Jaisalmer Havelis Heritage walk

After exploring the Jaisalmer fort we continued our journey outside the fort and into the heritage streets of Jaisalmer.

Gorgeous heritage streets of the Jaisalmer city

The heritage walk through the city’s monumental buildings starts from the Mandir Palace, and passes through the Nathmal ki haveli, Patwa ki haveli, Salim ki haveli and ending up at the beautiful Gadisar Lake.
We were quite disappointed after visiting the Mandir Palace, as there was nothing much to watch out for inside its museum and the entry ticket we paid was definitely not worth. Major portion of the palace is now a hotel, with a small portion open for public. It took us less than 15mins to see the museum as there is nothing special about the artifacts.
Having said this it is still a much see from its exteriors with its striking Tazia tower. The palace is also known as Badal palace.

Tazia tower and the Mandir Palace

Nathmal-ki-Haveli (19th-century), once used as the prime ministers house of Jaisalmer

Traditionally crafted house facade in Jaisalmer

Elegantly crafted windows and Jharokhas of houses in Jaisalmer

Medieval style heritage streets of Jaisalmer

Patwon ki Haveliyan:
Walked down the narrow lanes to reach the Patwa ki haveli, which by its first glimpse looked marvellous.

18th century Patwa Havelis

Patwa Haveli comprises of five grandiose havelis built in yellow sandstone during the eighteenth century by Ghuman Chand Patwa for his five sons as a gift. Later on to explore better opportunities the Patwa’s left the city and leaving behind the havelis at the mercy of its care takers. It was later put on sale and the first haveli was purchased by the Kothari’s and is now open for public as a protected monument.The second and third havelis are not open to public, while the last two mansions are open for public which is under the maintenance of government. All the five mansions are huge ranging from three to five storeyed, and intricately carved facades of the five mansions together looks phenomenal.

Elegantly crafted stone sculptured facades of the 2nd Haveli

Rajasthani traditional wear

Facades of last of the Patwa Havelis

Patwa Havelis from the backside

Inside the Kothari’s Patwa Haveli are few prominent rooms, not to be missed among them is the outstanding Mohini Vilas with its secret safe, the drawing room, Jeevan vilas with its miniature ghanta ghar of Jodhpur made of wood, and the munim’s chamber. Unlike other ticketed monuments in Jaisalmer, this one is very well maintained and is definitely a must visit in Jaisalmer.
The beauty of the Kothari’s Patwa Haveli is better described with photos:

Kotharis Patwa Haveli

Mohini Vilas and its graceful mirror works

Elegance at its best, Drawing room inside Kothari’s Patwa Haveli

Jeevan vilas with its impressive paintings

Jeevan vilas and the golden murals

ground floor lobby and the central courtyard

Salim Singh ki Haveli, delicately carved out of yellow sandstone

Gadisar lake:
The last attraction of the day was the Gadisar lake, built around 1400 A.D. by the then maharaja of Jaisalmer, Maharwal Gadsi Singh, like an oasis in the middle of the desert.
It was getting darker and we didn't want to miss the sunset so rushed and were lucky to reach at the right time. The sky was painted with shades of red and its reflections on the lake, the Sun was trying to hide behind the city and hundreds of pigeons patrolling across the shrines in the middle of the lake and the beautiful arch gateway, in a single word it was breathtaking. A perfect place to end our Jaisalmer tour.

Beautiful sunset from the gadisar lake

Gadi sagar night view