Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer: A traditional mansion stay within the amazing historic Jaisalmer Fort
Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer is run by Tarun Chouhan, a 33-year-old from Jaisalmer itself. He was born and brought up in Jaisalmer, and this city is very close to his heart.
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Chouhan shares, “Our haveli is more than 750+ years old and fully owned by our family. Since Jaisalmer is a popular tourist place, we felt it was a good idea to open our home to guests and let them experience the beauty of living inside the fort. It gives us a proud feeling to share this heritage with others. Just like guests feel amazed staying here, we feel blessed too, to be living in one of India’s true wonders.”
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History comes alive at Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer
They converted their old house into a hotel in 2005. The Chouhan family’s ancestors lived inside the Jaisalmer Fort, the only living fort in the world. Families who served the king were given homes inside to help protect and preserve it.
“Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer is our ancestral home, later renovated by my father and started as a hotel by my uncle. I’ve been involved since my school days. I’m an engineering graduate and have been living in the Netherlands for the past 7 years. I manage the hotel full-time online, handling bookings, guest coordination, and operations. On-site, our manager Anit Kumar, who is from Nepal and has been with us since 2005, takes care of everything. He’s like family, and our entire team is also from Nepal. I also visit Jaisalmer from time to time and stay for a few months to oversee renovations or maintenance when needed,” he says.
People and tales
At Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer, they love meeting people from everywhere and learning about their cultures and stories. Chouhan says, “When guests check-in, before showing them their room, we spend a few minutes sharing the history of the hotel and Jaisalmer Fort. After they freshen up, we invite them for chai on the terrace as a welcome drink, where we share key tips and stories to explore the city. It’s rewarding to see guests enjoy the heritage and peaceful vibe of our haveli, making hosting truly special.”
They have only 7 rooms at Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer, each decorated in a unique Rajasthani theme – blue, green, red, purple – with traditional bedding. All rooms have city views, and some have sunrise views. The rooftop gives a full 360-degree view of Jaisalmer.
“We are located at the quiet east corner of the fort, which is safe, peaceful, and easy to access. Our focus is on quality service and authentic experience. With just 7 rooms and 5 staff, we give personal attention to every guest. Most of our team has been with us for many years, so they know how to make people feel at home,” he shares.
Fun times
Guests enjoy sunrise views, have breakfast on the terrace, explore the fort and city during the day, relax in the evening with tea or dinner on the rooftop, and end the day under the stars. They offer desert tours with camping options (sleeping under the stars or in Swiss tents) and guided city tours in languages like English, French, German, Hindi, and Bengali.
“We share stories about the fort, play folk music on the terrace, serve traditional food, and even invite local artists and musicians to perform. We serve local dishes. Guests love gatta curry, ker sangri (desert beans), and Laal Maas,” Chouhan says.
The Jaisalmer Desert Festival in February is very popular, full of music, dance, and culture. They also celebrate local festivals like Gangaur, unique to Rajasthan at Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer.
“We mix old charm with needed comfort. Rooms have clean bathrooms, western toilets, hot water, Wi-Fi, and good bedding, but we keep the traditional architecture and vibe untouched. We use solar power and avoid plastic straws and bags (reduce as much as possible). Our toilet paper is recycled, and toiletries are cruelty-free and vegan. We provide bottled water because many foreign tourists prefer sealed bottles for stomach safety, but we also have refill stations to reduce plastic waste. Takeaway boxes are recycled too. We kindly ask guests to save water and reuse towels to help protect the environment,” Chouhan says.
Helping the community
At Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer, they keep a small part of their budget for animal care and local welfare. “We support local musicians who perform at our place, and we help them with food and family needs. We also take part in social work with the hotelier community. We work with local guides, women’s co-operatives, and artisans like silversmiths. All our fruits and vegetables come from nearby village farmers,” Chouhan says.
There are many memories from the guests who have stayed at Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer, but once a famous singer from the US stayed with them. Chouan shares, “We didn’t know he was famous until guests started taking pictures with him. Later, someone told us who he was – it was a fun surprise!”
During early years and Covid times, it was hard to manage for Chouhan. But with family support, loyal staff, and love from our guests, they kept going at Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer. Another decade old challenge was domestic guests expecting TV, telecom, and room service.
“Since we don’t provide these, it caused some issues early on and sometime still does. To handle this, we now clearly mention these details in all emails, automated responses, bills, and invoices. Being transparent helps set the right expectations. Our goal is for guests to enjoy the unique vibe of the old haveli without distractions,” he shares.
Loved by guests
They mostly hear wonderful things about the warm hospitality, the peaceful setting, and the chance to experience true heritage living at Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer. Guests really enjoy the unique charm of the haveli and the views from the rooftop.
“Of course, some visitors mention missing modern amenities like TV or room service, but they usually appreciate the honest info we share beforehand. Overall, people who want an authentic and calm stay leave happy. Our staff speaks English and Hindi. I also speak Dutch. If needed, we use translation apps. We explain local culture and customs when guests arrive, especially since the fort has temples and narrow alleys,” says Chouhan.
They keep improving service and comfort, and work on guest feedback. The focus at Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer remains on quality, not quantity. “As we are inside the fort, we can’t expand. But we bring new ideas like rooftop candlelight dinners, and local snacks during evening high-tea,” he shares.
Be patient and honest. Focus on guest comfort, learn the culture well, and always treat your staff like family is what Chouhan advises people who want to start stays in Jaisalmer and Rajasthan.
A lovely journey
Over the years, Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer has transformed from a simple family home into a warm, welcoming hotel while keeping its historic charm intact.
“I remember when we first opened in 2005, many guests were curious about staying inside the fort itself—it was a new experience for many. Today, we’ve hosted travelers from all over the world, and each visit brings new stories and friendships. Despite changes and improvements, we’ve always focused on preserving the authentic feel and making every guest feel like part of our extended family. Our location inside the Jaisalmer Fort with panoramic views, peaceful surroundings, traditional themed rooms, personal attention, and warm hospitality – all make us special,” Chouhan fondly ends.
To book a stay at Garh Jaisal Haveli Jaisalmer contact 7727047567
