How to Reach Jaisalmer from Mumbai by Train: Timings, Fares and Practical Tips

Mumbai to Jaisalmer is about 1,236 km, which sounds exhausting on paper. On a train, it’s surprisingly easy. You board around lunchtime, sleep through Gujarat, and wake up with Rajasthan’s dry, golden scrubland sliding past your window. No bus changes, no taxi haggling, just one long, rhythmic ride.

The direct train: Bandra Terminus–Jaisalmer Superfast Express (22931)

There’s exactly one direct train, and it runs only on Fridays. It leaves Bandra Terminus at 12:15 PM, stops at Borivali shortly after 12:30 PM, and pulls into Jaisalmer at 9:40 AM the next morning. Jaisalmer is the last station on the line, so you can’t sleep past your stop.

Fares and timings can change, so confirm on IRCTC or NTES before you book.

A small stop worth knowing about

Around 7:05 AM the train reaches Pokaran, the town India’s nuclear tests made famous. It’s scheduled to halt for up to 20 minutes, just enough for a cup of chai and your first real look at the desert light. Some timetable sites show a shorter halt, though, so don’t wander far from the door.

The catch most guides skip

The return train, 22932, also runs just once a week, on Saturdays. It leaves Jaisalmer at about 6:10 PM and reaches Bandra Terminus around 3:50 PM on Sunday.

Now do the math. You arrive on Saturday morning, and the return leaves that same evening. That gives you barely eight hours in Jaisalmer. So if you want to use both direct trains, you’re really planning a full week there. For a shorter trip, book your way back via Jodhpur on a daily train.

If the direct train is full

Your best Plan B is going through Jodhpur:

• Mumbai to Jodhpur: The daily Suryanagri Express (12480) leaves Bandra Terminus around 1:25 PM and reaches Jodhpur at about 5:15 AM.
• Jodhpur to Jaisalmer: It takes roughly 5.5 to 6.5 hours. One morning option, the Jodhpur–Jaisalmer Express (14810), leaves around 7:05 AM and arrives near 12:40 PM.

That’s around 23 hours door to door, not far off the direct train. The Jodhpur gap is only about two hours, though. If the Suryanagri runs late, you could miss the connection, so don’t plan anything rigid around it.

Booking your ticket

Book on IRCTC. The official site (irctc.co.in) and its app are the safest place to book. Apps like ConfirmTkt and ixigo are handy for checking seat availability and comparing options. Many travellers use them, and it’s smart to do a quick cross-check. Just treat IRCTC and NTES as the final word for timings and availability.

• Book early. Reservations open 60 days ahead. From October to March, when Jaisalmer is busiest, don’t wait.
• Tatkal is possible, with homework. It opens the day before travel, at 10 AM for AC and 11 AM for Sleeper. As of now, you need an Aadhaar-verified IRCTC account for it, so link yours well before the day.
• Know your chart timing. For a train leaving before 2 PM, like this one, the first reservation chart is prepared around 9 PM the night before. That’s when your waitlist status becomes clear. A final chart follows about 30 minutes before departure.

Before you leave home

• Carry original ID. At least one passenger on the ticket needs an original ID, such as a voter ID, passport, PAN card, driving licence or Aadhaar. A Aadhaar shown through your DigiLocker “Issued Documents” section also counts. Your e-ticket SMS or VRM is enough, so no printout needed.
• Reach the station early. Aim to be at Bandra Terminus by around 11:15 AM for the 12:15 PM departure. Railways usually advise 30 to 45 minutes early, and an hour during busy periods. Friday afternoon traffic in Mumbai is unpredictable, so give yourself a cushion. Boarding at Borivali? Be on the platform by around 11:45 AM.
• Check your platform and train status on the day. NTES (website and app) or the 139 helpline will show the live status. Platforms can change closer to departure, so look again once you’re at the station.

On board

• Pack for cold. Winter mornings in Jaisalmer can drop to around 5°C. AC coaches provide bedding, Sleeper doesn’t, so bring a shawl or jacket.
• Don’t count on the pantry car. Some sites list one, others say there isn’t any. Carry snacks and water, or pre-order through IRCTC e-catering.
• Bring a power bank. Charging points on long runs can be unreliable.

Arriving in Jaisalmer

A 9:40 AM arrival is earlier than most hotel check-in times, so ask in advance for early check-in or at least a luggage hold. The fort is only about 2 km from the station, a ten-minute ride. Sam Sand Dunes are around 40 km out, and Khuri, about 50 km away, is the quieter alternative if Sam feels too crowded.

If you’d rather have your hotel, transfers and sightseeing arranged before leaving Mumbai, you can explore a Jaisalmer tour package from Mumbai and plan the trip around your train schedule.