If you’re in Jaisalmer and you only have one extra half-day to step beyond the fort’s honeyed ramparts, make it Lodurva (also spelt Lodhruva/Lodarva). About 15 km northwest of the city, the ancient capital of the Bhati Rajputs shelters a dazzling Jain temple complex whose pale-gold stone gleams against the Thar’s big sky.

Nestled in the heart of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan—famously known as the “Golden City”—lies a cluster of ornate sandstone mansions collectively known as Patwon Ki Haveli. Constructed in the early 19th century, these havelis represent the pinnacle of Jaisalmer’s merchant aristocracy, their grandeur reflecting the cultural, economic, and architectural zeitgeist of their era.