Thar Heritage Museum, Jaisalmer (2024) - Images, Timings

Thar Heritage Museum , Jaisalmer Overview

Founded by L Narayan Khatri, the Thar Heritage Museum is a historical reservoir. L Narayan was an eminent scholar of the Jaisalmer folklore. The museum not just tells you the times of Jaisalmer but also showcases the rich culture, heritage, folk art and architectural style of Rajasthan. It has a fascinating assortment of Jaisalmer artifacts, fossils, instruments, displays of types of kitchen equipment, turbans, birth & death customs and a lot more.

Apart from this, the museum houses a unique sea fossil collection, documents, postcards, coins, ornaments of the desert horses, ships, manuscripts, and weapons. Collections of sea fossils will tell us how the land once a sea eventually became the Thar Desert. The museum also engages its visitors with the snakes and ladder game and an amiable puppet show narrated by Shri L.N Khatri, who is also the curator of the museum, presents the spirit of the Rajasthani culture. It is a unique amalgamation of the history and heritage of Thar. The nearby attractions where one can pay a visit after the Thar Heritage Museum are Jaisalmer folklore museum, Jaisalmer fortress, and the Silkroute art gallery

Things to Do at the Heritage Museum

The USP of the Heritage Museum in Jaisalmer is its unique Puppet Show that is held here every day in the evenings. The show is refreshing take on the traditional Rajasthani culture and it captures the very essence of the customs, traditions and history of Jaisalmer. The show ends with a narration by Mr. Khatri himself. Watching the puppet show is a must-do thing in the museum.
The premises also house a quaint handicrafts shop run my Mr. Khatri himself, under the name of ‘Desert Handicrafts’. The shop is situated adjacent to the museum and is a big hit among the visitors. You can find old Urdu inscriptions, vintage stamps, old spoons and ancient articles like that. You can also buy some of these products and carry them home with you as classic souvenirs.
There is another section that goes by the name of ‘Snakes & Ladders’. This segment educates the visitors about the principles of Hinduism and its spiritual journey. You can have a look at the teachings once you are in the museum.
Take a tour of the galleries and admire the various relics, artefacts and exhibits that were discovered during the excavations and are displayed here.
Do not forget to visit the section of the ancient period which displays articles and products from the bygone era like utensils, paintings, coins, toys etc.
There is also a segment with just photographs of the past rulers of Jaisalmer and their lifestyle. The huge life sized portraits picture the royalty of the town in all their splendour and glory. Some of these are also paintings of their extravagant cars, their foreign trips etc. which is truly jaw- dropping.
The museum do not just display the photographs of the rulers but also of the olden day Jaisalmer. It is amazing to witness how much the city has changed over the last few decades. You can compare the old and the new and watch for yourself.

Best Time to Visit

Although any time of the day and the year is a suitable time to visit the magnificent museum. However, it is recommended that you make a visit in the evening so you can witness the unique puppet show here.

How to Reach

The Heritage Museum is located in the heart of the city in Artist Colony in Malka Pol in Jaisalmer. The city is well connected with an extensive network of public and private transport. You can either ride a public service bus or share an auto rickshaw to get here. Alternatively, you can hire a private cab or drive down to the spot on your own.