India Guide
Rajasthan
Accommodation
1 Desert Jaisalmer fort 
02992/250602 
ajitdeserthotel@hotmail.com Friendly if slightly shabby little budget place with cheaper rooms (some with shared bath) downstairs and brighter, airier rooms upstairs. Price: Under Rs500
2 Desert Haveli Jaisalmer fort 02992/251555 Simple but popular budget guesthouse offering variously sized stone-walled rooms with attached bathrooms. Free pick-up from bus or railway station. Excellent value. Price: Under Rs1000
3 Moti Palace Jaisalmer fort 02992/254693 kailash_bissa@yahoo.co.uk Friendly budget option, with a range of good-value rooms (all attached) and unbeatable views over the main gate. Price: Under Rs1000
4 Paradise Jaisalmer fort 02992/252674 
www.paradiseonfort.com Atmospheric old haveli with a leafy courtyard and a wide selection of rooms, ranging from cheap downstairs rooms with common baths to prettily decorated upstairs rooms with a/c. Price: Under Rs1500
5 Suraj Jaisalmer fort 02992/251623 hotelsurajjaisalmer@hotmail.com This superbly carved sandstone haveli is one of the nicest places to stay in the fort, with a friendly family atmosphere, characterful old rooms (including a spectacular painted room) and a rooftop view of the Jain temples. Price: Rs501–1500
6 Surja Jaisalmer fort
0/941 439 1149 A range of basic attached fan rooms – those without view are much better value than those with – and a relaxing rooftop terrace with one of the best views in town. Not to be confused with the less appealling Surya next door. Price: Under Rs1000
7 Artist Hotel Manganyar colony 02992/252082 artisthotel@yahoo.com Run by an Austrian expat as a co-op for members of the Manganyar (minstrel musician) caste, who play here most evenings. The rather rustic stone-walled rooms are comfortable enough, if a bit gloomy and shabby, and there's a nice rooftop restaurant with good food. Price: Rs301–1000
8 Mandir Palace Gandhi Chowk 02992/252788 www.welcomheritagehotels.com Occupying part of the exquisite Mandir Palace, although the hotel doesn't quite live up to the setting. Rooms are modern and comfortable, but surprisingly characterless, service is hit-and-miss and a strange air of neglect hangs over the whole place – although rates are surprisingly modest given the setting. Price: Rs3001-5000
9 Nachana Haveli Gandhi Chowk 02992/251910 nachana_haveli@yahoo.com Run by a cousin of the maharaja, this venerable old haveli is one of the best choices in its class. The atmospheric stone-walled ground-floor rooms (all a/c) are virtually windowless but attractively decorated with antique fittings; the suites upstairs are brighter. There's also the good Saffron rooftop restaurant. Price: Rs2001–5000
10 Ratan Palace Off Gandhi Chowk 02992/252757 hotelrenuka@rediffmail.com One of the best cheapies in this part of town, with a friendly owner and spotless, hassle-free accommodation in spacious rooms with large bathrooms. They run good camel treks and have even cheaper rooms (some with shared bath) in the slightly older Renuka across the street. Price: Rs301–1000
11 Residency Centre Point Khumbara Para 0/941 476 0421. Small, family-run guesthouse in the backstreets near Patwa Haveli and Nathamal ki Haveli. Rooms (a couple with a/c) are comfortable and good value, and there's home-cooked food and nice town views from the rooftop. Advance booking recommended. Price: Rs301–1000
12 
Shahi Palace off Shiv Marg 02992/255920, www.shahipalacehotel.com . Outstanding little hotel tucked away just south of the fort in a stylish modern sandstone building with stunning fort views from the rooftop terrace restaurant and immaculate and beautifully decorated rooms. The only caveat is that the cheaper rooms are a bit small – it's well worth coughing up for one of the superb larger rooms (which also have a/c and TV). Price: Rs301–2000
13 Swastika Off Gandhi Chowk 02992/252152 swastikahotel@yahoo.com Long-running budget hotel offering simple modern fan and a/c rooms. Price: Rs201–1000
14 Fort Rajwada off Jodhpur Rd, 3.5km east of Jaisalmer 02992/253233 www.fortrajwada.com Best by a long chalk of the new resort hotels on the outskirts of town. Its massive marble lobby includes chunks of richly fiIigreed sandstone plundered from havelis in the old city. Has all the facilities of a five-star (pool, bar, good restaurant and grand coffee shop). Double rooms start at around US$200. Price: Rs5001 and above
15 Jawahar Niwas Palace 1 Bada Bagh Rd 02992/252208 Late nineteenth-century royal guesthouse with turreted sandstone exterior, large and graceful rooms, and a good pool (Rs250 for non-guests). Price: Rs1501–3000