Jaisalmer Rules and Etiquette for Tourists

Temple rules

The Jain temples inside the fort and at Lodurva follow clear customs. Visitor hours for the fort temples are usually about 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

• No leather: belts, wallets, bags and watch straps made of leather must be left outside. Carry a cloth bag that morning.
• Shoes off: remove footwear and socks where asked; floors can be hot by late morning.
• Dress: cover shoulders and knees.
• Menstruation: some Jain temples ask women who are menstruating not to enter. It is a temple rule and visitors are expected to follow it.
• Food and photos: do not carry food inside, and pay the camera fee where one applies.

Hindu temples, including Tanot Mata, also expect shoes off and quiet behaviour during aarti.

The fort is a neighbourhood

Jaisalmer Fort is one of the few forts in the world where people still live. Treat its lanes as someone’s street.

• Keep your voice down, especially early in the morning and at night.
• Do not step into open doorways or courtyards unless invited.
• Ask before photographing homes, people or children, and respect a refusal.
• Use water sparingly if you stay inside; the monument is fragile.
• Do not climb on old walls, jharokhas or carvings for photos.

Drones and border-area photography

Jaisalmer lies close to the international border and has an air force station, so the airspace around the city and the whole border belt is restricted. Flying a drone here generally needs prior permission under national drone rules, and local police may stop unapproved flights. If you want aerial shots, ask your hotel or a licensed operator to check the current rules well in advance. Rules and enforcement change, so treat any advice as a starting point rather than a clearance.

On the road to Longewala and Tanot, never photograph army or BSF posts, vehicles or personnel. Carry original ID and follow instructions at checkpoints. Our permit guide explains who can go where.

Dunes, litter and camel welfare

Plastic bottles and wrappers blow across the sand and harm grazing animals. Carry your rubbish back to camp and choose camps that use refillable water.

Camels are working animals. Pick handlers whose animals look healthy, with no open sores, and avoid rides in the hottest part of the day. One adult per camel is kinder on long rides, and it is fair to ask for a gentler pace. Do not feed camels snacks or sweets, and avoid standing directly behind them.

Keep music low at night, keep bonfires inside marked areas, and leave desert shrubs and burrows undisturbed — they shelter lizards, beetles and foxes. Our safari guide has more on choosing well.

Kuldhara and protected grasslands

Kuldhara is a protected heritage site, not a ghost-hunting playground. Do not climb crumbling walls, scratch names or remove stones, and leave before closing — entry is not allowed after sunset.

In and around Desert National Park, stay on marked tracks. Off-road driving damages the grassland that the endangered Great Indian Bustard depends on, and it can breach forest rules. Enter only with the forest department permit and keep noise low.

Dress and alcohol

Jaisalmer is conservative in its old quarters. Modest clothing avoids stares and is expected at temples; swimwear belongs only at hotel pools.

Alcohol is sold legally through licensed shops and at many hotels and camps. Drinking in public places, near temples or inside the fort lanes is frowned upon, and drunk behaviour at camps disturbs other guests. Never drive after drinking, especially on unlit desert roads.

Public displays of affection draw attention in the old city and villages, so keep them low-key. At camps and resorts the mood is more relaxed, but family groups are often nearby.

Festivals, pilgrims and local customs

During festivals such as Gangaur and Diwali, and the Desert Festival, processions and prayers take priority in the lanes. Step aside for processions, ask before joining a dance, and do not push to the front for photos.

Pilgrims heading to shrines such as Ramdevra and Tanot often walk long distances along the highways, especially in late summer. Drive slowly and patiently near them. At homes and village stays, accept tea or water with your right hand, remove shoes if your hosts do, and ask before entering the kitchen or prayer area.

Cows wander freely in the old city and are respected. Give them room, do not feed them plastic, and watch your step.

Tipping and fair dealing

Tips are welcome but not compulsory. Musicians at camps, camel handlers, drivers and guides rely on them, so a small amount for good service goes a long way. Agree prices before a ride, a photo with a performer or a guided walk, and pay what was agreed.

Buy entry tickets only at official counters and keep them until you leave the site. If someone offers a "special permit" or a shortcut past a queue, politely decline and check with the ticket office.

Quick do and don’t list

For more practical advice, see our travel tips.