Mahansar

A relatively less visited but holding a spectacular treasure trove of artistic work is the quaint village of Mahansar. It was established in 1768 by Nawal Singh. The wealthy poddars ruled here for decades, until one of the kings lost all his wealth when his two ships, fully loaded with opium, sank without any trace. Some of the brilliant artistic creations can be seen in the havelis built by the poddars.

You need to take the Churu Road from Bissau to reach the lands of drifting sands. From Mandawa, its just a 45 minutes jeep ride to the south. It is located 40 km from Jhunjhunu and 27 km from Fatehpur.

Sights:
Raghunath Mandir:
Raghunath Temple looks more like a haveli than a temple. Devotees visit this 19th century temple throughout the year. The temple also has paintings and floral motifs that resemble the Bikaner School of Art. There are good views on offer for the tourists, from the upper floor of the temple.

Sone ki Dukan Haveli:
Possessing some of the prettiest murals of the Shekhawati region is the Sone ki Dukan Haveli, situated near the Raghunath temple. The exquisitely guilded ceiling of the main hall with shimmering gold leaves, an uncommon feature of the Shekhawati paintings, has given it the name which means a 'gold shop'. A view of the ceiling under dim pocket lights will leave u amazed, as the Ramayana depiction looks perfect with the elaborate and colorful detailing.

On the lower walls you will find a little deviation in the theme of the paintings, as here the frescoes aim to bring you closer to nature. Bright motifs of flowers , trees, butterflies and birds bring the garden configuration to the interiors. One can also find panels with names of Gods scripted in gold, in the western wall of the chamber.

Sahaj Ram Poddar Chattri:
Sahaj Ram Poddar Chhatri is located at a short distance from the bus station. Though many of the paintings of this haveli has been pushed behind the new walls but it is still home to some fine paintings preserved in its interior walls.

Sleeping & Eating:
The only accommodation in Mahansar is the Narayan Niwas Castle in the old fort. It is the place where you can experience the magic of the yesteryears and enjoy a luxurious stay simultaneously. You need to walk down a 100 m from the bus station to reach here. Built in 1768, the castle is today run by a thakur of Mahansar. Rooms are decorated with antique furniture and the hotel's restaurant too is good. The owner has a lot of information about the village, so you can consult him for your tour. The hotel also provides service of camel safaris and guided tours.

Getting There & Away:
Regular buses are available between Mahansar and towns like Churu, Fatehpur, Ramgarh and Bissau.