Jhunjhunu

Jhunjhunu is the district headquarters of the Shekhawati region. It has the distinction of being Shekhawati's largest town and the most important commercial capital. It was the Kaimkhani Nawabs who founded this state in the mid 15th century, but much later they were overthrown by the Rajput ruler Sardul Singh in 1730. Jhunjhunu also saw the rule of the Britishers in the 19th century, when they formed a special Shekhawati brigade to fight back the decoits. Like other areas of the region, the highlights of Jhunjhunu too are the exquisitely painted havelis and temples.

Information:
For any kind of queries and information, you can contact the Tourist Reception Centre, located at Mandawa Circle. There are no banks situated here, so it would be better to get your money exchanged in Nawalgarh itself. Internet facility is available at Cyber World, near Nehru Bazaar. For other queries and to book guided tours, you can ask Laxmi Kant Jangid, the owner of Shiv Shekhawati and Hotel Jamuna Resort, as he has quite a good knowledge resource.

Sights:
Rani Sati Temple:
Rani Sati Temple is a huge temple to the northeast of the town. It was built in the memory of a merchant's wife who performed the ritual of sati, an act of burning oneself on the husband's pyre, in the year 1595. It is a multi-storied structure, consisting of courtyards and 300 rooms, where pilgrims can take shelter. Quite an attraction are the tile and mirror mosaics, beautifully narrating the story of Rani Sati and why the temple was built.

Khetri Mahal:
An exhibit of Shekhawati art is Khetri Mahal, located near the Nehru Bazaar. It was built in 1770 by the Shardul Singh's grandson Bhopal Singh. With due course of time the building has lost all its sheen and glory, but you can still have hints of its lost exuberance from the paintings on the worn out walls.

Havelis:
Modi Havelis, situated near the Khetri Mahal, showcases some of the best murals of Jhunjhunu. The walls have lifelike images of mythological scenes and Krishna tales. Other paintings include the scenes from specific events like soldiers on horses following a train. Some astonishing facial images can be seen in the haveli to the west.

Kaniram Narsingh Tiberwala Haveli has paintings straight out of the artist's imagination. Nearby you can find the Narudin Farooqi Haveli which has floral motifs like the ones found in Islamic structures. To the north of Nehru Bazaar is Mohanlal Ishwardas Modi Haveli, which also has legends of Lord Krishna on its walls. A little aberration is seen in a painting here that has depicted the hierarchy of Universe, with Gods at the top, humans in the middle and animals in the lower end.

Other Attractions:
Other places to see in Jhunjhunu include Badalgarh, a 16th century fort situated near Khetri Mahal. It belongs to the Dundlod family. To the northwest of the fort is Mertani Baori, named after the widow of Sardul Singh, in 1783. In the northern part of the town you will get to see a picturesque lake built in 1902 by Jitemal Khaitan. It is known as Ajit Sagar Lake. Biharji Temple of Lord Krishna and Dargah of Kamaruddin Shah are the religious places that you can visit here.

Courses:
Northern Rajasthan is famous for its Shekhawati paintings that decorate its havelis and forts. So, it would be great if you try out your hand in perfecting this art or just get some lessons on it, to take back the heritage of India with you, in this unique form. You can approach Laxmi Kant Jangid at Hotel Shekhawati or Jamuna Resort to learn the Shekhawati paintings and to join art workshops which includes henna painting, fresco painting and textile printing. He also takes cookery classes.

Sleeping & Eating:
Though there are not plenty of options available for accommodation, but you won't be disappointed with the services offered by the hotels present here. Hotel Shekhawati Heritage at Paramveer Path has cozy and well decorated rooms. Hotel Jamuna Resort is another elegant hotel with vibrant decors and good services on offer. Hotel Shiva Shekhawati, just 2 km from the bus station, is another good option to try out.

Getting There & Away:
Rail: Jhunjhunu Railway Station is connected to Jaipur, Delhi and Bikaner. From Delhi you can can catch the Shekhawati Express, that takes seven hours to reach Jhunjhunu. There are several other passenger trains that run between Jaipur and Jhunjhunu too.

Road: Regular buses are available from Jhunjhunu bus station that will take you to important cities like Jaipur (5 hrs), Mandawa (1 hr), Nawalgarh (1 hr), Jodhpur (10 hrs), Ajmer (7 hrs) and Bikaner (5 hrs). Many private buses leave from the bus stand on Khemi Road in Jhunjhunu.

Getting Around:
From the train and bus station, it would be rather easy to find an autorickshaw. You can also hire it for a local sight seeing tour.