Places to Visit Near Jaisalmer

Filled with vibrant colours, rich heritage, and warm hospitality, Barmer represents the true cultural beauty of Rajasthan. A part of the desert lands of Thar, it shares borders with Pakistan on the west and Jaisalmer and Jalore to the north and south, respectively. The historic town of the 13th Century is rooted in its flamboyant culture which is visible in its colorful houses, adorned with folk motifs and vibrantly dressed people. Barmer is also home to the majestic Barmer Fort and a lot of ancient temples. A visit to Barmer gets more enjoyable than ever if you get to be a part of the Barmer festival which takes place during March.

Distance from Jaisalmer: 154 km

Kuldhara Village, located around 20 kilometres from the Golden City Jaisalmer is one of the most interesting and intriguing attraction sites that you should absolutely include in your itinerary. The village, rich with its fair share of legends and myths, is said to be a spooky and haunted village. The abandoned and eerily beautiful appearance of it, standing solitary amidst the vast stretches of desert, lives up to its reputation. There have been stories of ghostly and paranormal activities in and around the village, but like always no one could provide any solid proof of it. Visit it, if you wish to be surrounded by an air of mystery.

Distance from Jaisalmer: 19 km

Situated near the town of Jaisalmer, Desert national park is among the largest of its kind in the country, encompassing an area of 3162 sq kms. The park covers a huge area extending from Jaisalmer/Barmer all the way to the India-Pakistan border. In spite of being right in the middle of an arid, dry, and sandy desert, the desert national park presents a wonderful opportunity to see the wildlife such as camels, desert fox, Bengal fox, chinkara, wolves, desert cat, and the Blackbuck.

Distance from Jaisalmer: 46 km

Sam Sand Dunes in Jaisalmer is an offbeat natural tourist destination in Rajasthan right in the middle of the Thar Desert. Right in the middle of the historical forts and colourful markets, Sam Sand Dunes are among the best and most authentic in the country, some rising as tall as 30-60 metres tall. Lying around 40-42 kilometres from the golden city of Jaisalmer, the dunes are located over calm and undulating stretches of golden yellow sand stretching for around 2 kilometres along the borders of the Jaisalmer Desert National Park.

Distance from Jaisalmer: 39 km

The Akal Wood Fossil Park in Jaisalmer is one of the destinations dedicated to the prehistoric era. It is located on the Barmer road around 17 km away from Jaisalmer city. Akal Wood Fossil Park is the pride of Jaisalmer city; it is the National Geological Monument of India. Spread over 21 hectares of land, the park lies in the region of the potential geological park in Jaisalmer fossil belt. The barren and rocky terrain has about a dozen of fossilized wood logs and exposed tree trunks protected by iron grilled cages and tin sheet roofing.

Distance from Jaisalmer: 18 km

Khuri is a quaint little hamlet in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It is here that travellers can get a complete traditional desert-like experience in the middle of a vast expanse of sand dunes. The village is located in the Desert National Park and draws a considerable number of tourists each year. It has some resorts, camps and guest houses offering authentic food and humble accommodations. There are also a number of entertainment options and other activities for a complete holiday experience. It might seem like the place is in the middle of nowhere, but those who want to escape their stressful lives are sure to find some peace and serenity in Khuri.

Distance from Jaisalmer: 50 km

Ramdevra Temple is a sacred temple to the folk deity of Rajasthan - Baba Ramdevji. It is situated 12 kms from Pokhran on Jodhpur to Jaisalmer road. It is believed that Baba Ramdevji took samadhi (conscious exit from the mortal body) at Ramdevra in 1459 AD. After this, the Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner constructed the temple around his Samadhi. The temple is the eternal resting place of Baba Ramdevji, a saint of the 14th century. It is believed that the saint is the incarnation of Lord Krishna by Hindus and Ramshah Pir by the Muslims who had miraculous powers and devoted his life to the upliftment of downtrodden people of the society.

Distance from Jaisalmer: 116 km

Khaba Fort in Jaisalmer is ruined citadel situated amidst the scorching heat of the Thar Desert. The history of this barren, eerie, and mystic village, dates back to the 13th century. The architecture once belonged to the Paliwal Brahmins of the Kuldhara village who fled the town in the 19th century leaving behind a ghost town. The stairs at the fort entrance lead to the focal point of the entire village and the surrounding countryside. You can also walk through the ramparts and the quiet streets of the fort to the mystical Kuldhara village that stretches from the base of the fort for a spooky experience.

Distance from Jaisalmer: 35 km

The Surya Gate is one of the four entry gates to the 12th century, Jaisalmer Fort. The fort on the Trikuta hill has four successive gates Akai, Surya, Ganesh and Hawa through which the visitors need to pass through. A vital feature of the gate is that it is constructed on a bend, the reason behind building barriers in such a manner is said to stem from military strategies. As elephants were war horses in the ancient era, it took mighty power to break down walls, but with gates situated on a curve, it takes a greater ability to break through.

Distance from Jaisalmer: 82 km

Balagarh fort was built by the Marwar Thakur, Rao Maldeo in the 14th Century, it is otherwise known as the Pokhran Fort. Pokhran means the place of five mirages enclosed by sandy, rocky, salt ranges. Although a small temple made of red sandstone, the fort is dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is situated in a remote region of the Thar desert which also served as a test site for India's first underground nuclear weapon detonations.

Distance from Jaisalmer: 110 km