Nathmal ki Haveli

A late 19th-century haveli built by two brothers — each working independently on one half

Nathmal ki Haveli is the youngest of Jaisalmer's three great havelis, built in the late 19th century by the diwan (prime minister) Nathmal. It occupies an irregular corner plot on the road below the fort, and the builders adapted the design around the site rather than imposing a symmetrical plan. The facade is carved entirely from yellow sandstone and features some unusual motifs for a Rajasthani haveli — there are two stone elephants flanking the entrance, and close inspection of the carvings reveals bicycles, which were a novelty at the time of construction.

The interior has a fine courtyard and several ornately carved reception rooms with painted ceilings. Much of the haveli is still privately occupied; visitors are shown through the accessible areas for a small donation. The street-facing elevation, particularly the upper balconies and the carved screens, is the main attraction.

Nathmal ki Haveli is a short walk from Gadisar Lake and is often included in a half-day loop of the old town with the other havelis.

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A story
The haveli was built by two brothers, Hathi and Lulu, who were competing craftsmen. Each was assigned one side of the facade and worked independently, not looking at the other's progress. When the scaffolding came down, the two halves were almost identical — but if you look closely, the differences in detail reveal where each man's individual style took over.

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