This isn’t a copy-paste travel guide. This is the actual trip my two friends and I took last Diwali – every place, every rupee, every mistake we made, written exactly the way it happened.
Last Diwali, three of us – Soumya (that’s me), Swoyomsidh, and Akash – packed our bags in Chandigarh and set off for Jaisalmer, the Golden City in the middle of the Thar Desert. We’re not a travel company, we’re not influencers, we’re just three friends who wanted a proper desert trip for Diwali instead of the usual crackers-and-sweets routine at home. What follows is everything we actually did, saw, ate, and spent – so if you’re searching for places to visit in Jaisalmer, you’re getting the real, unfiltered version.
Quick Jaisalmer Trip Overview
| Detail | Info |
| Travelers | 3 friends (Soumya, Swoyomsidh, Akash) |
| Route | Chandigarh → Delhi → Jaisalmer |
| Trip Duration | 1.5 days travel + 2.5 days in Jaisalmer |
| Dates | 19–20 October (Diwali trip) |
| Total Budget | ₹24,000 for all 3 of us |
| Stay | Hotel Golden Grand Jaisalmer, near Jaisalmer Fort |
If you’re short on time and just want the core answer: the best places to visit in Jaisalmer are Jaisalmer Fort, Patwon Ki Haveli area, the Fort Palace Museum, Gadisar Lake, and Sam Sand Dunes – and we covered all of them in under 3 days without rushing.
How We Reached Jaisalmer from Chandigarh (via Delhi)
We didn’t fly – mainly because we wanted the journey to feel like part of the adventure, not just a means to an end. We took an overnight train from Chandigarh to Delhi, reached early morning, and caught a morning train straight to Jaisalmer. Total travel time came to about a day and a half door-to-door.
If you’re planning a similar Jaisalmer trip from Chandigarh, this train-to-train route works well if you don’t mind a slightly longer journey – you save on flight costs and get to see the landscape slowly change from Punjab’s greenery to Rajasthan’s golden desert as the train rolls in.
Day 1 – Jaisalmer Fort, Local Markets & the Desert Safari Adventure
We reached Jaisalmer by afternoon, dropped our bags at the hotel, and went straight into exploring – no time to waste on a 3-day trip.
Exploring Jaisalmer Fort – Havelis, Palace Museum & Narrow Alleys
Before we even stepped inside, our guide gave us a quick bit of history that made the whole visit feel different – Jaisalmer was founded way back in 1156 AD by a Rajput king named Rawal Jaisal, who built this fort on Trikuta Hill after a succession battle with his own nephew. His descendants went on to rule Jaisalmer for nearly 850 years, right up until India’s independence. Knowing that this “living fort” we were walking through wasn’t just old architecture but the seat of one continuous royal line for almost nine centuries made every carved doorway and narrow alley feel a lot more real. (If you want the full story, we’ve written a separate deep-dive on Rawal Jaisal and the history of Jaisalmer.)
Jaisalmer Fort is genuinely one of those places photos don’t do justice to. It’s a living fort – people actually live, run shops, and run cafés inside its walls, which makes it feel completely different from a “monument.” There’s no entry fee to walk into the fort itself, but if you want to go inside the old royal palace section (which you should), it costs somewhere around ₹150–250 per person.
Inside, we walked through the Fort Palace Museum, wandered narrow sandstone alleys, and stopped at a couple of the small cafés built right into the old haveli structures – sipping chai with a view over the entire golden city below.
Sam Sand Dunes: Jeep Safari, Camel Ride with Makhna & That ATV Scam
From the fort, we headed out to Sam Sand Dunes, about an hour outside the city, for the desert safari – probably the single most-anticipated part of the whole trip.
We did both a jeep safari and a camel ride. The jeep safari was pure fun – dune-bashing with the wind hitting your face, standing on the back of the jeep as it climbs and drops over the sand.
The camel ride is where things got memorable for the wrong (but hilarious) reasons. Our camel was named Makhna, and Makhna apparently had one rule: walk anywhere except the actual path. He wandered off-route so many times it genuinely felt like a free rollercoaster ride through the dunes. We tipped the camel owner ₹50 extra just because of how much we laughed.
A word of caution if you’re going: at Sam Dunes, random local operators will approach you offering ATV or bike rides, promising a long 5–10 km ride and even letting you drive. We fell for it – the “long ride” turned out to be barely 2–3 minutes, and after bargaining down from their asking price of ₹1,000, we still ended up paying ₹750 for basically nothing. If you want an ATV ride, book it through your hotel or a known operator in advance, not from someone who walks up to you on the dunes.
📸 [INSERT IMAGE] — Group riding the ATV on the dunes 📸 [INSERT IMAGE] — Group on top of the jeep (Amar Resort safari) 📸 [INSERT IMAGE] — Sitting in the back of the safari jeep 📸 [INSERT IMAGE] — With Makhna the camel 📸 [INSERT IMAGE] — Silhouette shot at sunset on the dunes
Sunset at Sam Dunes & the Cultural Night Program at Camp
The desert sunset at Sam Dunes is the kind of thing that’s hard to explain until you’ve sat there watching it happen – the entire dune field turns gold, then orange, then a deep blue as the temperature drops fast. We just sat there for a while, not talking, just watching.
That evening we checked into the desert camp (booked through our hotel) for the night, where the camp put on a full cultural program – folk dance, a fire dance performance, and live Rajasthani music around a bonfire. It’s the kind of evening that makes the whole trip feel complete.
One thing to know if you’re booking a camp through your hotel: our hotel didn’t mention upfront that once you move to the camp for the night, your hotel room is no longer “yours” – you have to leave your bags at the reception instead. They did let us store our things at reception even after checkout, but it caught us off guard, so ask about this clearly before booking.
Day 2 – Gadisar Lake, Puppet Show & Diwali in the Golden City
Boating at Gadisar Lake
Gadisar Lake is a peaceful contrast to the desert – a historic man-made reservoir surrounded by small temples, shrines, and beautifully carved chhatris (cenotaph-style pavilions) right on the water. We went boating here in the early evening, and the architecture around the lake, especially the carved gateway structures reflecting in the water, is genuinely one of the most photogenic spots in Jaisalmer.
Kathputli (Puppet) Show at One Teacher’s Museum
One thing almost no one talks about when listing places to visit in Jaisalmer is the traditional Kathputli (puppet) show. We watched ours at a small local puppet museum called “One Teacher’s Museum” (Lok Kathputli Kala Kendra) – a modest little place, but the puppeteer’s skill in making these wooden string-puppets tell an entire story is impressive to watch live. If you’re in Jaisalmer, don’t skip this – it’s a piece of Rajasthani culture that’s slowly disappearing and worth experiencing in person rather than just reading about.
Celebrating Diwali in Jaisalmer – Diyas & Fireworks
Since we were there on Diwali itself, we spent part of the evening exploring the old city lanes lit up with diyas, sitting for a while in one of the old haveli courtyards surrounded by candlelight, before catching the fireworks lighting up the night sky over the fort. Celebrating Diwali in a desert city surrounded by 800-year-old sandstone architecture is not something you forget easily.
Shopping in Jaisalmer – What We Bought
Jaisalmer’s markets are full of handicrafts, but we kept it simple. I picked up a clay bird-shaped whistle – you fill it with water and blow into it, and it makes a sound exactly like birds chirping, which is such a unique little souvenir. I also grabbed a half-sleeve shirt designed in Jaisalmer’s signature desert-sand color palette with a Rajasthani print – something I still wear back home as a reminder of the trip.
What We Ate in Jaisalmer (Real Food Recommendations)
Food was one of the best parts of this trip. At a local Rajasthani restaurant near the fort, we tried:
- Dal Baati Churma – the signature Rajasthani thali dish, and honestly worth building a meal around
- Chaas (buttermilk) – perfect for the desert heat
- Saag – simple, comforting, and different from Punjabi saag
- Gatte ki Sabzi – a gram-flour dumpling curry that was new to all three of us and became an instant favorite
Where We Stayed – Hotel Golden Grand Jaisalmer (Honest Review)
We stayed at Hotel Golden Grand Jaisalmer, located conveniently close to Jaisalmer Fort – a big plus since we were walking to the fort area often. It cost us ₹2,000 per person per night.
What worked: great location, easy access to the fort and old city, and the hotel arranged our desert camp booking for us. What to watch out for: as mentioned earlier, they don’t clearly explain upfront that your room isn’t held for you while you’re at the camp overnight – so clarify this at check-in, and ask if they’ll store your bags at reception (ours did, even post-checkout).
Jaisalmer Trip Budget for 3 People / 3 Days (₹24,000 Breakdown)
Our total spend for all three of us, across the whole trip, was ₹24,000. Here’s an approximate breakdown of where it went:
| Category | Approx. Cost |
| Train travel (Chandigarh–Delhi–Jaisalmer, round trip) | ₹7,000 |
| Hotel stay (Golden Grand Jaisalmer) | ₹6,000 |
| Desert camp package (jeep safari + camel ride + dinner + cultural program) | ₹6,000 |
| Food (across all 3 days) | ₹2,500 |
| Shopping, museum/puppet show entry, fort palace entry, ATV mishap & tips | ₹2,500 |
| Total | ₹24,000 |
(This is an approximate split based on our overall spend – actual costs can vary depending on season, bargaining, and how much shopping you do.)
Our Honest Tips for Anyone Visiting Jaisalmer
- Bargain at your hotel for the desert camp price – hotels mark it up, and they can reduce it if you push a little.
- Don’t book ATV/bike rides from random people who approach you at Sam Dunes – confirm duration and price in writing beforehand, or book through your hotel.
- Ask upfront about your room status during the camp night – you may need to shift your belongings to reception.
- Carry a light jacket for the desert night – temperatures drop fast once the sun sets, even if the day was hot.
- Visit during Diwali if you can – the old city lit up with diyas is a completely different experience from a regular trip.
Places to Visit in Jaisalmer – Quick List (Recap)
- Jaisalmer Fort
- Fort Palace Museum
- Gadisar Lake
- Sam Sand Dunes (jeep safari + camel ride)
- One Teacher’s Museum (Kathputli puppet show)
- Old City Bazaars for shopping
FAQs About Visiting Jaisalmer
What are the best places to visit in Jaisalmer? Jaisalmer Fort, Gadisar Lake, and Sam Sand Dunes are the must-visit spots, along with the Fort Palace Museum and the old city’s havelis and bazaars.
How many days are enough for Jaisalmer? 2.5–3 days is enough to cover the fort, lake, desert safari, cultural program, and local markets comfortably, as we did.
How to reach Jaisalmer from Delhi? There are direct overnight and morning trains from Delhi to Jaisalmer, making it an easy and affordable route.
Is Jaisalmer Fort free to enter? Yes, entry into the fort itself is free, but visiting the old royal palace inside costs around ₹150–250 per person.
What is the best time to visit Jaisalmer? October to March, when the weather is cool enough to comfortably explore the desert and the fort. Visiting around Diwali adds an extra festive layer to the trip.
Is Jaisalmer a budget-friendly destination? Yes – our entire 3-day trip for 3 people, including travel, stay, safari, food, and shopping, cost around ₹24,000.
Final Thoughts
Jaisalmer isn’t just a “places to visit” checklist – it’s forts that still have people living in them, a camel named Makhna who had his own idea of a good time, a puppet show run out of a small local museum, and Diwali diyas glowing against 800-year-old sandstone walls. If you’re planning your own trip, we hope this real story – mistakes, budget, and all – helps you plan a better one than the generic guides out there.
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