Jaisalmer Was Basically Golden Hour for Four Days Straight 🏜️✨😭

The journey

I knew Jaisalmer was going to be pretty.

I just didn't expect literally EVERYTHING to be some shade of gold. 😭

This trip was with **Meher, Sakshi, Kabir, Aditi and Yash**, and honestly, the plan was pretty simple—explore the city, spend a night in the desert, take cute pictures and come back.

Obviously, with this group, "simple" lasted approximately three hours.

The moment we reached Jaisalmer, everyone suddenly became a photographer. The sandstone buildings, tiny streets, colourful doors, rooftop cafés... every ten steps somebody was saying, "Wait, picture!"

We stayed in this gorgeous little haveli-style hotel, and I swear we spent more time taking pictures in the courtyard on the first day than actually exploring the city.

The next morning we went to Jaisalmer Fort, and I absolutely loved it. Tiny lanes, old houses, temples, cafés, shops selling jewellery and handicrafts—it felt like there was something happening around every corner.

Obviously, Aditi and I entered a shop saying, "We're literally not buying anything."

Twenty minutes later, both of us walked out carrying bags.

Nobody even questioned it. 😭

Later we visited Patwon Ki Haveli, and this is where the boys officially gave up on waiting for pictures.

"Guys, one quick photo."

Never believe a girl who says this on vacation.

One photo became twenty-seven.

Kabir and Yash eventually found somewhere to sit while we finished our completely unnecessary photoshoot.

Honestly? Fair.

But the REAL reason I wanted to do this trip was the desert.

We headed towards Sam Sand Dunes in the afternoon, and the moment the city disappeared behind us, everything changed.

Just open roads, desert and blue sky.

Then came the jeep safari.

Our driver casually asked whether we wanted the normal ride or the adventurous one.

Yash answered "adventure" before consulting literally anybody.

Five minutes later, our jeep was flying over sand dunes while Sakshi and I were screaming and Kabir was laughing at everyone.

I genuinely thought my sunglasses were going to end up somewhere in Pakistan. 😭

After that, we tried the camel safari, which looked very elegant when other people were doing it.

Apparently elegance wasn't included in our package.

Getting ON the camel itself was an experience.

But once we were actually moving through the desert, it became surprisingly peaceful.

And then came sunset.

Honestly... easily my favourite moment of the trip.

We sat on the dunes watching the sky turn from yellow to orange to pink. For once, nobody was rushing to the next place.

We just sat there.

That night we stayed at a desert camp with folk music, traditional performances and Rajasthani food.

At some point Kabir and Yash decided they could copy the dancers.

They absolutely could not.

But watching them try was probably worth the entire cost of the trip. 😭

Later, we grabbed blankets and sat outside the tents talking until ridiculously late.

No cafés.

No traffic.

No city lights.

Just cold desert air, stars and conversations that somehow became deeper as the night went on.

Our last morning was slow. We had chai, walked around the camp and complained about how sand had somehow entered every possible item we owned.

Shoes? Sand.

Bag? Sand.

Jacket pocket?

SAND.

I found some in my suitcase after coming home too. 😭

Jaisalmer was beautiful, obviously.

But when I think about this trip now, I don't immediately remember the fort or the havelis.

I remember screaming during the jeep safari, watching my friends embarrass themselves while dancing, sitting on the dunes during sunset and laughing inside our tents at 1 AM.

Basically...

exactly how a friends' trip should be.