Rooms

The 7 rooms, all ensuite - a rarity within the fort where water is a precious commodity - are swathed in jewel-bright fabrics and mirrored tapestries. Being further from the central courtyard, second floor rooms reached via a twisting carved stone stair offer a little extra privacy and quiet if you want to sleep late in the morning. The scarlet-hued Maharani room is especially handsome; Rising Sun is a wash of royal blues, with east-facing windows. Some rooms, like rich red and gold Maharaja, are slightly smaller. Sweet Purple is a decadent blend of violet and mauve. Handmade quilts cover the kingsize beds; the wooden furniture is all hand-carved.

Best of all though, each room has incredible views and a balcony or sandstone window seat lined with cosy cushions so you can look over the city, out to the golden desert or to the lake in the distance. A panoramic of Jaisalmer, a bird’s eye view of the local markets and old town, or a sweeping vista of the nearby sand dunes - it doesn’t get much better than this.

Bathrooms are Western-style with hot water showers, and all rooms have A/C and ceiling fans to keep the room cool in the hot summer months. And talk about a loo with a view!

Features include:

• Fan

Eating

Served on the rooftop terrace until 12 noon, the ‘healthy’ breakfast is leisurely and hearty. Freshly-squeezed orange juice, toast, fruit, muesli and a choice of eggs, along with the ubiquitous hot chai.

Lunch and dinner are available on request from nearby restaurants, and the evening meals are served by candelight. The next-door restaurant, Suriya, will also deliver meals to the rooftop terrace where you can lay back on Arabian Nights cushions under the star-filled sky.

Alternatively you can head out into the fort or city, where there are numerous options. The much loved Trio restaurant does brilliant Thalis (Rajasthani complete meals of curry pickles, rice and bread) on the roof terrace. Seema Restaurant (just outside the fort walls) is recommended for its super-fresh Rajasthani food, whilst Free Tibet has a selection of Nepalese specialties.

Complimentary mineral water and tea are available 24/7, and the hotel also serves signature fresh mango lassis and ice-cold beers - perfect sun-downers.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Lunch by arrangement
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Sit on the rooftop deck or your private balcony and soak up the awesome views
  
  
• Relax in the private courtyard - the hotel burns incense all day for a calm peaceful atmosphere, and there’s a loveseat to snuggle up on
  
  
• Wander through the fort and experience daily local life: barter at the markets, drink hot chai at a cafe, and explore the endless winding alleyways
  
  
• Visit the elaborately carved Jain temples, with their Dilwara style paintings
  
  
• And the seven storey City Palace whose unusually fascinating audio tour is well worth doing, and brings you right up to speed with Jaisalmer’s noble history
  
  
• Check out the havelis just below the forts, whose amazing facades boast intricate stone carvings
  
  
• Take an overnight camel trek into the Thar Desert – the hotel arranges regular trips to non-touristy parts of the desert away from other camel treks, and you can sleep in a traditional tent or outside under a star-filled sky. If you don't want to camp overnight, a sunset camel safari is also possible
  
  
• Get rash with your rupees: the market is an excellent place to buy colourful rugs, textiles, jewellery and Rajasthani mirrored wall-hangings
  
  
• Visit a local cobbler and stock up on anything and everything made of camel leather - belts, richly embroidered wallets and jootis (traditional hand tooled shoes)
  
  
• Take a jeep ride through the Sam sand dunes - 45km from the hotel - stopping off for an auspicious glimpse of the sacred cobra at Ludharwa temple (16km)
  
  
• Stroll around the Gadi Sagar lake, a vast rainwater pool which supplies water to the city. It’s surrounded by temples and tombs of saints, and you can take a boat ride across it

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Camel rides
• Desert safaris
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Shopping / markets
• Traditional cultures
• Trekking
• Wildlife

Kids

Children are welcome here, but the desert setting and strong sun might put off parents with young kids, so it's better suited to older, adventurous families. Garh Jaisal doesn't have specific kids facilities but there are friendly, curious children in the square outside the hotel who are eager to play with the guests! There is one small bed available to go in one of the 3 rooms which are large enough to accommodate an extra person.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Garh Jaisal is located in western Rajasthan, just above the city of Jaisalmer. It’s right in the heart of the Thar Desert, a 6-hour drive from Jodhpur.

By Air
Jodhpur Airport (285km) is the closest airport that's open all year round, and Delhi Indira Gandhi serves as the gateway to India for most international flights. Jaisalmer Airport (10km) is currently closed to commercial traffic until further notice. It's being exclusively used by the military thanks to heightened tensions with Pakistan. When open (normally only November to March), you can connect to this domestic airport from several internal hubs, including Jodphur and Udaipur. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
If travelling from Jodpur, it’s advisable to get a train to Jaisalmer. The hotel offers a complimentary transfer from Jaisalmer Airport (when it's open), or you could use the local bus and train stations.

By Train
Indian Railways offers regular services to Jaisalmer from all the major cities in Rajhastan, including Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Barmer, Jaore and Ahemdabad. Someone from the hotel will meet you at the train station.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Rajasthan and getting around