Salim Singh ki Haveli is a tall, narrow mansion built around 1815 by the powerful prime minister of Jaisalmer. Its most distinctive feature is the top floor: a series of arched balconies that fan out like a peacock's tail, supported on elaborate corbels. This overhanging upper storey gives the building a surreal quality — from certain angles it looks as if it might topple. The jali screens and carved stone balconies throughout the building are exceptionally fine.
Unlike the Patwon ki Haveli, which is now partly a museum, Salim Singh ki Haveli is still privately owned by the descendants of the original family. The ground and middle floors are open to visitors for a small fee; the upper floors are still in residential use. The interior is somewhat sparsely furnished but the stone carving on the pillars and ceilings is worth seeing. The building's exterior, particularly the extraordinary top storey, is best appreciated from the narrow lane directly in front of it.
The haveli is a short walk from Jaisalmer Fort, making it easy to combine with a visit to the fort or the nearby Patwon ki Haveli.