Mandawa

Mandawa is a historical trade town of Rajasthan. It was an important junction on the famous silk route to China. Today it is one of the most visited city of the Shekhawati region, portraying a mesmerizing blend of traditional Rajput art style and the European influences in the paintings beautifying its havelis and castles.

Eminent merchant families settled in Mandawa and established lavish houses that used to have precious gems studded on its elaborately painted walls. Even now you can witness the old world charm by visiting these 18th century havelis and viewing the paintings that seem to expressively narrate the ideologies and customs of that time.

Sights:
Binsidhar Newatia Haveli:
One of the interesting tourist attractions in Mandawa is the Binsidhar Newatia Haveli, which has surprising images representing the advent of technology and how it effected the lives. You will find here paintings of wright brothers flying their plane as as people stare at them in shock, there is a boy shown using a telephone and a European woman sitting in a chauffeur driven car, a symbol of luxury.

Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli:
Another tourist attraction of Mandawa is the Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli, which has an image of Hindu deities Lord Indra accompanied by an Elephant and Lord Shiva accompanied by a Bull. Situated on the opposite lane is the Goenka Double Haveli which is adorned with paintings of animals on its external walls.

Murmuria Haveli:
Built in the 1930s, the Murmuria Haveli has colorful murals that give us a hint of the local paintings being influenced by the European happenings and events that also made rounds in the Indian society. One can see the some political messages being spread using the traditional artwork. In one of the paintings, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru is shown with the Indian tricolor flag, riding on a horse.

Mohan Lal Saraf Haveli:
The royal portraits of Mohan Lal Saraf Haveli are also quite a crowd puller. In one of the paintings, on the southern wall, a Maharaja is shown proudly displaying his long mustache, which used to be considered a sign of manliness and royalty. Amazing mirror work and mosaic work detailing ornaments the doorway opening to the courtyards. One can also see here an image of the Sun God.

Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli:
If you are missing the paintings of Lord Krishna and Radha, then you need to go further south from the Mohan Lal Saraf Haveli, to reach the Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli. It is here that you will get to see colorful images of lehnga clad gopis and Lord Krishna dancing on snake Kalia, as is mentioned in the Indian mythology. There are other images too which include scenes from the revered Hindu epic Ramayana.

Other havelis of Mandawa include the Gulab Rai Haveli, which possesses some disfigured erotic images, the Chokhani Double Haveli built in 1910 with faded paintings of peacocks and floral motifs and the Jhunjhunwala Haveli known for its unique gold leaf painted room.

Activities:
After a sightseeing tour of havelis, you can explore other options like camel and horse rides, which can be booked at Hotel Castle Mandawa or Mandawa Desert Resort. Jeep Safaris can also be booked here. A one hour camel ride will cost you around Rs 500, a half day trip will cost around Rs 800 while you will have to shell out Rs 1100 for a full day trip.

Sleeping & Eating:
book your personal suite at Hotel Mandawa Haveli, which is located near the Sonathia Gate. Hotel Mansukhi Resort and Hotel Castle Mandawa are offer a pleasing experience. Some of the budget options are Hotel Shekhawati and Hotel Heritage Mandawa.

Getting There & Away:
Regular buses connect Mandawa to other towns like Nawalgarh, Fatehpur, Bissau, Ramgarh, Jaipur and Bikaner. Taxis and Jeeps are also available here. A taxi to Fatehpur will cost you Rs 250, while a shared jeep charges a nominal amount.