Travel Before: Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer India

The fort of Jaisalmer is a sight to behold: a colossal sandcastle rising from the sandy plains like a mirage from a time long past. No place better conjures up images of exotic camel-train trade routes and desert mystery. Ninety-nine bastions surround the fort’s still-inhabited winding lanes. Inside, you'll find shops draped in vibrant embroideries, a royal palace and numerous businesses vying for your tourist euro. Despite the commercialism, it’s hard not to be captivated by this desert fortress. Beneath the ramparts, particularly to the north, the narrow streets of the old city hide magnificent havelis, all carved from the same golden-honey sandstone as the fort – hence Jaisalmer’s nickname as the Golden City. A city that has almost risen from the ashes in the past half-century, Jaisalmer may be remote, but it’s certainly not forgotten – indeed it’s one of Rajasthan’s most popular tourist destinations.

Recommended airport

Jaisalmer (JSA)

Points of interest