balcony that is famous for their individual designs. The delicate pagoda like Tazia Tower rises from Badal Mahal (Cloud Palace). Rising in its five-tiered splendour, with each storey graced by a delicately carved balcony, the tower is of historical significance. Muslim craftsmen built it in the shape of a Tazia and gifted it to their royal patron.
Akal Wood Fossil Park	Top^
Wood Fossil Park, 18 kms from Jaisalmer is the Akal wood fossils park which is about 180 million years of age. Sea shells and massive fossilized tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert. The whole area is now preserved for posterity as a natural wonder. The area of wood fossil Park, Akal is 21 hectare. It is 15 kilometer form Jaisalmer on the Jaisalmer Barmer road. The fossilized wood logs are lying prostrate in random orientation. 25 wood logs are visible on the surface of which 10 are well exposed. The largest exposed log is 7 m. in length and 1.5 m.in. width. There are more wood fossils lying deep under the surface. Evidence of similar fossils are surfacing in many other areas in Jaisalmer region.
Desert National Park	Top^
Desert National Park is known for its fragile ecosystem and unique and diverse flora and fauna. Situated just 40 km from the golden city of Jaisalmer, the Desert National Park is one of the largest national parks of India covering an area over 3,150 sq km. Desert National Park is covered with compact salt lake bottoms, craggy rocks and scrub forests. A considerable area of the Desert National Park consists of sand dunes. To the lay person, there may be little about the desert that calls for "protection", leave alone support wildlife, but the desert has a fragile eco-system that has a unique variety of wildlife species. These include the somewhat ungainly great Indian bustard which, because of these efforts, has made a comeback in recent decades, though it is still on the endangered lists. Since the sandy desert has only a few grasses and shrubs, and a low scattering of indigenous trees, the leaf cover is limited.
Jain Temples	Top^
Jain temples were built in the 12th to 15th century within the Jaisalmer Fort. They are beautifully carved and dedicated to Rishabdevji and Sambhavnathji. The Gyan Bhandar, a library containing some extremely old manuscripts, is within the temple complex. The temples are open till 12 noon. There are also Shiva and Ganesh temples within the fort, which also close at 12 noon. One of the most splendid works of art is the Parswanath temple. The walls of this exquisite shrine is carved with the engravings of animals and humans. The dome of the temple is adorned by an Amalak and a beautiful water vase that contains a lotus. Due to antisocial insurgency the temple was under ruins but Seth Tharu Shah rebuilt it in the year 1615. The idol of Parshvanath lies within the iner region of the temple. This idol is built out of black stone having multiple hoods in the shape of serpents.
Sam Sand Dunes	Top^
Sam Sand Dunes are situated at a distance of approximately 42 km from the city of Jaisalmer. Located in the midst of the Thar Desert, these sand dunes are amongst the most famous ones in Rajasthan. Radiating laid-back vibes, Sam Sand Dunes, near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan totally enchant you with their fascinating sights. These 3km long, 1km wide and almost half a kilometer high sand dunes keep on shifting on a permanent basis. The area of the Rajasthan Sam Sand Dunes supports absolutely no plant life. The whirling air currents of this area match with those of the sandstorms in the Sahara. The Sam dunes are also the most picturesque spot around Jaisalmer, and perhaps the whole of western Rajasthan. Sitting there in the evening with the sun setting, listening to the ballads of the legendary lovers Moomal and Mahendra on the Jews harp or the narh (a traditional musical instrument), you might feel that time has come to a grinding halt. The silken smooth sands of Sam look like a tale out of the Merchant of Venice and camel safaris are much in vogue here.
Amar Sagar Lake	Top^
Amar Sagar is a small but pretty lake adjacent to a 17th century pleasure palace called the Amar Singh Palace. It was built by Maharawal Akhai Singh (reigned 1722-61) in honour of one of his predecessors Amar Singh. Next to the palace are pavilions with a large jetty leading down to Amar Sagar Lake. In close proximity to the lake are figureheads of various animals carved in stone. Located nearby are many wells and cenotaphs of the royal family as well as a large garden with a water tank in the middle known inevitably as the Amar Singh Tank. Being an ardent devotee of Shiva Amar Singh had a Shiv temple built in the complex – a tribute to the deity known as the Destroyer among the holy trinity of gods in the Hindu pantheon.
Lodurva Jaisalmer	Top^
Lodurva temples located at a distance of 15 kilometer, northwest of the Jaisalmer city. The history of Lodurva is older than that of Jaisalmer. In fact it was here that the Bhatti Rajputs reigned for a long time before setting up capital at Jaisalmer. Lodurva, the ancient capital of Bhatti Rajputs was once a flourishing city but lost most of the splendour when the Bhattis shifted their capital to Jaisalmer. The Jain Temples, rebuilt in the late 1970s, are the only reminders of the city's former magnificence. Lodurva is also known for its Jain temples. The temples are made of bright yellow sandstones. Though in ruins, the splendors of these Jain temples are clearly visible.
Jaisalmer Folklore Museum	Top^
The Folklore Museum Jaisalmer is located on the banks of Garsisar Lake in the Mehar Bagh Garden. The wide variety of exhibits in the museum offers a great experience to the visitors. On visiting the museum they get a detailed idea about the various significant historical events. The museum was established in the year 1984. It was the initiative of NK Sharma to establish this museum. In fact, his initiative helped in collecting paintings, post cards, old coins, manuscripts and various other articles. These articles have a huge value as they help visitors to get a glimpse of the rich history of Jaisalmer. The architecture of the museum is also a great attraction for the tourists. The splendid architecture of the museum helps in better distribution of the various exhibits of the museum. It helps visitors to have a hassle free tour of the museum. The museum is divided into six sections. Each of these six sections is worthy visiting. The various sections of the Folklore museum are Costumes, Photographs, Coterie of Paintings, Jewelry, Camel and horse ornaments and Fossils.
Haveli Museums	Top^
Jaisalmer has identified many forms of architecture in various eras and Havelis were mostly constructed during the medieval period when there was a fusion between the Rajputana and Islamic architecture. Haveli is a place which functioned as the residential area of the ministers and the landlords who were also known as the Wazirs. As they lived a royal life they had very big rooms as well as wide space. Jaisalmer has seen many landlords and Wazirs and there isnt any shortage of Havelis since then. Among the long listed Havelis, Patwon Ji ki Haveli gains prime importance as this is the first to be constructed in the city.
Desert Culture Center and Museum	Top^
Desert cultural center and museum is a place where you will get to know about the rich cultural heritage and customs of Jaisalmer, a popular destination in Rajasthan. So if you are short on time and cannot mug up in library, this is the place to be. The place is well maintained and harbors rare coins and manuscript related to Jaisalmer history and the history of Rajasthan in whole. This museum has some eye-catching collection of traditional Rajasthani textiles, utensils, weapons, musical instruments and fossils. One thing that is very popular among foreigners is 'Karal', the traditional opium mixing box. The place regularly organizes showcase programs for tourists. Try to get there before the mentioned time in order to avoid rush.
Bada Bagh	Top^
Bada Bagh meaning a Huge Garden is situated 6km away from the city on the Ramgarh road. This garden was custom-built by Maharawal Jait Singh during the 16th century, while it was ended by Lunakaran, his son, after Singhs death. Being a big garden it had three unique attractions which included a tank, a dam and a garden. Nearby we can find the Govardhan Stambh that signifies that it was built to honor the dam and tanks construction. Locally people called the Dam as Jait Bandh and the tank as Jait Sar correspondingly as they believe these names were based on the man who built them. It is believed that these are based on the name of the man who constructed them. The Jait Bandh is a dominating structure. It is about 1,200 feet in length and 350 feet in width. If you observe it closely you will notice that this has been built out of solid blocks of stone. The same material has been used for the construction of well as well as the tank.
KHURI	Top^
Khuri, located at a distance of 40 kms, has become one of the special places to visit in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The place is very peaceful boasting more and more tourists visiting the place. You can also see mud houses and Persian carpets patterns decorated with the straw. Khuri Sand Dunes accords visitors with a warm welcome as well as give you an idea about Glorious Rajasthan. Jaisalmer is the major tourist attraction place where guests come from all over the world throughout the year. Jaisalmer comprises an assortment of special attractions. Among all Khuri Sand Dunes is now picking up slowly by the visitors as a must visit place. Jaisalmer Hotels are the finest alternative for those who are looking forward to plan a trip to Khuri Sand Dunes. The accommodation facility in Jaisalmer is extraordinary providing each and every visitor all the basic amenities. There are a wide variety of hotels accessible and one can choose the hotel depending on their budget.