Jaisalmer · How to Reach

Jaisalmer is one of the more remote major destinations in India, tucked into the western corner of Rajasthan, and getting there is part of the experience. It is the terminus of its railway branch and a long drive from the nearest reliable airport, so it pays to plan the final leg carefully rather than assume you can improvise on arrival.

By train. The most popular and comfortable way in is the overnight train. Jaisalmer railway station (station code JSM), on the North Western Railway, is the end of the line and a short auto-rickshaw ride from the fort and old city. Direct services connect Jaisalmer with Delhi (a long overnight run, often around 17–18 hours depending on the train), Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and, seasonally, other cities; the Jodhpur and Delhi trains are the ones most travellers use. An overnight sleeper or air-conditioned berth from Delhi or Jaipur saves a hotel night and deposits you in the desert by morning. Because live timetables, train numbers and seat availability change constantly and some services are seasonal, check current trains and fares in the search box on this page rather than relying on a fixed schedule.

By air. This is Jaisalmer's weak point. The town has its own Jaisalmer Airport (JSA), a civil enclave at a military airbase, but it operates only a limited, seasonal roster of flights — typically in the peak winter tourist months — and routes change from year to year, so you cannot reliably plan around it. For most travellers the practical air gateway is Jodhpur Airport (JDH), roughly 285 kilometres away (about five to five-and-a-half hours by road), which has regular domestic connections from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities. From Jodhpur you continue to Jaisalmer by train, bus or a pre-arranged taxi. Always confirm current JSA routes before building a plan around a direct flight into Jaisalmer.

By road. Good highways link Jaisalmer to the rest of Rajasthan, and the drives are scenic in an austere, big-sky way. The main approach is from Jodhpur (about 285 km); other common routes come from Bikaner (around 330 km) and, further out, Jaipur (roughly 560 km). Government (RSRTC) and private operators run inter-city buses, including overnight sleeper and Volvo AC coaches, from Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Ahmedabad and Delhi. Hiring a car with a driver is the most flexible option and lets you fold in stops — Pokhran and Ramdevra on the Jodhpur road, for example — on the way.

Getting around once you arrive. Jaisalmer is small and the historic core is walkable. Auto-rickshaws and jeeps/taxis cover the town and the fringe sights, and the lanes inside the fort itself are far too narrow and steep for cars, so you will explore the fort on foot regardless. Agree a fare before you set off, or use a metered app where available. For the dunes and outlying attractions — Sam, Khuri, Kuldhara, Bada Bagh, the Desert National Park, Tanot — the standard approach is a hired jeep or taxi for a half or full day, often arranged through your accommodation as a fixed-price circuit. Distances out here are longer than they look on a map and there is little en-route infrastructure, so carry water and confirm return timing before you leave town.