Barmer itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Barmer

1. 01

   Day 1: Garh hill and Kiradu

   Start early at the old Barmer fort area and the temples on the hill above it, while the air is still cool. Drive about 35 km to the Kiradu temples for the middle of the morning and spend one to two hours among the Someshvara and Vishnu ruins. Return to town for lunch and a rest through the worst of the heat. In the late afternoon, drive a few kilometres out to the Mahabar dunes for the low light, then ask your hotel about a local craft or music session if one can be arranged.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Kiradu Temples	1 to 2 hours	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon, November to February

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Kiradu Temples: The ground is flat but uneven, with broken stone and sand between temples. There is little shade or seating and no confirmed facilities, so it suits those who can stand and walk slowly for an hour. The Someshvara temple is the nearest to the road.

Plan 02

2 days in Barmer

1. 01

   Day 1: The town and the old capital

   Spend the morning at the Garh hill temples, then drive out to Juna to see the site of the earlier capital and the remains of the Jain temple. Lunch and rest in town. Visit the market area for local applique and embroidery, and finish at the dunes at sunset.

2. 02

   Day 2: Kiradu, then pilgrimage options

   Go to Kiradu first thing and give it a slow morning. For the afternoon, decide between a rest day or a longer drive towards the Balotra side for Jasol's Rani Bhatiyani temple or the Nakoda Jain tirth; both are long drives and are best treated as a separate half day or an overnight on the way to Jodhpur.

Plan 03

3 days in Barmer

1. 01

   Day 1: Town, Garh hill and the dunes

   Garh hill temples in the morning, rest in the afternoon, then the Mahabar dunes at sunset.

2. 02

   Day 2: Kiradu and Juna

   Kiradu early, Juna on the way back or in the afternoon, then an unhurried evening. Ask about a Manganiyar performance if your hotel can arrange one.

3. 03

   Day 3: Towards Balotra district

   Drive towards the Nakoda Jain temple and Jasol, with Siwana Fort as an optional, much longer stretch. Continue to Jodhpur at the end of the day if your trip is heading that way.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Siwana Fort	1 to 2 hours plus long travel	Demanding	Winter mornings

   Pace: Siwana Fort involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Siwana Fort: The fort is on a hilltop and involves a climb over rough ground, with no confirmed facilities. It is a hard visit for older travellers, who may prefer to view it from the base.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Barmer trip for parents and children

• Go between November and February, and plan sightseeing for the first half of the morning and the last hour before sunset.
• Kiradu has little shade or seating and uneven stone. Wear closed, grippy shoes, carry a hat and water, and sit out the walk between temples if needed.
• Long drives are the real strain. Budget half a day each for the Balotra-side sights and take breaks.
• Confirm hotel basics (lift, air conditioning, backup power) in advance, because options are limited and quality varies.
• Carry any regular medication and a small first-aid kit; hospital choice is in the town, not at the sights.
• Hire a car with a driver who knows the Kiradu road and keep fuel and phone charge topped up before leaving town.

Barmer with elderly parents: the full guide →