Salim Singh Ki Haveli was built in 1815 by Salim Singh, the prime minister of the kingdom when Jaisalmer was the capital. This mansion was not created with the help of cements and mortar- the stones are connected with strong iron rods.
This mansion is famous for its distinctive architecture as it is constitutes 38 gracefully carved balconies. The architecture of this mansion is inspired by dancing peacock. One of the most ambitious constructions of its times, the Haveli is so magnificent, that it even invited the ruler’s envy during its era.
In which city does Salim Singh Ki Haveli locate?
in Jaisalmer, known as the Golden City, for being built majorly out of yellow sandstone and its golden sand-dunes, the city of Jaisalmer was a medieval trading hub and a formerly princely state. The city is situated within the Thar Desert and you can experience the attractions on camel-back too. An exotic desert city, Jaisalmer has a lot to offer to culture enthusiasts. One of the major attractions in the city is the Salim Singh Ki Haveli.
Historical Background about Salim Singh Ki Haveli
At one point, Jaisalmer was the capital of Rajasthan, and the prime minister in 1815 was Salim Singh. He created a mansion with distinctive architecture, making the haveli a must-visit place. Interestingly, the legend has it that Salim Singh was not a very nice person. Having gone through childhood trauma, where he watched his father being killed by royal officials, he grew up hating the royals and wanted to avenge his father’s death by overthrowing the king.
When he became the prime minister, he was vicious and cruel in his dealings with the people of the city, making him notorious for not being a nice person. In his quest for vengeance, he set out to build himself a structure, the haveli, which looked even grander than the King’s residence. He also ordered two extra stories to be built so that his haveli was taller than that of the king’s – which did not go down well at all with the king.
The royals were treated with great reverence and it was not heard of for people to try to slow them down – so the king ordered the demolition of the top two stories. This ended up making Salim Singh hate the king even more. Interestingly though, the structure is so beautiful, it seems almost strange that it could be built as a sign of vengeance!