The Locks and Keys museum in Jaisalmer is located inside the Patwon ki Haveli mansion.
A wide range of lock and key combos from the medieval ages are on display.
I was completely astonished looking at how passionately people created simple everyday objects like locks and keys.
As seen in the photo below the locks come in a wide variety of shapes like a scorpion, frog, fish, lion, deer, tiger, sitting camel, and standing camel.
The locks were neatly arranged in a recess in the thick walls of the mansion that were previously used for placing lamps or idols when the mansion was in use during the medieval ages.
Also on display are padlocks with arched swing shackles, ward springs, and keys.
Some locks were made of welded iron or bronze with short ends that are perforated.
Another type of lock as per the tour guide is FetterLocks
‘The medieval ages were a constant arms race between the locksmiths and the thieves’ chuckled the tour guide, who showed me several more locks that looked like broken handles to a layman.
The best lock in the museum was a Husband-Wife Lock that needed two keys to open. The lock would open only when both keys were used each of which would reside with the husband and the wife like a joint bank account.
While some other locks looked like simple bars with serrations.
Accessibility Features
The mansion that hosts the Locks museum being centuries old does not have any accessibility features.
Where to Stay
I stayed in the Sagar Guest House inside the Jaisalmer Fort.
This place also got a rooftop restaurant with an amazing view of the city, palace, and the desert.
Other Attractions in Jaisalmer
