One often overlooks the beauty of this city in Rajasthan.
When one thinks of Rajasthan, they are immediately drawn to the blue city and the city of lakes. I really had my friends skip Jaisalmer from their itinerary and many people like them overlook the beauty of this city.
Although, known as the golden city of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer is filled with not only sand dunes but is refreshingly vibrant. As soon as you enter Jaisalmer, you are greeted by the walls of the fort in all its glory from all sides.
What to do when in Jaisalmer?
Walk in the lanes of the fort
We hired a guide to inform us about the rich history of this living fort. As we made our way across alleyways where people have been living since centuries, we encountered people going about their daily routine as tourists marvelled at the fort. The area outside the fort is lined by souvenir shops and vendors selling jewellery.
Sunrise at Gadisar
Everyone talks about the beauty of Gadisar lake during sunset and the multiple activities that are lined, but according to me, the true beauty lies when you walk in the city at the break of dawn surrounded by an eerie silence, nip in the air as you hear the chirping sound of birds. It’s truly a sight to behold.
Food walk
One cannot be in Jaisalmer and miss the food walk. You’ll find some of the best and authentic Rajasthani vegetarian and non vegetarian food in the city, no you absolutely cannot miss the Rajasthani thali. A list of places to eat in Jaisalmer is provided here.
A stay inside the fort
There are multiple stay options available in Jaisalmer that cater to different budgets, and you can avail the feeling of living at a royal place at a fraction of the cost as you soak the feeling of what it is like to be a part of history.
Desert Safari
If you are making Jaisalmer a pitstop then you need to enjoy its bounty in all its glory and the dunes are an essential part of it. You will find multiple operators throughout the city offering customised itineraries ranging from a half day tour to an overnight escapade. While the day safari includes Jeep safari, camel safari, cultural dance and dinner, the true essence has to be of living in the desert and dining amongst the dunes. An experience that has been curated now to cater to the tourists and will leave you wanting more and one you should not compromise on is dining under the stars. I would not say it is one of the cheapest option, especially if you are budget travelling, but a once in a lifetime opportunity that you should splurge on, you never know when you will be back. More on the experience here.
I hope Jaisalmer astonishes and surprises you in the way I experienced it and I cannot wait for you to share your stories with me.
Detailed blog coming soon!