Mandawa

Mandawa is a prominent town among the trio of Jhunjhunu, Sikar and Mandawa in Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. Collectively, this region is called the Open Art Gallery. Apart from its fort, the town of Mandawa is known around the world for its frescoes that can be found in mansions, temples and just about everywhere else.

Mandawa has been in existence from 188th century onwards. It started out as a Thikana (estate) of the Shekhawat Rajputs and gradually grew in size and stature to an important town. The fort at Mandawa was initiated by Thakur Nawal Singh, son of Shardul Singh. The castle is decorated with frescoes, paintings that have Lord Krishna as a theme, exquisite carvings and amazing mirror work. The Durbar Hall is also decorated with valuable paintings and antiques.

Mandawa was an important part of the trade route to China and the Middle East. As a result, several wealthy merchants lived here. These merchants built fancy mansions, called havelis that were decorated with paintings on their walls and ceilings. These havelis are now a part of the cultural heritage of Rajasthan.

Summers are hot here and winters are cold, like in the rest of Rajasthan so the best time to visit is during October to March. Jaipur, a 167 km away, is the nearest airport. Jaipur is also the nearest railhead while good quality metal roads connect Mandawa with the rest of the country. There are numerous budget hotels apart from the Fort that is now a Heritage Hotel.

There are also several excursions in and around Mandawa. These include Nawalgarh famous for its fort, Parsurampura having the best-preserved and oldest paintings in the Shekhawati region, Mukundgarh and Dundlod for their forts and Havelis, and Fatehpur for its havelis.