Jodhpur or Jaisalmer? Or Both?

kunz

Hi guys,

I'm traveling to India later this month for the first time with my girlfriend and we are taking the Golden Circuit heritage tour with Namaste India tours.

We really want to do both but most people seem to say they are both quite the same and only one is necessary?

Which out of the two would you recommend? Or are we better off doing both?

Also, how long would it take to drive from Delhi to either Jodhpur or Jaiselmer?

We have planned to fly to Mumbai via Delhi, but instead may fly from Jodhpuri if thats where eventually head to.

Also, 2-3 days be sufficient for Jodhpur and Jaiselmer?

Many thanks!

tasuray

You must go to both. They are not same.If you choose one then choose Jaisalmer.Probably you will get flights from Jaipur to other Indian cities and not from Jodhpur.Two days for Jaisalmer and one day for Jodhpur will do.
Thanks.

machadinha

They are, indeed, not the same. Jodhpur was never overly touristed; from what I read here, it still seems to be that way. It has a magnificent fort towering over the city, and a lively bazaar in town. It's no smalltown, yet it's good for just absorbing the city atmosphere, or so I found. If the fort really takes your fancy, you may well decide on visiting it twice. So I'd recommend 2-3 days here at least.

Jaisalmer features yet another (splendid) fort, however in a style of its own, and in this case it's one of the few instances where it's actually still inhabited, with daily life unfolding within (as well as outside) its walls. It's a fantastic fairy-tale-like place, smack-bang in the middle of the desert. It's also sadly overrun by tourists though (or so I found, again. I reckon this won't have improved; depends on time of year too, no doubt.) Most people who make the effort to get out here do so to include a camel (or jeep) trek; if you do, I'd say 3 days here is the bare minimum.

Disclaimer: All my opinion, of course I wouldn't mind at all seeing both nor advise against it; in fact that's just what I did. You can search around the Photo forums some for an impression of both; at a random pick, try these pics: Mehrangarh Panorama and Gadi Sagar and Jaisalmer Fort.

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tesser7

Hi! I'm in Jaisalmer right now, and just left Jodhpur. Although Jaisalmer is a fantastical, beautiful, unusual, and unique place, I am partial to Jodhpur. Jodhpur is a real live city that feels like you've traveled back in time to - it's busy and dirty but very vibrant and alive and there I encountered the friendliest people I've found so far in India, much I think because it is such a non-touristy place. Jaisalmer feels very touristy to me although I did find some great backstreets that did not feel that way. Jaisalmer is smaller and feels that way, too. I think it depends on whether you want to do some more relaxing wandering (Jaisalmer) or be prepared to breathe harsh smelly smoggy air but see what a real non-touristy Rajasthani city is like.

If you do both, I would personally say you don't need more than a day and a half, 2 days in each. Hope this helps!

Ashishrjoshi

Hi Kunz,

2-3 days for both Jodhpur & Jaisalmer my not be enough. In fact u need min 3 days in Jaisalmer if u wanna explore the city & desert properly. I personally find Jaisalmer more interesting than Jodhpur. But Jodhpur will be on your way to Jaisalmer so u can have a quick visit to the city.

Delhi to Jaisalmer by road is nearly 800 km. Will take you more than 12 hrs. Won’t be a good idea. And if you have less days, then driving by car & wasting a day in travel is the last thing you want. I suggest you can take a night train from Delhi to Jodhpur / Jaisalmer. Mandor Express leaves Delhi at 9.00 pm & reached Jodhpur early morning. If you land in Jodhpur, then take a car for Jodhpur-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur. U can also have a quick Jodhpur city tour there & then proceed to Jaisalmer.

To catch a flight to Bombay you will have to come back to Jodhpur, since there are no flights from Jaisalmer to Bombay. There are couple of low cost afternoon flights from Jodhpur to Bombay(Mumbai). If you leave Jaisalmer in the morning, you can comfortably reach jodhpur before your flight to Mumbai.

Enjoy your trip to the gr8 Indian Desert

-Ashish.

machadinha

As an afterthought, if Kunz is taking a tour with NIT as described, surely the final itinerary will be discussed between poster and them, depending on either's wishes and flexibility?

Aishah

Kunz - try to go to both places - each is unique. Jodhpur for one of the best forts in India, and the 'blue' city look when you look down from its ramparts; Jaisalmer, the 'golden' city with everything made from the local Jaisalmer stone - a golden colour. No pollution here - and very easy to wander around streets through narrow lanes viewing traditional Jaisalmeri stone carvings decorating the buildings.
Even if you don't go to the desert (which is very similar to some of Oz outback scrubby stuff) try at least for 2 days here. In that time you can see city sights including the Fort and manage some outside the city places like Badabagh, Amar Sagar and Ludrva. Just driving to these places gives you an idea of village life in the desert.
Both Jodhpur and Jaisalmer are well worth seeing.

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