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The beautiful mansions
built by Jaisalmer's wealthy merchants are
known as 'havelis' and several of these
fine sandstone buildings are still in
beautiful condition. Patwon ki Haveli is
the most elaborate and magnificent of all
the Jaisalmer havelis. It stands in a
narrow lane and one of its apartments is
painted with beautiful murals -
unfortunately, at present, the building is
closed up and not lived in. Salim Singh ki
Haveli was built about 300 years ago and
is still partially lived in.
Salim Singh was the prime minister when
Jaisalmer was the capital of a princely
state and his mansion has a beautifully
arched roof with superb carved brackets
inn the form of peacocks. The mansion is
just below the hill and, it is said, once
had two additional wooden storeys in an
attempt to make it as high as the
Maharaja's Palace. The Maharaja of
Jaisalmer had the upper storeys turned
down!
The late 19th century Nathmal ki Haveli
was also a prime minister's house. The
left and right wings of the building were
carved by brothers and are very similar
but not identical. Yellow sandstone
elephants guard the building and the front
door alone is a work of art.
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