The Maldives just got even dreamier for folks with Marriott Bonvoy points to burn: The second JW Marriott in the country is now open.
20.01.2025 - 13:47 / lonelyplanet.com
Jan 19, 2025 • 10 min read
As you drive into the Thar Desert in northwestern India, a shimmering golden city rises up like a mirage, its massive, sandcastle-like fort looming large on the horizon. Welcome to Jaisalmer, perhaps the most enchanting city in Rajasthan.
Jaisalmer’s 12th-century fort has stood the test of time, as have the many families and businesses that still thrive within its thick walls. An important trading city on the Silk Road in the Middle Ages, Jaisalmer today continues to enchant visitors, its fort and old city chock-a-block with shops selling local handicrafts and souvenirs. Yet beyond this raucous commercialism, Jaisalmer rewards anyone who travels here thanks to its unique location, fairy-tale architecture and exciting desert activities.
Since the city is scorching hot in summer, the winter season – October to March – makes for the best time to visit Jaisalmer. During this time, daytime temperatures are pleasant, though evenings can be quite cold. Remember to pack warm layers, particularly for desert safaris.
Intrigued yet? If so, read on for 10 experiences in Jaisalmer that you can’t miss.
Built in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal Singh, Jaisalmer’s fort is the second-oldest one in Rajasthan. With a dominant hilltop location and 99 fortified turrets, the golden sandstone citadel is visible from many miles around. Its honey-gold color gave it the name Sonar Quila (golden fort) – a moniker popularized in the 1970s, when filmmaker Satyajit Ray shot a Bengali film of the same name on location. Unlike other forts that are largely museums, Jaisalmer Fort is very much lived in, with a quarter of the old city’s population still residing and working inside its walls.
Walk in through its four huge gateways and you’ll encounter a flurry of activity along its labyrinthine alleys. There are palaces, temples and havelis (mansions) to admire, souvenir shops to check out, restaurants and cafes to dine at and – yes – cows to dodge. Of the palaces, the multi-story Raj Mahal Palace is the most striking: it was the royal residence of the ruler of Jaisalmer and sports a mix of Rajput and Mughal architecture.
After sunset, the lit-up fort makes for an impressive sight, best enjoyed from one of the rooftop restaurants nearby.
Planning tip: Within the fort, the Fort Palace Museum lets you delve into the city's cultural and historical heritage. On display is a vast range of weaponry and armor, royal costumes, paintings and sculptures, plus an impressive collection of brilliant Rajasthani turbans.
The fort also holds a cluster of seven inter-connected Jain temples that date from between the 12th and 15th centuries. Carved out of sandstone, these stunning structures have soaring spires, scalloped arches and intricate
The Maldives just got even dreamier for folks with Marriott Bonvoy points to burn: The second JW Marriott in the country is now open.
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Condé Nast Traveler celebrated its 2025 Gold List in Dubai, with a glittering party against the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, which marks its 25th anniversary, as well as being featured on the prestigious Gold List. The evening, which included a "Touch of Gold" dress code, was hosted by Condé Nast's CEO Roger Lynch, chief content officer and global editorial director of Vogue, Anna Wintour, and Condé Nast Traveller's global editorial director Divia Thani. The list is created annually by Condé Nast Traveler and is a selection of hotels and cruises that its discerning editors across the world deem as their own personal favorites.
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