Mandwa city

Mandawa is a beautiful heritage town, located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. It was founded in the 18th century by rich merchant families who resided here. Mandawa is one of the oldest cities in Rajasthan. The town is a perfect place for lovers of art and culture.

Experience royalty in Mandawa’s numerous Havelis and forts. These were palaces inhabited by former kings and queens but have now opened up as heritage hotels. They embody the charm of a bygone era. The town is also referred to as an Open Art Gallery because of its majestic Havelis with their painted walls. The Mandawa Fort has a painted arched gateway adorned with frescoes of Lord Krishna and his cows. These are excellent examples of ancient Indian art.

Mandawa is famous for its Havelis, Forts, paintings and art. Some of the Havelis are a 100 years old. You can shop here for old paintings, furniture, and amazing antiques. Do not miss out on the rich local cuisine which will leave an unforgettable taste in your mouth. Mandawa is the perfect royal holiday destination.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN MANDAWA:

Mandawa fort: The fort of Mandawa was founded in the 18th century. Thakur Nawal Singh, son of Shardul Singh, founded the fort in Vikram Samvat 1812 (1755 AD). The fort dominates the town with a painted arched gateway adorned with Lord Krishna and his cows. Built as per a medieval theme, the castle of Mandawa is adorned with beautiful frescoes. The rooms of this palace are decorated with Lord Krishna paintings, exquisite carvings and amazing mirror work. The Durbar Hall of the palace houses a number of antiques and paintings.
Situated in the middle of the town, the Mandawa Fort has now been converted into a heritage hotel.

Havelis: This town has been referred to as the “open art gallery” of Rajasthan because the entire Shekhawati region and not just Mandawa is dotted with fascinating mansions (Havelis) that have lavishly painted walls.
Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli: This haveli has a painting depicting Indra Dev on an elephant and Lord Shiva on his Nandi bull.
Goenka Double Haveli: This haveli, with two gates, has monumental façade of elephants and horses. The outer walls, jutting balconies, alcoves and overhanging upper storeys of the Goenka Double Haveli are replete with patterns and paintings, ranging from traditional Rajasthani women and religious motifs to Europeans in stylish hats and Victorian finery.
Murmuria Haveli: The paintings of trains, cars, George V, and Venice were executed on the walls of this haveli during the 1930s by Balu Ram, one of the last working artists of the region. In pictures – like Lord Krishna with his cows in English courtyard and a young Nehru on a horseback, holding the national flag – this haveli uses a unique theme blending the East with the West. The haveli also features a long frieze depicting a train with a crow flying above the engine and much activity at the railway crossing.
Jhunjhunwala Haveli: The haveli is decorated with striking gold leaf painted room to the right of main courtyard.
Mohan Lal Saraf Haveli: The picture of a Maharaja stroking his moustaches beautifies this haveli.
Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli: This haveli is located in the south of town, where the decoration of the outer and inner walls is perhaps the finest in Mandawa. Blue washes here and there betray twentieth-century censorship of the erotic scenes that had been commonly accepted one hundred years earlier. The Binsidhar Newatia Haveli, Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli and Chokhani Double Haveli are some other Havelis in the area.
Murals in the Thakurji temple located opposite the Goenka Double Haveli and the Murmuria Haveli include soldiers being shot from the mouths of cannons, a reflection of the horrors of the Mutiny of 1857. Further west is a couple of chhatris, and a step-well, still used today and bearing paintings inside its decorative corner domes.

How To Reach

By Air : The nearest charter airport is Jhunjhunu, the largest city in the region and the district headquarters. Jaipur is the nearest airport for regular flights. Many domestic airlines operate out of Jaipur and connect it with other cities in the country.

By Rail : Jhunjhunu is the nearest convenient railhead and one can take trains for Sikar, Jaipur, and Delhi from Jhunjhunu.

By Road : Road networks crisscross the entire region of Shekhawati, and Mandawa is well connected with other places in the region by private as well as government buses. It is a good idea for groups of four or five persons to hire taxis to move around the place.