Patwon Ki Haveli Jaisalmer

About Patwon ki Haveli
Vital Information for Visitors
Address:

Patwon Ki Haveli, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Open & Close:

Open on all days

Visiting Time:

08 AM – 05 PM

Entry Fees:

For Indians – INR 20 pp
For foreigner – INR 100 pp

Duration:

Approx 1 - 2 hrs

Significance:

Amalgam of Rajput & Islamic architecture

Attraction:

Intricate golden stone carvings & sculptures

Golden City of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer has emerged as a tourist hotspot on India’s tourism map. Known for forts, palaces, mazes & alleyways, Jaisalmer boasts of delicately carved mansions of nobles called ‘havelis’. Four gigantic buildings with artistic and sculptural splendour built by Patwa merchants in the 18th century are the famous havelis. All of it is a real gem of Indian architecture. The most significant haveli is the Patwon ki Haveli. Patwon ki Haveli, a beautiful masterpiece of architecture, is a cluster of five havelis. It was built in 1805 AD by Guman Chand Patwa, a jewelry and brocades trader. Another historical importance can be gauged by the fact that Patwon Ki Haveli is the second ever haveli built in Rajasthan and the first haveli of Jaisalmer. As the story goes, the Patwa family decided to have five havelis built, one for each son. They were told by a priest that Jaisalmer is not good for their fortune. So, they shifted cities. Money & opportunities came in abundance after their shift. However, they eventually came back to base land, Jaisalmer and the father had these havelis constructed for his children, against what the priest had suggested. Soon after, the money started flowing out and things seemed to go downhill for them, which led them to selling these havelis and moving out of the city.

These five havelis, built of beautiful yellow sandstone, had been constructed in 50 years. These five havelis form a uniform whole. Out of these five havelis, two are in possession of the government and are being utilized as the offices of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the State Arts & Crafts Department. The third haveli has a large collection of the work of the local craftsmen from the past. It also has a little gallery that displays all the turbans ever seen in that era and is called the ‘Turban Gallery’. The largest among the five havelis houses a museum and a store for antique furniture. The fifth one is now a private accommodation & allows travelers to stay and experience life in a haveli.

These mansions are very beautifully built with walls covered with gorgeous mirror work and artistic paintings. The arches are uniquely designed and stand out. All these havelis are built in traditional Indian way – rooms around a large courtyard. Although all the five havelis are beautiful and unique in their own way but the first haveli is the finest in the lot. Beautiful doorways, intricate carvings and more than 60 balconies make it look magnificent. When the sunlight falls in through these ‘jallis’ in stone, the whole place shines brilliantly. The colorful contrast between the interiors & the desert landscape is a striking feature of architecture. It’s beautiful to see how the architecture & style is inspired by Indian and Persian styles.

Patwon Ki Haveli is also called as ‘Mansions of the Brocades Merchants’. This name was probably given because the family dealt in threads of gold & silver used in embroidering dresses. There are stories rolling around that the family made most of its money in opium smuggling & money lending. But while the stories come and go and change forms, the pieces of art have remained unchanged and each time new set of eyes and ears visit the place, a new story emerges, a new form takes shape.

Jaisalmer Tour Packages

Cultural Rajasthan Tour

Cultural Rajasthan Tour

14 Nights / 15 Days
Destination : Delhi- Mandawa- Bikaner- Jaisalmer- Jodhpur- Kumbhalgarh- Udaipur- Bundi-Ranthambhore- Jaipur

Golden Triangle with Jaisalmer Tour

Golden Triangle with Jaisalmer Tour

6 Nights / 7 Days
Destination : Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Jaisalmer

Mansions & Havelis of Rajasthan Tours

Mansions & Havelis of Rajasthan Tours

11 Nights / 12 Days
Destination : Delhi-Jaipur-Mandawa-Bikaner-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Rohet-Ranakpur-Udaipur-Dungarpur

North India Holidays Tour

North India Holidays Tour

12 Nights / 13 Days
Destination : Delhi-Jodhpur – Jaisalmer- Udaipur- Jaipur- Agra- Varanasi

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