Jaisalmer Desert Festival
Jaisalmer Desert Festival is a kaleidoscope of fun, frolic, thrill, and excitement. Presenting the best of local culture and traditions; this desert fair attracts visitors from all over the world. With spectacular desert and dunes in the backdrop; Jaisalmer Desert Festival is organized annually and features marvelous performances of folk music, dance, magic shows, acrobats, puppet shows and martial arts.
Jaisalmer Desert Festival is one of the most popular and colorful cultural events of Rajasthan, which is visited by quite a number of tourists. It is the best platform to portray the state’s culture and traditions through dance, music and other art forms. Read on to know more about this amazing festival.
Weather Of Jaisalmer In February
The weather of Jaisalmer in February is extremely pleasant. The temperature is neither too high nor too low and ranges between 5 degrees to 24 degrees. The days are comfortable while nights are cooler. It is the best time to enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities, particularly the Jaisalmer Desert fair.
Jaisalmer Desert Festival Basic Info
Jaisalmer Desert Festival Dates: It is an annual winter event that is organized for 3 days by the Rajasthan Tourism Department. The upcoming Jaisalmer Desert Festival is from 7th-9th February 2020.
Jaisalmer Desert Festival Location: Spectacular dunes of the Thar Desert in the Sam Dunes, 42 km from the main city of Jaisalmer.
Things To Do During Jaisalmer Desert Festival
This desert festival is a beautiful event and a great place to enjoy the culture and colors of Rajasthan.
1. Enjoy Cultural Extravaganza
Jaisalmer Desert Festival is all about fun and excitement. One can enjoy vibrant puppet shows, folk music and dance, camel races, camel polo matches, tug of war, juggling events, turban tying and longest mustache competition. Participants wear colorful traditional attires and display the best of Rajasthani folk culture and traditions. Presentation of Gair dance forms and folk fire dances are an added attraction of Jaisalmer Desert feast. There is a unique competition for men by the name Maru Sri or Mr. Desert Pageant, which attracts locals as well as international travelers. There are plenty of stalls selling handicrafts and local knick-knacks and many food stalls serving the best of authentic local food.
3. Jaisalmer City Tour
With so many attractions to see and explore; one can enjoy a fun-filled Jaisalmer city tour during one of the days of the Jaisalmer Desert Festival. Along with the Golden Fort which is the main attraction, Jaisalmer is blessed with a fairly large number of forts, palaces, temples, Havelis, and a lake that never disappoints any traveler.
5. Shopping
Leaving Jaisalmer without any shopping is a sin. Pick the best of local handicrafts, dresses, knick-knacks, room décor, locally made leather stuff, bags, footwear, puppets, pieces of jewelry made of precious and semi-precious stones and most importantly souvenirs made from yellow sandstone. Popular markets to explore for a hearty retail therapy are Bhatia Bazaar, Pansari Bazaar, Manak Chowk and Sadar Bazaar.
2. Dune Bashing
If you are fond of adventure and thrill, go for dune bashing in the Thar Desert. The stunning topography of the dunes is perfect for off-roading adventure and bashing. Hire a sturdy sport utility vehicle and bash the dunes with full grit and endurance. This is a highly adventurous activity and requires professional driving and maneuvering skills hence it is always done under strict expert guidance. If you are keen for this adventure; do try paramotoring, parasailing and quad biking in the Thar Desert and experience an adrenaline rush like never before.
4. Desert Safari
If you have plans to enjoy three days at Jaisalmer Desert fair, take out some time to enjoy a thrilling safari at Thar Desert. Enjoy a camel ride far away into the desert and on the way admire the stunning landscape. You can even stay overnight in the luxury desert camps and make the safari worth in every aspect.
Jaisalmer Desert Festival: Places To Stay
Jaisalmer Desert Festival is organized in the dunes and one can enjoy a wide array of facilities and amenities. From well-appointed luxury tents, room heaters, en-suite restrooms, to round the clock supply of hot water and super prompt service- Jaisalmer Desert Festival has everything one can ask for.
Ideally one should stay at any of the luxury desert camps in Sam Dunes to enjoy the Jaisalmer Desert Feast to the fullest. The best camping facilities are offered by:
- Sam Sand Dunes Desert Safari Camp
- Jaisalmer Desert Safari Camp
- Vinayak Desert Camp
- Le Royal Camp
- Desert Dream Royal Camp
- Prince Desert Camp
If you wish to stay in the main city, many hotels and resorts offer ultimate comfort and luxury and best of services and offer shuttle service to the fairground. Book your stay at one of these places: Jaisalmer Marriott Resort and Spa, Hotel Pleasant Haveli, Mystic Jaisalmer, Hotel Jaisalkot, Nachna Haveli or Welcome Heritage Mandir Palace.
How To Reach Jaisalmer
By Air: Jaisalmer doesn’t have its own airport. The nearest airport is at Jodhpur; 300 km away and regular flights ply from all the major Indian cities to Jodhpur. From Jodhpur, one can hire a private cab or take a local or express train to reach Jodhpur.
By Rail: Jaisalmer is connected with Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, and Delhi through the broad gauge and meter gauge railway tracks.
By Road: Rajasthan Roadways and private buses ply regularly from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner, Udaipur, Mount Abu, Barmer, Ahmedabad, and Delhi.
Jaisalmer Desert Festival Tips
- Jaisalmer Desert Festival is flocked by people from all over the world. Book your tickets and hotels well in advance.
- Carry adequate woolens as the temperature drops sharply after sunset in the desert.
- Do not forget to bargain and get the best price while buying something from local shops.
- Beware of touts as everything is organized by the Rajasthan Department of Tourism.
