When it comes to places to see in Jaisalmer, you can never run out of choices as the city is brimming with wondrous and mystifying attractions. The stories of bravery and battles to sacrifices and romance define the golden history of the ‘Golden City.’ You would be mesmerised with the ancient and royal architectures here and the vastness of Thar Desert. The vibrant markets, over flowing with beautiful and colourful turbans, umbrellas and kurtas simply look amazing. Adding to the city’s grandeur is the unique Jaisalmer Fort, which is one of the largest completely and most beautifully preserved fortified cities alive. Also a World Heritage Site declared by the UNESCO, this fort was constructed in the year 1156 by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal. Built using beautiful yellow sandstone, the walls of the fort turn all gold with sun’s light during dawn.
For a person looking from far, the fort looks like massive yellow desert in the evening. In fact, all the houses here are also painted in yellow colour giving a golden hue to the city. Simply stunning it looks. The vibrant market inside and people living there are quite warm and helpful. Dressed in their traditional turbans and big moustaches, the men here extremely nice and women dressed in mirrored lehengas and all decked up in jewellery are absolutely beautiful.
Tourist places in Jaisalmer also include Gadisar Lake, Desert National Park, Kuldhara and Patwon ki Haveli, among others. A travel guide to the golden city includes magnificent Thar Desert too which is a relief for the sore eyes. One of the prominent places to explore in Jaisalmer is the grand and lovely Patwaon ki Haveli. It is one of the most important havelis in the city with a history. It’s a group of five residences set in a narrow alley of the city and you’ll not be able to take your eyes off its beautiful architecture. The mirrored halls and the intricate stone work inside will definitely blow your brains out. The place looks no less than a palace. The superb facade and delicate stone work are stand testimony to the brilliance of the artisans from the bygone era. Also it tells the tale of the wealth of its owner Patwa, who was a gold and silver trader.
When in Jaisalmer, you cannot miss out on visiting the Gadisar Lake which is absolutely beautiful. Located in the outskirts of the city, this vast lake was once the main source of water in Jaisalmer. This artificial lake was built sometime during the 1400 AD by the then Maharaja Maharawal Jaisal. There are several religious spots, lovely ghats and beautiful pavilions around this lake. You can also spot a number of beautiful exotic migratory birds if you visit the place during the winters. An extremely prominent place to visit in the city, tourists can enjoy boat rides in the lake here. The view of beautiful Trikuta Fort from the lake is quite a sight from the lake.