Situated in the heart of the Thar desert, Jaisalmer is dominated by its 12C fort, which is surrounded by a long wall fortified with numerous bastions that have unfortunately been damaged by water seepage. The citadel, which is accessed via huge gat..

Jaisalmer was an important staging post on the caravan route between India and Persia, Arabia and the West. It therefore comes as no surprise that the town boasts a number of splendid havelis in pink-ochre sandstone, built by the rich merchants of ..

The seven Jain temples of Jaisalmer, built in yellow sandstone like the other buildings in the fort , are home to a vast array of magnificent white marble sculptures. Particularly striking are the tirthankara , dancers and animals which adorn the w..

Like all the towns in northern Rajasthan, Jaisalmer became prosperous as a result of its location on the caravan route linking Asia with the Middle East. From the 17C onwards, the town began to extend outside the walls of the fort, developing into th..

Salim Singh ki haveli is remarkable for its unusual silhouette – a type of tower whose upper storey expands into a projecting covered gallery. Carved peacocks support the balcony, while others can be seen strutting between the half-moons of the can..

Built in 1885 for a Prime Minister of Jaisalmer, the Nathmal haveli has an exceptionally delicate façade, the work of the two Silavat brothers (late 19C), each of whom sculpted one side of the building. Before going through the door guarded by two ..

Although less impressive than the royal palace at Udaipur, the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaisalmer nonetheless boasts a beautiful façade which is typical of Rajput architecture. This delicate filigree stonework, adorned with numerous corbel..

These two museums are the work of the charming Mr Sharma, a mine of information on the regional culture, which he delights in promoting. He’s happy to show visitors around his collections. These include handicrafts from the desert region, musical ins..