District Magistrate / Collector
Anupama Jorwal
Jaisalmer district
Know Your District
Jaisalmer
Golden City, desert fort, Thar landscapes and frontier energy
Last verified: 2026-05-05
Jaisalmer combines a 12th-century desert fort, Thar geography, sandstone havelis, Desert National Park and a growing renewable-energy profile in western Rajasthan.
District at a Glance
| Population | Jaisalmer district recorded a 2011 Census population of 669,919 people. |
|---|---|
| Area | Jaisalmer district covered 38,401 square kilometres in the 2011 Census table. |
| Density | Jaisalmer district's 2011 population density was 17 persons per square kilometre. |
| Sex Ratio | Jaisalmer district's 2011 sex ratio was 852 females per 1,000 males. |
| Literacy | Jaisalmer district's average literacy rate in 2011 was 57.22 percent. |
| Urban Bodies | The 2011 District Census Handbook lists Jaisalmer and Pokaran as Jaisalmer district's two statutory towns. |
District Administration
Current officeholders — sourced from public records.
Superintendent of Police
Abhishek Shivhare
Jaisalmer district
Additional District Magistrate
Parsa Ram
Jaisalmer district
District and Sessions Judge
Omi Purohit
Jaisalmer Judgeship
Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha)
Ummeda Ram Beniwal
Barmer Lok Sabha constituency
Indian National Congress
Member of Legislative Assembly
Chhotu Singh
Jaisalmer Assembly constituency
Bharatiya Janata Party
Member of Legislative Assembly
Pratap Puri
Pokran Assembly constituency
Bharatiya Janata Party
History — Ancient → Medieval → Modern
Foundation Era
The town of Jaisalmer was founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal, a Rajput chief.
State Power
In the 12th century, Jaisalmer state reached the height of its power.
Khalji Attack
Alauddin Khalji's forces captured and sacked Jaisalmer; later, the state's fortunes declined.
British Relations
Jaisalmer entered into political relations with the British in 1818.
Rajasthan Merger
Jaisalmer joined the state of Rajasthan in 1949.
UNESCO Listing
Jaisalmer Fort is one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan inscribed by UNESCO in 2013.
Desert Fort
UNESCO describes Jaisalmer as a hill fort in desert terrain.
Protected Monuments
Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore and Jaisalmer Forts are protected as Monuments of National Importance of India.
Art, Culture, Heritage & Tourism
Sonar Quila
Jaisalmer Fort is also called Sonar Quila because it rises from the desert and matches the golden hues of the sand.
Jain Temple Art
The Jain temples inside Jaisalmer Fort date from the 12th to the 15th centuries.
Nathmal Haveli
Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli was built by two architect brothers in the 19th century.
Salim Singh Haveli
Salim Singh Ki Haveli was constructed in 1815 as the home of Salim Singh Mahto, a prime minister of Jaisalmer.
Patwon Carvings
Patwon Ki Haveli is described by Rajasthan Tourism as one of Jaisalmer's largest and most elaborately carved havelis.
Desert Festival
The Desert Festival is organised by the Department of Tourism around January-February and showcases Rajasthani folk culture.
Godawan Display
Jaisalmer Government Museum displays a trophy of Rajasthan's state bird, the Godawan or great Indian bustard.
Geography, Climate & Ecology
Desert Location
Jaisalmer town is situated on a level plain in the Thar Desert about 215 kilometres northwest of Jodhpur.
Border Setting
Rajasthan Tourism describes Jaisalmer as close to the Pakistan border and near the Thar Desert.
Thar Terrain
The surrounding Jaisalmer region consists almost entirely of sandy waste forming part of the Thar Desert.
Kakni Stream
The Kakni River is described as the only stream in the surrounding Jaisalmer region.
Desert Park
Desert National Park covers 3,162 square kilometres, including 1,900 square kilometres in Jaisalmer district.
Arid Climate
The Desert National Park area falls in an extreme hot and arid region with very low rainfall below 100 mm.
Sand Dunes
UNESCO notes that sand dunes are the predominant landform in Jaisalmer, covering 44.8 percent of the area.
Protected Area
Desert National Park was gazetted in 1980.
Economy — Sectors, Industry, Energy
Millet Crops
Bajra and jowar are the chief crops in the surrounding Jaisalmer region.
Livestock Rearing
Goat, camel, sheep and cattle breeding is widespread in the surrounding Jaisalmer region.
Mineral Deposits
Limestone, fuller's earth and gypsum deposits are worked in the Jaisalmer region.
Solar Energy
The Fatehgarh Solar Park in Jaisalmer district is planned with a total capacity of 1,500 MW over 9,981 acres.
Wind Power
NHPC's Jaisalmer Wind Power Project has an installed capacity of 50 MW at Lakhmana village in Fatehgarh tehsil.
Political & Administrative Setup
Development Blocks
The industrial profile lists Jaisalmer, Sam and Sankra as the district's three development blocks.
Gram Panchayats
The industrial profile lists 140 gram panchayats in Jaisalmer district.
Urban Municipalities
Jaisalmer district had two Nagar Palikas: Jaisalmer and Pokaran.
Assembly Constituency
The Election Department map identifies Jaisalmer-132 as an assembly constituency in Jaisalmer district.
Governance Initiatives & Schemes (2025-26)
Tap Connections
Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide a functional household tap connection to every rural household by 2024.
Water Service Standard
Jal Jeevan Mission's service-level goal is 55 litres per capita per day for rural household tap connections.
Aspirational Districts
The Aspirational Districts Programme was launched in January 2018 to transform 112 under-developed districts across India.
Progress Indicators
The Aspirational Districts Programme ranks district progress across 49 indicators under five socio-economic themes.
PYQ One-Liners (RAS / RPSC / RSSB)
Verify exact options from official RPSC / RSSB question papers before any examination use.
Rajasthan Patwar 2021
Q. In a Rajasthan Patwar 2021 paper match item, National Desert was paired with which district?
A. Jaisalmer
Test yourself — 10 questions
A quick self-check drawn from the district reference above. Bilingual, no login required.
Question 1 of 10
Who founded the town of Jaisalmer in 1156?
Frequently asked questions
Why is Jaisalmer called the Golden City?
Jaisalmer is called the Golden City in Rajasthan Tourism material.
Where can visitors take desert safaris in Jaisalmer?
Tourists can take camel or camel-cart safaris at Sam sand dunes and Khuri sand dunes.
What is noted about Tanot Mata Temple near Jaisalmer?
Tanot Mata Temple is about 120 kilometres from Jaisalmer and is managed by a BSF Trust.
What is Akal Wood Fossil Park?
Akal Wood Fossil Park is a 21-hectare preserved area about 17 kilometres from Jaisalmer towards Barmer.