At a glance
- Fame: the three are known worldwide for their stone lattice (jali) and carving.
- Owners: Nathmal and Salim Singh were diwans (prime ministers) of Jaisalmer; the Patwas were a merchant family.
- Stone: the Patwon ki and Nathmal ki havelis are of yellow sandstone; Bikaner's havelis are of red stone.
The three havelis of Jaisalmer
| Haveli | Built for and when | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Patwon ki Haveli | Guman Chand Patwa, a merchant, and his sons; first half of the 19th century | A cluster of five adjoining houses, carved fronts and jharokhas |
| Nathmal ki Haveli | Diwan Nathmal; built by the brothers Hathi and Lalu, 1885 | Each brother built one half, so the halves differ in detail; still partly lived in |
| Salim Singh (Salam Singh) ki Haveli | Diwan Salim Singh; early 19th century (Rajasthan Tourism: first half of the 18th) | Arched roof on peacock-shaped brackets; by legend its upper storeys were pulled down so it would not outtop the palace |
Other havelis
- Bikaner: Bachhawaton ki Haveli.
- Udaipur: Bagore ki Haveli on Lake Pichola, built in the 18th century by Amar Chand Badwa, prime minister of Mewar.
- Shekhawati: havelis known for their wall paintings, at Nawalgarh, Mandawa, Fatehpur, Ramgarh and other towns.
Remember: often mixed up
- PlaceNathmal ki Haveli is in Jaisalmer; Jodhpur, Bikaner and Barmer are the usual wrong options.
- Rampuria or Patwonthe Rampuria havelis are Bikaner's · Patwon ki Haveli is Jaisalmer's.
Test yourself: asked in exams
RAS Prelims 2023 · Q17
Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli is located in
- (1)Barmer
- (2)Bikaner
- (3)Jodhpur
- (4)Jaisalmer
Show answer
✓ (4) Jaisalmer
See the full paperProtection Officer 2022 · Q140
Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched ?
- (1)Nathmal ki Haveli – Jodhpur
- (2)Phalvardhika Devi Temple – Mt. Abu
- (3)Chandra Mahal – Jaipur
- (4)Malkot Fort – Hanumangarh
Show answer
✓ (3) Chandra Mahal – Jaipur
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