Mandawa - Heart of the Royal Shekhawati

Mandawa :
If you want to see the real colours of Royal Rajasthan, then Mandawa is the right place. It is a day light fantasy showcasing medieval India's heritage havelis showcasing frescoed art on walls. The Shekhawati territory of Mandawa conglomerates art and architecture, making it totally different from rest of the counterparts. Being the state attraction, these intimately carved masterpieces are uniquely one of a kind, making it 'an open art gallery'.

Climate :
Summer: 45 °C (Max) - 25 °C (Min)
Winter: 32 °C (Max) - 7 °C (Min)
Rainy Season: June to September, 600 mm rainfall
Best time to visit: November to March

Main Attractions : Mandawa fort, Havelis.

Location :
Geographic: Located to the north of Jaipur lies the Shekhawati region & its most illustrious town is Mandawa.
Famous for: Distinctive style of Havelis & the Mandawa Fort.

How to Reach Mandawa :
By Air : The closest airport is located at Jaipur (167 kms).
By Road : The region is well connected through Jaipur, Bikaner, Sikar or Churu.
By Railways : The closest major train station is at Jaipur.

Attractions :
Rajasthan's north east homes a beautiful city of Mandawa showcasing grandeur of ecstatic To the north-east of Rajasthan is Shekhawati, a semi-arid region commanding impressive towering views from a distance. The regions illustrious past provides Mandawa a distinct persona of ethnic Marwari culture. Some of prime tourist places in Mandawa are -

Mandawa fort :
The 18th century fort of Mandawa was founded by Thakur Nawal Singh. Built along a medieval theme, this fort is the most prominent feature of the town with a painted arched gateway depicting a scene of Lord Krishna and his cows. The other aspects of the fort include exquisite frescoes, intricate carvings and breathtaking mirror work. The central Durbar Hall houses a number of artifacts & feudal scenes of the times gone by.The best part is that visitors can stay at the fort & experience firsthand the royal life at Mandawa. The fort is one of the best tourist place in Mandawa.

Havelis :
The town of Mandawa has been likened to an "open art gallery" with the numerous Havelis of the town lavishly painted with very appealing frescoes depicting all aspects of life in the region, as one may appreciate as part of Mandawa city tour. For instance, the Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli has as a painting depicting Indra on an elephant and Lord Shiva on his Nandi bull. The Goenka Double Haveli has jutting balconies, alcoves and overhanging upper storeys along with a gargantuan façade of elephants and horses and paintings, ranging from those depicting Rajasthani women in traditional attire, religious themes & those depicting colonial Europeans. The Murmuria Haveli shows modern themes & objects such as cars, George V and Venice or a take on Lord Krishna with his cows in a distinctly English courtyard! The most famous frieze of the Haveli is the one depicting a scene of a train with a crow flying above the engine and a detailed rendering of the activity at the crowded railway crossing. The Jhunjhunwala Haveli has one the most beautiful features amongst all Havelis with an amazing gold leaf painted room. The Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli is undoubtedly the finest showcase of Shekhawati art. A very interesting feature is swathes of blue paint which have drabbed over erotic scenes, indicating the transition of relatively liberal mindsets to more Victorian mindsets of propriety. Havelis are most attractive tourist places for tourist in Mandawa.

Cities near Mandawa :