DAY 4 (5/5): LAST STROLL IN THE GOLDEN CITY, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India, 2018.11.27

Before returning to 1st Gate Home Fusion Hotel, we dropped by Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli, another famous haveli in Jaisalmer. The haveli was built for Diwan Mohata Nathmal, the chief minister of Jaisalmer who served between 1885 – 1891. The haveli was supposedly built by two architects, Hathi and Lulu, who happened to be brothers. Each brother started building the mansion’s from a different facade, and thus the two sides are said to carry subtle differences if looked closely. Unlike Patwon Ki Haveli, Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli is not a museum, nor is it open to the public. Visitors like us can only reach as far as the entrance courtyard that was flanked by a few souvenir shops selling miniature paintings. After a brief stay, we took a leisure stroll back to the hotel. Wandering in the busy market streets of old Jaisalmer and seeing all the vibrant interactions of the locals was a delight. Such delight would left us pleasant memories of the Golden City before we moved on to our next destination by night train.

Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli is considered to be one of the grandest haveli in Jaisalmer.

The two yellow sandstone elephants of Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli are iconic representations of Jaisalmer’s splendid architectural carvings.

Visitors can only go as far as the entrance courtyard of Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli.

After stopping by at Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli, we wandered a bit in old Jaisalmer to find our way back to 1st Gate Home Fusion Hotel.

In the maze like network of small streets, we passed by two stone workers who were preparing stone blocks from a pile of local yellow sandstone.

At a street intersection, a group of men gathered for some sort of discussion at a beautiful veranda.

Shops lined on both sides of small market streets. Cows were free to roam around on the streets (and shops).

It was strange to see cows roaming freely on the streets while some ended up becoming leather goods in shops.

Despite the remote desert location, fresh vegetables were sold in abundance.

It was late in the afternoon and there were only two vendors left at this market square.

Most shops were completely open to the streets, including these tailor shops.

Just like other places in Rajasthan, garments of vivid colours were always the most popular among locals.

For snacks, sweet pastries seemed to be the way to go.

Cakes with sharp colours and sweet flavour: Indian style.

We passed by the popular Bhatia Sweets near the first gate of the fort. Both locals and foreign visitors gathered here for their regional sweets ghotua laddu, kalakand, etc.

We returned to 1st Gate Home Fusion Hotel near the fort, where we had dinner at the rooftop restaurant again. Despite we had already check out of our room, the manager let us stay at the massage room until it was time for us to leave for our midnight train.