After experiencing Beaches and Mountains, I wanted to experience Desert which led me to choose Jaisalmer. The city is situated in the heart of Thar Desert. It is distinguished by its yellow sandstone architecture. There are beautiful Jain temples, fort, lakes and of course "The Thar". The city is very close to Pakistan Border. You can enjoy camel safari to Thar and camp under the sky for an unforgettable experience.
The Jaisalmer Fort stands as a crown atop the city and provides a beautiful contrast to the landscape. It has many magnificent temples all made of sandstone and lots of awesome stuff to shop and take home at negotiable rates! The fort is inhabited by people residing there for generations and has more than 100 hotels to stay.
We reached Jaisalmer in afternoon from Bangalore via Ahmedabad. We stayed in Gorbandh Palace, you can enjoy Royal stay here with good food and service. We visited Gadisar lake and Tanot Mata Mandir in the evening.
2nd day, we visited Bada Bagh, Jaisalmer Fort, Patwon ki Haveli, had Rajasthani cuisine, did shopping and enjoyed folk dance & song show at hotel in the evening.
The plan for 3rd day was camping in sand dunes and camel safari. We booked Damodra Desert Camp, there are many people who opt for Sam Sand Dunes, but that is very crowded and with lots of trash. If you want to spend quality time at Thar and camping, please avoid Sam Sand Dunes. We opted for Damodra Desert Camp, they have only 10 Swiss Tents and that's the reason services, hospitality and food is of great quality and very appreciating. Experience star gazing in the night along with folk dance, music and appetizers! You can also opt for zeep safari which is a thrilling experience. We visited Kuldhara village too, as it's on the way to Thar desert.
Best time to Visit - Oct to Feb, when mornings and evenings are very pleasant. 3 days are enough to explore the city.