Jaipur to Jaisalmer Road Trip: Routes, Sights & Things to Do

Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, is one of the most iconic cities in terms of the forts, palaces, and gardens the city holds. Rajasthan, though being an arid and dry zone, has a rich cultural and social diversity and a road trip through the warm roadways and highways of this state is a magnificent experience in itself.

The best element of travelling on the road is the flexibility and convenience of exploring any gorgeous sight which would be a shrouded treasure the cities or states have. As one bids farewell to the city of Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal and many more beautiful palaces, a new journey is inducted towards the province of deserts, Jaisalmer.

Hawa Mahal in Jaipur

Jaisalmer Fort in Jaisalmer

This road trip from Jaipur to Jaisalmer brings forth an adventurous experience and a joyous ride ahead. There are three main routes which traverse through multiple cities in this journey, each having a little difference in terms of the curves of the roads.

Jaipur - Jobner - Nawa - Nagaur - Falwa - Pokran - Jaisalmer

The entire Jaipur to Jaisalmer road journey is a distance of 556km (345mi) and takes about 9 hours 59 minutes when covered without major halts.

Jaipur - Ajmer - Pushkar -Beawar - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer

With a distance of 638 km (396mi), this Jaipur to Jaisalmer route is a little longer and at a stretch would take about 10 hours and 37 minutes.

Jaipur - Sikar - Salasar - Bikaner - Jaisalmer

The road trip comprises of a journey of 666km (414mi) with the non-stop travelling time of 10 hours and 35 minutes

Rajasthan, being as majestic and grand as it can be, has a well-structured and efficient road network, making it the most ideal state for road trips. So, to make the Jaipur to Jaisalmer road trip more memorable, there should be halts to deeply cherish the royal beauty of the cities along.

★ Jodhpur

As one enters the pavement of the blue city, Jodhpur is the perfect intermediate in the road trip from Jaipur to Jaisalmer. The city holds the magnificent Umaid Bhawan Palace, being one of the largest accommodations in the world in terms of the exclusive privy zone. In vicinity to the Balsamand and Kalyana lakes, the palace beholds a family museum and a luscious garden of about 26 acres which has different hues, flowers, shrubs, and birds drooling around.

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Clock Tower for Shopping

The pride of the city is Mehrangarh Fort, which was built by Rao Jodha in the fifteenth century and also comprises a museum. The fort exclusively focuses on the rich cultural aesthetics of the state and cultural shows and a folk dance is a regular routine in different sects of the fort every day. Jodhpur is specifically renowned for the finest shopping mall in the state.

While exploring the city, one can also pay a visit to Jaswant Thada, the white monument, having one of the finest architecture and is cenotaph for the Marwars and the Clock tower for shopping the extremely popular spices, fabrics, and various artefacts.

Mehrangarh Fort

Cultural Shows in Mehrangarh Fort

★ Ajmer and Pushkar

While travelling through Ajmer, one should visit the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the shrine which is constructed as a memorial for Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. About thousands of devotees visit the shrine to pray for their desires and have a highly sanctified ambience and peaceful atmosphere.

Taragarh Fort is another historic place to be scoured in Ajmer. Residence place for Prithviraj Chauhan, the fort offers a very beautiful view of the city.

At a distance of about 30 minutes from Ajmer, Pushkar is another nearby place for a stopover. Pushkar, basically has a beautiful lake, along with 52 ghats and an extensive series of 500 temples encompassing it. Considered as one of the top 10 holy places in the world, it is of utmost significance to the Sikhs and Hindus.

It is believed that a person who bathes in this sanctified lake, will be free from sins and any definite skin diseases. Extremely famous for the annual Pushkar Fair, Pushkar Lake is the exclusive place having a Brahma temple, which needs to be visited.

★ Bikaner

While navigating towards Jaisalmer, as the roads cut across Bikaner, a number of interesting places are in store to be delved into. The city of the greatest warriors in Indian history, Bikaner has the finest architectural pieces depicting the rich culture and heritage of the Rajput clan. Junagarh fort, Lalgarh Palace are some of the necessary spots for the history and heritage lovers having a fine museum reflecting the ancient history of the places.

There are some famous temples in and around Bikaner, which are major tourist attractions such as the grand Jain temple, Shri Lakshminath temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi and Karni Mata Temple. Around 600 years old, the most intriguing information about this ancient temple is that the rats are worshipped here.

★ Nagaur

Abode to the largest salt lake in the country, Sambhar Lake, Nagaur is about 2 hours drive from Bikaner. With its citations in the mythological epic termed Mahabharata, there are many fascinating forts in and around Nagaur, such as Nagaur Fort, Kuchaman Fort.

★ Salasar

The hearth of many temples, Salsar consists of the residence of Salasar Balaji and various well-known temples including Rani Sati Temple and KhatuShyamji Temple.

★ Jaisalmer

As the well-structured roads of the state treading the highway reach any closer to Jaisalmer, one can connect with the ambience of the deserts, sand dunes, and the dry climate transpiring there.

Camel Riding in Jaisalmer

Sunset at the Sam Sand Dunes

To intimately honor the country’s desert life, to be in proximity to the wildlife and arid nature, the best course of the line is to dwell within them by embarking the camps in the Manvar Resort. They have exquisite services such as desert safari, camel rides, and camping in the midst of the Thar Desert.

While camping in a tent, it is one of the most ethereal experiences to keep an eye on the sublime night sky and feel the radiance of the glittering stars. They also organize Rajasthani folk dance and music shows after dusk. The golden city is also famous for tourist spots such as Jaisalmer Fort, Patwon ki Haveli, Gadisar Lake, and the surrounding temples and ghats.

As the road trip sojourns from the ‘Pink City’ to the ‘Blue City’ and finally the ‘Golden City’, much of the Rajasthani ambience will pierce the hearts of travellers. Also, the authentic Rajasthani cuisine across the different dhabas and restaurants in the journey, especially the kachoris, ghevar and the 'Lal Maas' will make the taste buds long for more.