Shekhawati city

The realm of lovely havelis, harking back to the yester years, epitomizes the beauty of Shekhawati, yet another landmark tourist destination of the colorful Rajasthan . Once the bastion of Rao Shekha, this magnificent land, located on the North of Rajasthan, derives its nomenclature from the former. The partially sterile landscape of Shekhawati is well connected by railways and roadways. The Shekhawati Express and the Pink City Express are some of the options among a plethora of others. You can also avail bus services that ply between Jaipur and Nawalgarh, Mandawa and Fatehpur, among a host of other routes.

Shekhawati is a tourist's paradise. The land of the Shekha is laced with innumerable beautiful havelis or grand mansions, that is guaranteed to capture one's imagination. It is a haven for a true connoisseur of art and architecture. A riot of colors encapsulates the spirit of this vibrant landscape. Exquisitely embellished havelis mushroomed during the eighteenth century and former half of the twentieth. Mythology and fauna lies at the very core of this wonderful art. Tales narrating the valor of Lord Rama and the miracles of Lord Krishna unfold on a journey of these marvelous mansions. The advent of the British rule and the fact that life is going to change forever, is highlighted in the paintings of chugging trains.

A former stronghold of the brave Mughals, also houses towering forts, baoris, shrines, besides the ubiquitous haveli. On a visit of Shekhawati you can troop to Sardar Shahar, Lachhmangarh Fort, Chirawa, Surajgarh, Jeen Mata Temple, Bissau, Mehansar, Pilani, Rambagh, Malsisar, Mandawa, Mukundgarh, Jhunjhunu, Dundlod, Kajara, Alsisar, Harsh Nath Temple,Tal Chhapar, Nawalgarh, Churu, Salasar Balaji, Ratangarh, Dudhwa Khara, Bagad, among other top notch tourist destinations. Celebrations are galore in the land colors and Shekhawati is no exception. It throbs with life during festivities like the Shekhawati and Bissau festivals. The stunning Shekhawati houses several top of the line hotels, dishing out premier facilities. You can lodge at plush heritage hotels like the opulent Roop Niwas Palace, the majestic Mukandgarh Fort and lovely Piramal Haveli, among others.

The Story of Shekhawati
In the olden times Shekhawati was an important link in the Southern Silk route and its towns were prosperous. When the port towns of Bombay and Calcutta were set up, the merchant families - Goenkas, Poddars, Singhania's, Ruias, Birlas and many more migrated towards these more lucrative centres of trade and industry and slowly established a stranglehold over commerce between India and Britain. Here they earned unparalleled wealth and sent huge sums home, which were used for building havelis, social welfare, wells, reservoirs, schools etc.

The Towns of Shekhawati

Mandawa
Lies at the heart of Shekhawati and with its cluster of hotels, is the most suitable base for exploring the region, the best of the painted towns are within a 50-km radius from here. Some of the important Havelis in Mandawa itself are Chokani, Ladia, Binsidhar, Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli, Binsidhar Newatia haveli and the Gulab Rai Ladi Haveli .

Bissau
Is a charming little oasis to the noth-west of Mandawa. Here time stands still and the atmosphere is laden with the post-colonial stupor. Its Keshargarh Fort is over 250 years old and definitely worth a dekko.

Dundlod
Located around 30 km south east of Mandawa, is a quaint little town. The Dera Dundlod Quila or fort made in 1750 showcases the traditional blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture. Another of its attractions is the Satyanarayan temple that has a 100 ft deep well.

Nawalgarh
Is one of the biggest and busiest towns in Shekhawati. Home to many of the very rich Marwari merchants, this is also the place to find some of the finest frescoes in the entire region. Check out the well restored Poddar Haveli and the little Birla Quila that it contains within, its mirrors and murals, lustrous and colourful are sure to delight. Its other attractions include the Aath haveli, Morarka Haveli, Saraogi Haveli, Sheksarai haveli and the Chaucharia Haveli.

Ramgarh
Once the wealthiest of all of Shekhawati's towns Ramgarh is still called Sethon ka Ramgarh ( Ramgarh of the Merchants ). Here again you will encounter some beautiful frescoes of gods, royals and even Europeans.

Jhunjhnu
The biggest town in the Shekhawati region, Jhunjhnu is the district administrative head quarters. It is located at a distance of 180 km from Jaipur and 245 km from Delhi. The town is well connected by train and road from Jaipur and Delhi. The town has decent accommodation facilities for a comfortable stay and can be an ideal base while exploring the Shekhawati region.

Shopping in Shekhawati
To the shopper Shekhawati offers the greatest gift that any town can give, a piece of itself. Today the tourist can take home a piece of Shekhawati's famous art and decorate their walls at home, for these traditional murals are being recreated on paper and also on cloth. To turn a corner of your home into a haveli you could take back some of the beautiful furniture sold here, carved and decorated chests, chairs, cradles and low tables and stools. Each object is elaborately designed and decorated. The embilleshments range from inlays of brass sheet work or paintings of dancing figures and with hunting scenes. Ramgarh is renowned for its carved wooden doors and chairs.

How To Reach
Air : Sangner Airport at Jaipur. The area could be easily accessed through Jaipur airport.
Rail : Well connected to cities in Rajasthan. Shekhawati Express connects Delhi to Shekhawati.
Road : The Shikar and Jhunjhunu are connected to Rajasthan. The distance between Sikar and Jaipur is 114 kms.