Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer was our final stop in Rajasthan. Jaisalmer's claim to fame is the Thar desert. There are plenty of desert camps that tourists can stay in. We opted to stay in a hotel instead. If you are not staying at a camp, there are two options for experiencing the desert camel and jeep. We opted for the camel. I found riding a camel to be awkward and uncomfortable. A Jeep tour is said to take one deeper into the dunes.

My two highlights of the Jaisalmer were the ornate and impressive Patwa Haveli and Bada Bagh centographs. I particularly enjoyed the Bada Bagh. Apparently, the location was a popular filming site for Bollywood movies until the surrounding landscapes were filled with windmills. The fort was fine but not as impressive as the forts in Jodhpur or Jaipur.

I felt that Jaisalmer could be skipped on a Rajasthan tour without missing too much. It's the only classic desert with sand dunes area but having seen dunes elsewhere, I didn't find either the Thar desert or Jaisalmer to be a must-see.