Top Things to Do in Jaisalmer: Living Fort, Sam Dunes & Desert Safaris

Introduction to the Golden City: Jewel of the Thar Desert

Rising like a golden mirage from the shimmering sands of the Great Indian Thar Desert, Jaisalmer is one of the world's most visually captivating medieval desert cities. Founded in 1156 AD by Rawal Jaisal, a Rajput king of the Bhatti clan, the city flourished for centuries as a vital trading post along ancient camel caravan routes linking India to Persia, Arabia, and Central Asia. Built almost entirely from local golden-yellow Jurassic sandstone, every fortress wall, intricately carved mansion (haveli), and narrow cobblestone alley glows with a radiant amber hue under the desert sun, earning Jaisalmer its well-deserved title of the 'Golden City'.

Whether you are embarking on an adventurous road trip documented in our guide to Delhi to Jaisalmer road trip in the Thar Desert or arriving by direct rail via how to reach Jaisalmer from Delhi, Jaisalmer offers an unforgettable blend of living medieval heritage and thrilling desert adventure. From exploring one of the world's last surviving living forts to sleeping under starlit dunes, here are the absolute top things to do in Jaisalmer.

1. Wander Inside the Living Golden Fort (Sonar Qila)

Unlike almost every other fort in India which functions purely as a museum or historical monument, Jaisalmer Fort (Sonar Qila, or the Golden Fort) is a rare 'living fort'. Over one-fourth of Jaisalmer's old town population—roughly 4,000 residents—still lives, works, cooks, and sleeps inside the fort's ancient 99 bastions, continuing centuries-old family traditions within its fortified walls. Many travelers choose to stay right inside these historic walls at authentic properties featured in our guide to the best heritage hotels inside Jaisalmer Fort.

Wander through the maze of narrow sandstone alleys to discover:

• The Fort Palace (Raj Mahal): The former seven-storey royal residence of the Maharawals, featuring intricately carved stone screens (jalis), mirrored chambers, and panoramic rooftop balconies overlooking the desert plains.
• Cannon Point: The highest rampart point, where historic brass cannons point out over the horizon and offer spectacular 360-degree views of the golden city sprawling below.
• Artisanal Sandstone Shops: Local stalls selling hand-carved yellow fossil stone pottery, antique brassware, camel-leather journals, and colorful Rajasthani patchwork tapestries.

2. Marvel at the 7 Ancient Dilwara-Style Jain Temples

Hidden within the fortified lanes of Jaisalmer Fort lies a breathtaking labyrinth of seven interconnected Jain temples built between the 12th and 15th centuries. Dedicated to various Jain Tirthankaras, including Chandraprabhu, Rikhabdev, and Parshvanath, these temples represent the absolute zenith of medieval stone filigree carving.

Every square inch of the golden sandstone walls, vaulted ceilings, and ornate pillars is carved with astonishing delicacy—depicting celestial maidens (apsaras), musicians, dancing peacocks, and intricate geometric mandalas that rival the famous Dilwara temples of Mount Abu. The complex also houses the Gyan Bhandar, one of India's oldest and rarest collections of illustrated palm-leaf and paper Jain manuscripts dating back to the 11th century.

3. Experience Camel Safaris and Dune Bashing at Sam Sand Dunes

Located approximately 42 kilometres west of Jaisalmer, Sam Sand Dunes is the classic Thar desert adventure playground, featuring towering 30-to-60-foot wind-swept golden dunes that ripple across the horizon. As covered in our comprehensive guide to sand dune bashing and quad biking in Jaisalmer, thrill-seekers can choose from an array of heart-pumping desert sports:

• Camel Safari: Mount a decorated camel for a gentle, rhythmic trek into the rolling dunes during the golden hour, watching the sky shift from blazing orange to deep violet as the sun sinks beneath the desert horizon.
• 4x4 Jeep Dune Bashing: Strap into an open-top Mahindra Thar or modified 4x4 vehicle as expert desert drivers drift, climb, and plunge down steep sand crests.
• Quad Biking: Ride high-powered all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) across designated sand tracks, kicking up golden dust clouds against the desert backdrop.
• Paramotoring: Soar high above the Thar Desert on a powered paraglider for an exhilarating aerial view of the desert landscape.

4. Spend a Musical Night at a Thar Desert Glamping Resort

Spending a night under the desert stars is the quintessential Jaisalmer experience. Across Sam and the quieter dunes of Khuri, premium desert encampments, detailed in our curated list of best desert glamping resorts in Jaisalmer, offer luxury Swiss tents equipped with air-conditioning, attached modern bathrooms, and private verandas.

In the evening, guests gather around a central open-air campfire for a magical cultural extravaganza. Savor steaming cups of spiced chai and freshly fried pakodas while local Langa and Manganiyar musicians sing soulful desert melodies on traditional sarangis and khartals. Watch mesmerizing Kalbelia dancers swirl in mirror-embroidered black skirts, balancing stacks of brass pots on their heads, before dining on a lavish Rajasthani buffet featuring Dal Baati Churma and Ker Sangri.

5. Admire the Intricate Stone Architecture of Patwon Ki Haveli

Patwon Ki Haveli is not just a single residence, but a majestic cluster of five grand five-storey mansions constructed between 1805 and 1860 by Ghuman Chand Patwa, an immensely wealthy Jain merchant and banker who had individual wings built for his five sons. It is the largest, most ornate, and architecturally sophisticated haveli in Jaisalmer.

The facade is a masterclass in yellow sandstone masonry, boasting over 60 intricately carved jharokha balconies, arched colonnades, and perforated stone jaalis that resemble delicate lacework. Inside, visitors can wander through restored period rooms containing vintage European furniture, Belgium cut-glass chandeliers, hand-painted ceiling murals depicting mythological tales, and antique jewelry vaults.

6. Explore the Eerie Abandoned Village of Kuldhara

Located roughly 18 kilometres southwest of Jaisalmer lies Kuldhara, a hauntingly picturesque ghost village steeped in mystery and folklore. Established in the 13th century by prosperous and devout Paliwal Brahmins, the village was once a thriving agricultural settlement featuring over 800 sandstone houses, temples, and stepwells.

Legend has it that in the early 1800s, the tyrannical and lecherous Prime Minister Salim Singh set his eyes on the beautiful daughter of the village chief. To protect their honor, the entire population of Kuldhara and 84 neighboring villages abandoned their homes overnight in complete secrecy, placing a chilling curse that no one would ever be able to inhabit the village again. Walking through the silent, crumbling sandstone ruins, roofless homes, and ancient temple sanctum under the vast desert sky evokes a palpable sense of historical intrigue.

7. Go Boating on the Sacred Waters of Gadisar Lake

Constructed in 1367 AD by Maharawal Gadsi Singh, Gadisar Lake was once the sole rainwater conservation reservoir supplying drinking water to the entire desert fortress of Jaisalmer. Enclosed by yellow sandstone ghats, ancient cenotaphs, holy shrines, and decorative stone chhatris standing directly in the water, the lake is an oasis of calm.

Enter through the magnificent Tillon Ki Prokhol, a carved stone archway built by a royal courtesan. Visitors can rent pedal boats or rowboats to glide past submerged stone pavilions while feeding the lively catfish that gather around the ghats. During winter months, the lake attracts hundreds of migratory waterfowl, including spot-billed ducks, pelicans, and demoiselle cranes.

8. Day Trip to Tanot Mata Temple and Longewala Border Memorial

For a patriotic and spiritual desert excursion, take a 120-kilometre day drive to the Indo-Pak border region. First, visit the revered Tanot Mata Temple, where legend recounts that during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, over 3,000 Pakistani bombs dropped around the temple failed to explode; unexploded shells are still on display inside the museum managed by the Border Security Force (BSF). Continue 38 km further to the Longewala War Memorial, the historic battlefield made famous during the 1971 Battle of Longewala, where you can see captured Pakistani tanks, military bunkers, and an inspiring audiovisual war documentary.

Conclusion

Jaisalmer is a desert fantasy brought to life—a timeless realm where golden fortresses rise above shifting sands, medieval mansions display impossible stone craftsmanship, and starlit nights pulse with soulful folk music. Whether you are navigating the living lanes of Sonar Qila, riding camels across Sam Sand Dunes, or exploring the haunting ruins of Kuldhara, the Golden City offers an unforgettable adventure into Rajasthan's desert soul.