The Desert City of Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer rises out of the Thar Desert like a golden mirage. The entire city is built from yellow sandstone, which glows gold in the setting sun, earning it the name the Golden City. The main attraction is the Jaisalmer Fort, which is unique because it is a living fort, meaning people still live inside it. I wandered through the narrow lanes, past shops selling embroidered textiles and silver jewelry, and climbed up to the top for views over the city. From there, you can see the havelis, the old merchant mansions with their intricate stone carvings. The Patwon Ki Haveli is the most impressive, a cluster of five havelis with balconies and facades covered in carvings. But the real highlight of Jaisalmer is the desert experience. I booked a camel safari that took me out into the sand dunes for an overnight stay. We rode camels for a couple of hours, watching the sunset paint the desert orange and pink. At night, we slept under the stars on cots set up in the dunes, with a campfire and local musicians playing traditional Rajasthani music. It was cold, so bring warm clothes, but waking up to the sunrise over the desert was unforgettable.