Destinations
Thar Desert Travel Guide
Sand dunes, desert cities and wildlife across western Rajasthan, and how to visit the Great Indian Desert well.
Top attractions
Places to see in the Thar Desert
Jaisalmer Travel GuideDesert National ParkBeing a model of the Thar Desert’s ecology, Desert National Park is unique and interesting in its own right. The terrain here…
Jaisalmer Travel GuideGadisar lakeOverview In the southern part of Jaisalmer city lays the historic lake, which is a prominent landmark in the city. Through the…
Jaisalmer Travel GuideJaisalmer fortOverview Jaisalmer Fort, also known as Sonar Quila, is one of the largest forts in the world and can be found in…
Rajasthani Food & CuisineKer SangriThe dry desert regions of Rajasthan are known for their ker sangri subzi, a side dish that combines basic Indian spices with…
Jodhpur Travel GuideMehrangarh fortApproximately 400 feet above the ancient town below, on a hilltop, sits Mehrangarh Fort. A meandering path departs from the city and…
Jaisalmer Travel GuidePatwon ki haveliPatwon ki haveli – History As soon as you go inside, you’ll see five little havelis nestled inside. All the way back…
Wildlife & NatureTal Chhapar SanctuaryNear the town of Chhapar in the Churu district of Rajasthan is the Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary. In the heart of the… The Thar, also called the Great Indian Desert, is the landscape that gives Destination Thar its name. It covers much of western Rajasthan, from the golden-stone city of Jaisalmer to the camel country around Bikaner, and it is far more lived-in than most deserts: villages, temples, grazing land and centuries-old trade routes run right through it.
The Thar at a glance
- Where
- North-western India and south-eastern Pakistan; in India mainly western Rajasthan, with smaller parts in Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab
- Size
- Roughly 200,000–260,000 km², depending on where the boundary is drawn
- Rainfall
- About 100–300 mm a year, mostly July to September
- Best season to visit
- October to March
- Largest protected area
- Desert National Park, about 3,162 km²
Facts checked 12 November 2026 · Sources
Where the Thar Desert is
The Thar lies between the Aravalli Range to the east and the Indus plains to the west, with the salt flats of the Rann of Kutch to the south. It is shared by India and Pakistan, and most of it lies in India. Within India, the greater part is in Rajasthan, where it covers the western districts around Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur.
Published figures for its size vary, because the desert fades gradually into semi-arid land at its edges. Reference works give anything from about 200,000 km² to around 264,000 km² for the whole desert.
Climate and when to visit
The Thar receives only about 100–300 mm of rain a year, most of it during the south-west monsoon from July to September. Summers are fierce: from April to June average daytime highs are around 40–42 °C, and peak temperatures can go far higher. Winter days are mild and sunny, but nights from December to February can drop close to freezing.
For most travellers October to March is the best time to visit: days are comfortable for sightseeing, and the cool evenings suit camel rides and nights in desert camps. Pack warm layers for winter nights.
Landscapes and wildlife
Much of the Thar is covered by wind-blown sand dunes, broken up by rocky outcrops, gravel plains and scrubland. Hardy plants such as khejri trees and desert shrubs support a surprising range of wildlife. Mammals include the chinkara (Indian gazelle), the desert fox and the Indian fox, and the open grasslands are one of the last homes of the great Indian bustard, a bird classified as critically endangered.
The best place to see this landscape protected is the Desert National Park near Jaisalmer and Barmer, which covers about 3,162 km².
Cities and towns of the desert
The Thar is dotted with historic trading cities that grew rich on the caravan routes across it:
- Jaisalmer: the “Golden City”, with its living sandstone fort, carved havelis and the dunes beyond.
- Jodhpur: the “Blue City” on the desert’s eastern side, beneath Mehrangarh Fort.
- Bikaner: a desert city in the north of the Thar, known for Junagarh Fort and its camels.
Sand dunes to visit
The best-known dunes for visitors are near Jaisalmer. Sam, roughly 40–45 km west of the city, is the busiest, with camel rides at sunset and many tented camps. Khuri, a village about 40 km from Jaisalmer, is generally quieter. Jaisalmer’s Desert Festival, with folk music, camel events and crafts, is held at the dunes for three days ending on the full moon of the Hindu month of Magh, usually in February.
Dates, camp standards and prices change from season to season, so confirm them directly with your camp or with Rajasthan Tourism before you travel.
Water in the desert
Water has always shaped life in the Thar. The Luni is its main river, and the 649 km Indira Gandhi Canal now brings water from the Indus river system into north-western Rajasthan for irrigation and drinking water, which has changed farming in parts of the desert.
Travelling responsibly in the Thar
- Carry plenty of water, sun protection and a warm layer for the evening.
- Choose camel and jeep operators who keep their animals healthy and rested, and avoid driving across dunes and grassland off marked tracks.
- In and around the Desert National Park, follow the park’s rules: much of its wildlife, including the great Indian bustard, is easily disturbed.
- Take your rubbish back to town; plastic waste lasts a very long time in the desert.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Thar Desert
- Wikipedia: Thar Desert (area, climate, wildlife, Desert National Park, Indira Gandhi Canal)
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism): best time to visit the desert region
- Rajasthan Tourism: check festival dates and travel advice before you go