Kuldhara Village

Jaisalmer

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This abandoned village is 19km west of Jaisalmer, 6km south of the Sam road. It was abandoned by its Paliwal Brahmin inhabitants – just like the area’s 83 other Paliwal Brahmin villages – about 200 years ago. They were heavily taxed, their property was looted and the daughter of one family had been kidnapped, but there was no response to their complaints, so the entire community upped and left.

Legend has it they buried the gold and silver they couldn’t carry in Kuldhara, which has attracted treasure hunters to the area.

Some of the houses are in remarkable condition as they have been restored for use as film sets – this is a popular Bollywood location, and so attracts plenty of Indian day-trippers. Camel rides are available.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • 500px Photo ID: 71843661 - Jaisalmer is a unique place, with the majority of the population of the dusty desert town still residing inside the centuries old fort. Making it the Living Fort. Cars, bikes can be driven inside the narrow lanes of the fort. At one point one gets to see an old ruin and standing tall next to it is a Harley Davidson at the entrance of one of the many Fort restaurants.

    Jaisalmer Fort

    7.54 MILES

    Jaisalmer’s fort is a living urban centre, with about 3000 people residing within its walls. It is honeycombed with narrow winding lanes, lined with…

  • Fort Palace Museum

    Fort Palace Museum

    7.61 MILES

    Towering over the fort’s main square, and partly built on top of the Hawa Pol (the fourth fort gate), is the former rulers’ elegant seven-storey palace…

  • Patwa-ki-Haveli

    Patwa-ki-Haveli

    7.76 MILES

    The biggest fish in the haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence) pond is Patwa-ki-Haveli, which towers over a narrow lane, its intricate…

  • Kothari’s Patwa-ki-Haveli Museum

    Kothari’s Patwa-ki-Haveli Museum

    7.76 MILES

    The first of the five sections of Patwa-ki-Haveli is opened as the privately owned Kothari’s Patwa Haveli Museum, which richly evokes 19th-century life.

  • Jain Temples

    Jain Temples

    7.52 MILES

    Within the fort walls is a maze-like, interconnecting treasure trove of seven beautiful yellow sandstone Jain temples, dating from the 15th and 16th…

  • Sam Sand Dunes

    Sam Sand Dunes

    18.31 MILES

    The silky Sam dunes, 41km west of Jaisalmer along a good sealed road, are one of the most popular excursions from the city. About 2km long, the dunes are…

  • Desert Cultural Centre & Museum

    Desert Cultural Centre & Museum

    7.9 MILES

    This interesting little museum tells the history of Rajasthan’s princely states and has exhibits on traditional Rajasthani culture. Features include…

  • Thar Heritage Museum

    Thar Heritage Museum

    7.82 MILES

    This private museum has an intriguing assortment of Jaisalmer artefacts, from turbans, musical instruments, fossils and kitchen equipment, to displays on…

View more attractions

Nearby Jaisalmer attractions

1. Jain Temples

7.52 MILES

Within the fort walls is a maze-like, interconnecting treasure trove of seven beautiful yellow sandstone Jain temples, dating from the 15th and 16th…

2. Surya Temple

7.52 MILES

This small 16th-century Hindu temple inside the fort is devoted to Surya, the sun god.

3. Jaisalmer Fort

7.54 MILES

Jaisalmer’s fort is a living urban centre, with about 3000 people residing within its walls. It is honeycombed with narrow winding lanes, lined with…

4. Vyas Chhatri

7.54 MILES

This atmospheric assemblage of golden sandstone chhatris (cenotaphs), in an old Brahmin memorial ground on a rise on the northwestern edge of town, forms…

5. Baa Ri Haveli

7.55 MILES

This 450-year-old haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence), once belonging to Brahmin priests that advised the maharajah, now houses an…

6. Lodhruva Main Temple

7.56 MILES

The Jain temples at Lodhruva, rebuilt in the late 1970s, are the sole reminders of the city’s former magnificence. The inner sanctum of the main temple…

7. Laxmi Narayan Temple

7.57 MILES

The Hindu Laxmi Narayan Temple, in the centre of the fort, is simpler than the Jain temples here and has a brightly decorated dome. Devotees offer grain,…

8. Fort Palace Museum

7.61 MILES

Towering over the fort’s main square, and partly built on top of the Hawa Pol (the fourth fort gate), is the former rulers’ elegant seven-storey palace…