Patwon Ki Haveli is a cluster of five sandstone mansions in Jaisalmer, built from 1805 by the merchant Guman Chand Patwa. Visitors tour Kothari’s museum, which opens around 9 AM.
This guide covers the history, current owners, timings, ticket price, what to see and how to reach the lane from Jaisalmer Fort.
However, sources disagree on fees, hours and ownership, so we flag each conflict. Confirm the latest details at the ticket counter before you pay.
Key Takeaways
- Guman Chand Patwa began the five mansions in 1805, one for each son.
- Kothari’s Patwa Haveli is a private museum, and one wing is run by the Archaeological Survey of India.
- Most guides list hours of roughly 9 AM to 6 PM, but some differ.
- Kothari’s ticket ranges from ₹60 to ₹100 for Indians, depending on the page.
- The old-city lane is 500 m to 1 km from Jaisalmer Fort, and cars cannot reach the door.
What Is Patwon Ki Haveli?
Patwon Ki Haveli, also called Patwa Haveli, is the first and largest merchant haveli complex in Jaisalmer, according to several guides. It lies in the old walled city.
Five interconnected mansions of yellow sandstone make up the complex. Visitors count more than 60 carved balconies, called jharokhas, across the façades.
Many travellers call it the “Taj Mahal of Jaisalmer”, one guide notes. Only two of the five havelis open to the public.
Searchers use several names for the same place. Patwa Haveli, Patwon Ji Ki Haveli, Kothari’s Patwa Haveli and Patwon Ki Haveli all point to the same complex.
Patwon Ki Haveli History: Who Built It and Why
Guman Chand Patwa, a Jain merchant, began the first haveli in 1805. Guides give the builder’s name as Guman Chand, Ghuman Chand or Guman Singh.
He built five mansions, one for each of his five sons. One guide names them as Bahadurmal, Sawairam, Magniram, Johrawarmal and Pratapchand.
Construction took about 50 to 55 years, depending on the page, because the havelis rose one after another. Most sources place the finish around 1860.
The Patwas traded in gold and silver thread, brocade and banking, which earned them the title “brocade merchants”. One guide says the family ran more than 350 offices across Asia.
Under British rule, the family moved operations to Surat and Bombay and left caretakers behind, according to one guide. The mansions then fell into disrepair.
One guide says Pratapchand also built the Amar Sagar Jain Temple. We could not confirm this on an official source, so treat it as unverified.
Who Owns Patwon Ki Haveli Today?
Ownership is mixed. The original Patwa family no longer runs the complex as a whole, and different havelis have different custodians.
| Haveli | Status | Visitor access |
| Haveli 1 | Kothari’s Patwa Haveli Museum, private | Ticketed museum |
| Haveli 2 | Archaeological Survey of India section | Ticketed, one guide calls it sparse |
| Havelis 3 to 5 | Privately owned | Visible from the lane |
The Kothari name comes from merchant Jeevanlal Kothari, who bought the first mansion, restored it and opened it as a museum, according to one guide.
Another guide says a descendant of the Patwa family lives in the third haveli and manages its upkeep. We could not verify this detail.
Pages also conflict on the museum itself. Incredible India says the Archaeological Survey of India maintains it, while Museums of India lists a private organisation.
The same Museums of India page says the Archaeological Survey took over the havelis in 1974, which does not match its private listing.
Our advice: treat Kothari’s as the private museum, and the second haveli as the government-run wing. Ask at the counter which tickets cover which building.
Patwon Ki Haveli Timings
| Source | Opening hours |
| One travel guide | 9 AM to 6 PM daily |
| Museums of India | 8 AM to 7 PM daily |
| Another travel guide | 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM daily |
| Incredible India | 9 AM to 5 PM daily |
| Third Eye Traveller | ASI haveli 8:30 AM to 6 PM, Kothari’s 9 AM to 6 PM |
Most pages agree the haveli opens daily with no weekly closure. One guide adds that hours may extend during festivals such as Diwali or the Desert Festival.
Our advice: plan to arrive by 9 AM and leave before 5 PM. That window fits every listing and avoids the hottest part of the day.
Ticket Price and Camera Fees
| Section | Indian | Foreign | Source |
| Kothari’s museum | ₹100 | ₹250 | One travel guide |
| Kothari’s museum | ₹60 | ₹120 | Another guide, Museums of India |
| Students | ₹25 | Not listed | Museums of India |
| ASI section | ₹20 | ₹100 | One travel guide |
| Havelis 3 to 5 | Free from the lane | Free from the lane | One travel guide |
The ticket prices conflict, so we could not confirm one correct figure. Bring cash and small notes, and ask for the current price board at the counter.
Camera charges are about ₹50 for stills and ₹100 for video at Kothari’s, according to one guide. Another page says only that small extra charges apply.
Outside photography of the carved façades is free, according to the same guide. Licensed local guides charge about ₹150 to ₹250 for a walk of roughly 45 minutes.
What to See Inside Kothari’s Patwon Ki Haveli
The museum recreates a merchant family’s home with furnished rooms, painted walls and mirror work. One guide says the visit takes one to two hours.
- Living quarters: recreated dining, dressing and main rooms with 19th-century furniture.
- Murals and mirrors: painted ceilings, Belgian mirrors and Rajasthani scenes.
- Collections: turbans, sitars, board games, chess sets and trade items.
- Kitchens and servants’ rooms: large cooking pots and staff areas.
- Hidden niches: spaces behind paintings where merchants stored valuables, according to one guide.
- Rooftop terrace: a view across the city to Jaisalmer Fort.
One guide also lists Persian carpets, chandeliers, opium boxes and silver hookahs. Exhibits change, so some items may not be on display.
Architecture: Jharokhas, Sandstone and Murals
The mansions use yellow Jaisalmer sandstone with jali latticework, arched gateways and elephant-head brackets. One guide also mentions carved peacocks and lotus medallions.
Jharokhas let air circulate in the heat and let residents watch the street. Carvings show daily life, plants, animals and mythical figures, according to Incredible India.
One page says the sandstone blocks fit together without cement. We could not verify this, so treat it as a local claim.
Patwon Ki Haveli Jaisalmer Rajasthan: Location and How to Reach
The haveli sits in a narrow lane in the Patwa Valley area, near the Thar Heritage Museum. One page gives the address as No. 3129, opposite Choora Para.
| Place | Distance from the haveli |
| Jaisalmer Fort | 500 m to 1 km |
| Bus stand | About 1.5 km |
| Railway station | About 2 to 2.5 km |
| Gadisar Lake | About 1.8 to 2 km |
| Jaisalmer Airport | About 13 to 14 km |
Vehicles cannot reach the door. Take an auto-rickshaw to the edge of Sadar Bazar, then walk about 200 m, according to one guide.
By road, one guide lists Jodhpur at about 280 km and Bikaner at about 330 km. The same page lists Jaipur at about 560 km.
If you start from Jaipur, read our guide to places to visit near Jaipur first. Note that it covers stops within 100 km, not the full journey.
Best Time to Visit Patwon Ki Haveli
Most guides recommend October to March for cooler weather. One suggests November to February, and another says October to February.
Summer is harsh. One guide says temperatures can pass 42°C, and another says they can reach 50°C, so avoid midday visits from April to June.
If you plan around a festival, see our guide to the Jaisalmer Desert Festival. Book a stay early, because festival weeks fill quickly.
One-Hour Route With Nearby Havelis and the Fort
Start at Kothari’s when it opens, then walk to nearby sights. The distances below come from one guide, so confirm hours before you go.
| Stop | Distance | Hours and ticket |
| Nathmal Ki Haveli | About 500 m | 10 AM to 9 PM, ₹20 to ₹50 |
| Salim Singh Ki Haveli | About 1 km | 8 AM to 6 PM, ₹20 to ₹50 |
| Jaisalmer Fort | About 1 km | 9 AM to 5:30 PM, ₹50 Indian, ₹200 foreign |
| Gadisar Lake | About 2 km | Open 24 hours, ₹50 Indian, ₹100 foreign |
| Desert Cultural Centre and Museum | About 1.5 km | 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM, ₹50 |
The fort is a major heritage landmark. For more on India’s protected sites, see our guide to UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.
For a full city plan, read our guide to the places to visit in Jaisalmer. It covers sights beyond the old town.
Is Patwon Ki Haveli Worth Visiting?
Most guides say yes, mainly for Kothari’s museum and its rooftop view. One author calls the government-run haveli sparse, so budget most of your time for Kothari’s.
- For: recreated rooms, carved balconies and a rooftop view of the fort.
- For: a compact visit that fits easily into a walking day.
- Against: small, crowded rooms and narrow, steep stairs.
- Against: conflicting prices and sellers near the exit.
Our advice: allow one to two hours here, and combine it with Nathmal Ki Haveli and the fort so the trip feels worth the ticket.
Visitor Tips
- Arrive early, because the rooms and passages are small and fill quickly.
- Follow the one-way route, and watch your step on the narrow, steep stairs.
- Carry water and wear comfortable shoes with good grip.
- Do not touch the carvings, murals or walls.
- Ignore pushy sellers in the market near the exit, and follow the signs.
- Hire a licensed guide if you want the family story behind each room.
For photos, one guide suggests early morning or late afternoon visits for the best light. Our advice: shoot the façade first, then climb to the rooftop.
Details We Could Not Verify
Several figures lack an official source. Confirm each item at the ticket counter or with the Archaeological Survey of India before you travel.
- The current ticket price and camera fees.
- The exact opening and closing hours.
- Who owns each of the five havelis today.
- The builder’s correct name and the exact build time.
- The Amar Sagar temple link and the 350 offices claim.
- Hours and prices for nearby sights.
Final Thoughts on Patwon Ki Haveli
Patwon Ki Haveli rewards an early start. Visit Kothari’s museum first, climb to the rooftop, then walk to Nathmal Ki Haveli and the fort.
Verify prices and hours on arrival, since sources disagree. We will update this guide when official figures become available for tickets and timings.
