Desert National Park Jaisalmer

Set within the core of Thar Desert, Desert National Park in Jaisalmer is an alluring amalgamation of moving sand dunes, rare deserts fauna, fossils, and barren landscapes that render it to the bucket-list of nature enthusiasts and wildlife aficionados.

Origins & Landscape

• Covering an area of some 3,162 km, of which the majority, 1,900 km, falls within Jaisalmer district. The rest is within Barmer. Desert National Park was established in 1980-81.
• Landforms include sand dungeons (over 44 %), rocky knobs, salt-flat pavements and other fossil-carrying geographical formations. 
• The park preserves a very delicate desert ecology that represents the real soul of deserts in Thar.

Biodiversity Highlights

• Habitat in Western India is to animals like chinkara, blackbuck, desert fox, Indian wolf, monitor lizard, Russell viper, and common krait.
• Birdlife: A bird watcher paradise-birds of all kinds reside here like the sandgrouse, bee-eaters, partridges and migratory ones like the demoiselle cranes and bustards.
• Fossils: fossils of animals and plants dating back to the Jurassic era . Up to 180 million years old tumble holes of dinosaurs.

Conservation & Research Efforts

• A waterhole census in June 2025 found that conservation is looking good:
  • 73 Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) spotted— A total of 73 GIBs were sighted: This is compared to 2024 where 64 GIBs were spoted and in 2022, 42 GIBs were spoted. Accompanied by these were 2,133 chinkaras, 120 desert foxes, 47 desert cats, and hundreds of birds all these reflecting a 20 percent increased wildlife.
• Conservation innovation encompasses a dummy egg program, which experiments with dummy eggs in nests, and incubates the real eggs in a secure environment and then returns them, before the eggs hatch.
  
• An ecology study of the vulture (Tawny Eagle, Egyptian Vulture and others) population (2025-2027) is underway utilising GPS tagging of 36 vultures to help deliver long term protection strategies.

Visiting Desert National Park Jaisalmer

A combination of calm scenery and exciting wildlife encounters is something that a visitor may feel:

• Best time to visit: The best time to visit, is November-March, when the weather is nice and clear skies.
• Safari options:
  
  • Jeep safaris drive through dunes, rock terrain and salty plains.
  • Camel rides are a way of experiencing true desert life
• Unique experiences:
  
  • Camping in the stars by night, perfectly suitable to those in love with the stars, or alone.
    
  • Spotting rare and iconic species like the Great Indian Bustard in its natural habitat.

Quick Facts at a Glance

Planning Your Stay: Fort Rajwada — The Perfect Base

After exploring wild Desert National Park in Jaisalmer, the opulence and comfort await at the Fort Rajwada. This beautiful abode is a five star heritage hotel in the heart of Rajasthan.

• Fort Rajwada has the structure which resembles a palace that has been created by red carved sand stone that elegantly combines the conventional building forms with present-day luxurious amenities.
• It has handsomely painted rooms with hand crafted murals and paintings done by local painters making each of its corridors a museum.
• Safari tours in the desert including camel ride, jeep tour, dune bashing, sand boarding, village tours, and camp stay with bonfire. Traditional Rajasthani food are also offered by the hotel.
• Conveniently situated 3.5km away from the Jaisalmer train station and 12km away from the Jaisalmer airport, Fort Rajwada is easily accessible to the city and also the desert.

Summing it up, when you visit the stunning Desert National Park in Jaisalmer, you should end your tour with a deep respite at the royal Rajwada Fort. It combines all the comfort, grandeur and excellency in hospitality, exceptional location and proximity to the great Thar Desert.