Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli is located in

Correct — option (4), Jaisalmer.

Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli is in Jaisalmer. Rajasthan Tourism's page on Jaisalmer describes it alongside two other havelis of the city, Salim Singh Ki Haveli and Patwon Ki Haveli.

The same page says two architect brothers built Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli in the 19th century. They worked on the building from two sides, and the result is a symmetrical construction.

Its decoration uses miniature-style paintings and "mighty tuskers carved out of yellow sandstone".

The haveli belongs to the old city whose landmark is Jaisalmer Fort, also called Sonar Qila (Golden Fort). Rajasthan Tourism notes that the fort houses shops, hotels and ancient havelis where generations continue to live.

Nathmal Ji, Salim Singh and Patwon — three havelis, one city: Jaisalmer.

Why the others are wrong

• (1)
  Barmer — Barmer is the town near the Kiradu Temples. Rajasthan Tourism places them about 35 km from Barmer: five temples in the Solanki style, dedicated to Shiva, of which it singles out the Someshvara temple.

  The same page credits Rawat Bhima with building Barmer Fort in 1552 AD. Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli is described on the Jaisalmer page, not the Barmer one.

• (2)
  Bikaner — Bikaner has havelis of its own, but a different group: the Rampuria Group of Havelis, which Rajasthan Tourism calls the city's most famous cluster. They are built of dulmera (red) stone.

  Bikaner's fort is Junagarh, built in 1588 AD by Raja Rai Singh. Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli, with its yellow sandstone elephants, is in Jaisalmer.

• (3)
  Jodhpur — Jodhpur's fort is Mehrangarh Fort, which Rajasthan Tourism describes as rising from a hill 125 metres above the city's skyline. The Ghanta Ghar (clock tower), built by Maharaja Sardar Singh, is another Jodhpur landmark.

  Jodhpur and Jaisalmer are both western Rajasthan cities with forts and old quarters, but Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli is in Jaisalmer.

A haveli is a large town house. Rajasthan Tourism calls Bikaner's havelis "aristocratic homes" and names their parts: jharokhas (casements), entrances, latticed windows, divankhanas and basements.

Rajasthan Tourism's Jaisalmer page describes three havelis by name. Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli was built in the 19th century by two architect brothers working from two sides. Patwon Ki Haveli, a five-storey building, is described as among the largest and most elaborately carved havelis in Jaisalmer.

Salim Singh Ki Haveli dates from the first half of the 18th century, and its arched roof rests on brackets carved as peacocks. The page records a legend that it once had two more wooden storeys, which the Maharaja ordered pulled down.

The stone differs in these descriptions: Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli's elephants are yellow sandstone, while Bikaner's Rampuria Havelis are red dulmera stone.

Key facts

• Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli is in Jaisalmer; Rajasthan Tourism says two architect brothers built it in the 19th century.
• The brothers worked on the haveli from two sides; its decoration includes miniature-style paintings and elephants carved in yellow sandstone.
• Patwon Ki Haveli, Jaisalmer, is a five-storey building described as among the largest and most elaborately carved havelis in the city.
• Salim Singh Ki Haveli, Jaisalmer, dates from the first half of the 18th century; peacock-shaped brackets support its arched roof.
• Rajasthan Tourism calls the Rampuria Group, built of red dulmera stone, the most famous cluster of havelis in Bikaner.

Common traps

• Treating every carved haveli as Jaisalmer's. Bikaner has its own group, the Rampuria Havelis, in red stone.
• Mixing up the three Jaisalmer havelis: Nathmal Ji (19th century, two brothers), Salim Singh (first half of the 18th century, peacock brackets), Patwon (five storeys).
• Choosing by region instead of by monument. Barmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur are also western Rajasthan cities with forts.

UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2018 and 2013 here once those papers are published on this site.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Which haveli of Jaisalmer was built in the first half of the 18th century and has an arched roof supported by brackets carved as peacocks?

  • (a)Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli
  • (b)Salim Singh Ki Haveli
  • (c)Patwon Ki Haveli
  • (d)Rampuria Haveli
  Answer(2) — Rajasthan Tourism dates Salim Singh Ki Haveli to the first half of the 18th century and describes its peacock-shaped brackets. Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli (1) was built in the 19th century by two architect brothers. Patwon Ki Haveli (3) is the five-storey haveli. Rampuria Haveli (4) is in Bikaner, not Jaisalmer.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Rampuria Group of Havelis is located in

  • (a)Jaisalmer
  • (b)Bikaner
  • (c)Jodhpur
  • (d)Barmer
  Answer(2) — Rajasthan Tourism lists the Rampuria Group, built of red dulmera stone, in Bikaner. Jaisalmer (1) has Nathmal Ji, Patwon and Salim Singh havelis. Jodhpur (3) is the city of Mehrangarh Fort. Barmer (4) is the town near the Kiradu Temples.