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Rajasthan

Kolayat

Kapil Muni's ghats on a temple lake in the open Thar

SpiritualLakesDesert

Best time to visit Kolayat

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to September

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Kolayat season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

At 5-25 C the ghats are quiet again after the fair, the lake still holds water, and sunset over the temples is the point.

Summer March to May Shoulder

April-June runs past 45 C with dust off the Thar, the lake shrinks back, and there is no shade anywhere on the ghats.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Barely 250 mm falls this far into the desert, so July-September is just 38 C and sticky with nothing at all gained.

Autumn October to November Prime time

October cools fast, then the Kartik Purnima fair in November floats thousands of lamps on the lake and fills every bed.

What Kolayat is actually like

A pilgrim lake town of dharamshalas and basic lodges: sadhus, cattle traders and Bikaner day trippers, no travellers

Things to do in Kolayat

The local places worth your time in and around Kolayat, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Kapil Muni Temple

    Temple · in town

    Lakeside shrine to the sage Kapil that the town exists for; the Kartik Purnima fair fills it, any other week you are alone.

  • Kapil Sarovar

    Ghat · in town

    Temple lake ringed by ghats and dharamshalas; sit on the west steps at sunset, and do not swim, this is a bathing tank.

  • Gajner Palace

    Palace · 20 km out

    Bikaner's lake palace hunting lodge inside a sanctuary, now a hotel; day visitors can walk the lake path, best at dawn.

  • Kodamdesar Bhairav Temple

    Temple · 30 km out

    Roofless Bhairav shrine under open sky on the Bikaner road; busy on Sundays, and the dunes behind it repay the detour.

Getting to Kolayat

Buses from Bikaner 50 km on the Jaisalmer road past Gajner, about 1 h; the local station sees few trains

Practical ways in: trainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
1 day
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
222 m
State
Rajasthan
Coordinates
27.8353, 72.9593

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Kolayat?

November to February is peak season in Kolayat. March and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to September. October cools fast, then the Kartik Purnima fair in November floats thousands of lamps on the lake and fills every bed.

How many days do you need in Kolayat?

1 day is the usual stay. A pilgrim lake town of dharamshalas and basic lodges: sadhus, cattle traders and Bikaner day trippers, no travellers.

How do you get to Kolayat?

Buses from Bikaner 50 km on the Jaisalmer road past Gajner, about 1 h; the local station sees few trains. Practical ways in: train and road.

Is Kolayat expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

Is there a festival in Kolayat?

Nov: Kapil Muni fair at Kartik Purnima. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Kolayat?

Kapil Muni Temple, Kapil Sarovar, Gajner Palace and Kodamdesar Bhairav Temple. Lakeside shrine to the sage Kapil that the town exists for; the Kartik Purnima fair fills it, any other week you are alone.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Rajasthan

All 49 destinations in Rajasthan