Patwon Ki Haveli

One of the largest havelis in Rajasthan, Patwon ki Haveli is a cluster of five small havelis, and is part of the must see circuit of Jaisalmer. And I guess what's noteworthy is that it's as grand and fancy as a palace, but is still not royalty.

It was built by a wealthy jewellery and brocades dealer, Guman Chand Patwa, and what was started in 1805 took almost 55 years to be build. 

And true to every building in Jaisalmer, it looks like it were dipped in gold ( every building in Jaisalmer is this shade of gold) . It's the natural colour of the stone there, and it's from there that it gets it's sobriquet  'The Golden City'

The architecture is really detailed and intricate .....with lots of wall paintings, mirrored rooms, beautiful jharokhas, archways and gateways. 

Look at just how intricate that ceiling is. It's a pooja place inside the haveli. A Jain mandir.

Redefines a barsaathi :)

    

The inside...this was a games room with all kinds of board games laid out, including a brocade pachees set.     

    

Dining area

This was a full on cliched picture...it was just so much jarokha that we had to do it :)

That's the city from the terrace of the haveli...just to show how every building is the same golden yellow

Well, when asked to pose in the middle of a conversation :)

The women looked so much more colourful and attractive than the trinkets they were selling

Footpath shopping for shades, like dark shades, as we were headed into the desert

And then we went onto Sam Point which is the entry into Thar desert