Culture & Heritage · 2 min read
A Night in the Thar: Jaisalmer’s Golden Fort and the Sam Dunes
A 12th-century sandstone fort, carved merchant havelis and an evening of camels, folk music and dinner on the dunes.
Far out in the Thar Desert, Jaisalmer glows gold in the late afternoon light. It is one of the most atmospheric stops on any Rajasthan journey.
The fort and the havelis
The 12th-century fort is the highlight of a visit — a living citadel whose lanes still hold homes, temples and shops. Below it, the merchant mansions of Patwon ki Haveli and Salim Singh ki Haveli are covered in astonishingly fine stone carving. Gadisar Lake and the royal cenotaphs at Bada Bagh complete the day.
Evening on the Sam dunes
In the evening we drive out to the Sam sand dunes for a camel ride at sunset, Rajasthani folk music and dance, and a traditional dinner. Many travellers choose to stay the night in a desert camp, falling asleep under a very wide sky.
Getting there
Jaisalmer is a long drive from anywhere, so we usually pair it with Bikaner or Jodhpur and allow two nights to make the journey worthwhile.
