Opens ~9 amFort
Jaisalmer Fort
A living sandstone fort, still home to a few thousand people.
- Time needed: 3–4 hrs
- Best time: In the morning
- Distance: In the city
- Entry: ~₹200 entry
Places to visit
Places to visit in Jaisalmer
Seven sights in the city, five out in the desert and two on the border road. Every card shows the distance from the city and the approximate ticket; open one for timings, history, tips and nearby stays.
In Jaisalmer city
The fort, havelis, lake and cenotaphs — all within a few kilometres.
Opens ~9 am
Opens ~9 amHaveli
Patwon ki Haveli
Five merchant mansions with stone carved like lace.
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hrs
- Best time: Late morning
- Distance: ~1 km away
- Entry: ~₹150 entry
Nathmal ki Haveli
Opens ~8 amHaveli
Nathmal ki Haveli
A prime minister's mansion carved by two brothers.
- Time needed: 30–45 min
- Best time: In the morning
- Distance: ~1 km away
- Entry: Free entry
Salim Singh ki Haveli
Opens ~8 amHaveli
Salim Singh ki Haveli
The peacock-roofed haveli of a powerful minister.
- Time needed: 45 min
- Best time: In the morning
- Distance: ~1 km away
- Entry: ~₹20 entry
Open · till ~9 pmLake
Gadisar Lake
The old rain-fed reservoir, ringed by shrines and ghats.
- Time needed: 1 hr
- Best time: At sunrise or sunset
- Distance: ~2 km away
- Entry: Free entry
Vyas Chhatri
Opens ~8 amCenotaphs
Vyas Chhatri
Sandstone cenotaphs and the city's best sunset over the fort.
- Time needed: 45 min
- Best time: At sunset
- Distance: ~2 km away
- Entry: ~₹50 entry
Opens ~8 amRoyal cenotaphs
Bada Bagh
Royal chhatris on a ridge, facing a field of wind turbines.
- Time needed: 1 hr
- Best time: At sunrise or sunset
- Distance: ~6 km away
- Entry: ~₹50 entry
Desert & dunes
Dunes, ghost villages and grassland, 15–60 km out.
Lodurva
Opens ~8 amOld capital & Jain temple
Lodurva
The Bhati capital before Jaisalmer, with a finely carved Jain temple.
- Time needed: 1 hr
- Best time: In the morning
- Distance: ~16 km away
- Entry: Free entry
Opens ~8 amAbandoned village
Kuldhara
A Paliwal Brahmin village left empty for two centuries.
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hrs
- Best time: Late afternoon
- Distance: ~18 km away
- Entry: ~₹10 entry
Camp seasonSand dunes
Sam Dunes
The big, lively dunes — camel rides, jeeps and camp nights.
- Time needed: Afternoon + overnight
- Best time: At sunset
- Distance: ~42 km away
- Entry: Free entry
Camp seasonSand dunes & village
Khuri Dunes
Quieter dunes beside a village of mud-and-thatch huts.
- Time needed: Afternoon + overnight
- Best time: At sunset
- Distance: ~45 km away
- Entry: Free entry
Desert National Park
Open · till ~5 pmNational park
Desert National Park
The Thar's protected grasslands, last stronghold of the Great Indian Bustard.
- Time needed: Half day
- Best time: Early morning
- Distance: ~45 km away
- Entry: ~₹100 entry
Border belt
War memorial and border temple, about 120 km north-west.
Opens ~9 amWar memorial
Longewala
Site of the 1971 desert battle, now an open-air museum.
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hrs
- Best time: Late morning
- Distance: ~120 km away
- Entry: Free entry
Open · till ~8 pmTemple
Tanot Mata
The BSF-run border temple famous from the 1965 and 1971 wars.
- Time needed: 1 hr
- Best time: At aarti time
- Distance: ~120 km away
- Entry: Free entry
On the map
The city sights sit within a few kilometres of the fort; the dunes are west, the border road north-west. Tap a pin to save a place. Full map with day routes.
The map needs JavaScript. Every place is also listed with its distance from the city.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins are approximate; use your phone map on the road.
At a glance
| Place | Distance | Indian | Foreign | Time needed | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaisalmer Fort | In the city | ~₹200 | ~₹600 | 3–4 hours | Morning, before 11 am |
| Patwon ki Haveli | ~1 km · 5 min | ~₹150 | ~₹250 | 1–1.5 hours | Late morning for light on the facades |
| Nathmal ki Haveli | ~1 km · 5 min | Free | Free | 30–45 minutes | Morning |
| Salim Singh ki Haveli | ~1 km · 5 min | ~₹20 | ~₹100 | 45 minutes | Morning |
| Gadisar Lake | ~2 km · 5–10 min | Free | Free | 1 hour | Sunrise or sunset |
| Vyas Chhatri | ~2 km · 10 min | ~₹50 | ~₹100 | 45 minutes | Sunset |
| Bada Bagh | ~6 km · 15 min | ~₹50 | ~₹100 | 1 hour | Sunrise or sunset |
| Lodurva | ~16 km · 25–30 min | Free | Free | 1 hour | Morning |
| Kuldhara | ~18 km · 30 min | ~₹10 | ~₹100 | 1–1.5 hours (2–3 hours with Khaba Fort) | Late afternoon, on the way to Sam |
| Sam Dunes | ~42 km · 50–60 min | Free | Free | Afternoon + overnight | From 3 pm for sunset; sunrise the next morning |
| Khuri Dunes | ~45 km · 1 hr | Free | Free | Afternoon + overnight | Sunset and early morning |
| Desert National Park | ~45 km · 1 hr (Sudasari area ~60 km) | ~₹100 | ~₹300 | Half day | Early morning, November–March |
| Longewala | ~120 km · 2–2.5 hr | Free | Free | 1–1.5 hours | Late morning, combined with Tanot |
| Tanot Mata | ~120 km · 2–2.5 hr | Free | Free | 1 hour | Aarti time, morning or evening |
Want a route that fits your days?
Tell us how long you have and who is travelling — we'll suggest an order that avoids the midday heat and backtracking.
Frequently asked questions
How many places can I see in one day in Jaisalmer?
Comfortably the fort, two havelis and Gadisar Lake in the morning, then Bada Bagh and Kuldhara on the way to the Sam dunes for sunset. That is a full, satisfying day.
Which places in Jaisalmer are free?
Walking into Jaisalmer Fort, Gadisar Lake, the dunes at Sam and Khuri and Tanot Mata temple are free. The fort palace museum, havelis, Bada Bagh and Kuldhara charge small tickets.
Is Tanot worth the drive?
If you like history and long desert drives, yes — it is about ~120 km · 2–2.5 hr each way and pairs well with Longewala. Carry original photo ID; see the permit guide.
Should I visit Sam or Khuri?
Sam for bigger dunes and more activities, Khuri for quiet and a village setting. Our comparison goes through it.
What is the best order to see Jaisalmer?
City sights in the morning while it is cool, desert places in the late afternoon. Kuldhara and Khaba Fort fit neatly on the drive to Sam.