In the heart of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, you will find a little town called Mandawa. Mandawa is known for its fascinating Forts and Havelis. The structures of this unused Havelies still remind one of the cultural and social hotspots for tourist. This small 18th-century settlement is set up for tourists with decent choices of accommodation and restaurants. Mandawa attracts tourists for its brilliant architecture and artwork.
MURMURIA HAVELI
The Murmuria Haveli was built in the 1930s. This Haveli features a long frieze depicting a train and a railway crossing with Nehru been portrayed on horseback holding the Indian flag. The arches above on the southern side of the courtyard are two paintings of gondolas on the canals of Venice. A delightful artwork of history for us to appreciate and enjoy.
BINSIDHAR NEWATIA HAVELI
Binsidhar Newatia Haveli on the northern side of the Fatehpur – Jhunjhunu road houses the State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur. This was built in the 1920s. The external wall was painted with European woman in a chauffeur – driven car, the Wright brothers in flight watched by the woman in saris and strongman hauling along a vehicle and a birdman flying in a winged machine. The fantastic artwork.
CHOKHANI DOUBLE HAVELI
This beauty was built in the 1910s; it is two buildings with adjoining wings for the families of two brothers. The artwork inside is breathtaking of floral arabesques and peacocks above the archways. Krishna legends and stories are portrayed with some mournful British soldiers.
LAKSHMINARAYAN LADIA HAVELI
The Lakshminarayan Lida Haveli is one of the beautiful Havelis on Rajasthan. This Haveli reflects the glory and splendor of the Rajput era. The artwork is faded picture of a man enjoying hookah and a good procession frieze. The other painting is of Rama slaying Ravana. The demon king of Lanka.
HANUMAN PRASAD GOEENKA HAVELI
The Hanuman Prasad Goeeka Haveli is the perfect example of Rajasthani art and heritage. The incredible painting which features on the walls and pillars of the haveli shows wither Indra on an elephant or Shiva on his bull Nandi.
MOHAM LAL SARAF HAVELI
Moham Lal Saraf Haveli speaks volumes with the skillful craftsmanship of the artisans. Maharaja was grooming his bushy mustache. The elegant mirror and mosaic work around the door to the inner courtyard, carved archway, latticed windows and the Surya (Sun god) will impress you.
How To Get to Mandawa.
By Air
Jaipur is the nearest airport for regular flights. Many domestic airlines operate out of Jaipur and connect it with other cities in the country.
By Rail
Jhunjhunu is the nearest convenient railhead, and one can take trains for Sikar, Jaipur, and Delhi.
By Road
By private or public buses. It is a good idea for groups of four or five people to hire a taxi to move around the place.
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Mandawa seems to be an amazing town! We visited India, only the south, more than ten years ago and due to a very tight itinerary found it quite stressful (our own fault!). But we are ready to go back to Rajastan and give it another try. Mandawa seems like a place we would enjoy!
Thanks for sharing Mandawa with us. I’m from Churu district so I totally relate to the gorgeous havelis of this region. Our faminikies liked in these extravagant homes, but most lie empty.
Wow, just wow! The Moham Lal Saraf Haveli is so beautifully constructed. What amazing skill went into that. Thank you for sharing!
So much detail has gone into these Havelis…they look amazing! I haven’t been lucky enough to visit India yet but hopefully I will someday soon!
I’ve never been to India and if I’m honest, I find the prospect of travelling there really daunting. The statistics about rape, the poverty, the amount of people, the traffic… but this post has inspired me to reconsider my position, so thanks for writing it.
Hi beautiful Hayley, thank you for your comment. You are right India is daunting for the most experienced travelers leave alone a single female traveling alone. Every country has problems like rape, danger, and economic and India is no exception. I am on a mission to inspire people to travel to India as a solo traveler in a group; I just took a group of girls in Feb to India, these girls came from different walks of life and enjoyed India, even the spicy food. If you want to join me on one of my future trips to India, please email me, and I will send you the details. me@travelingwithmemyselfandi.com or you can subscribe to my site.
Mandawa sounds pretty interesting! I love how colourful the buildings are and how creative the people there can be! So many stories in their artworks! I love the details on the Moham Lal Saraf Haveli. Your description of the inner courtyard and the mosaic makes me want to see it!
India has been on my travel bucket list since I was a child and right through to my studies in Indian Philosophy whilst in university. I love reading about locations that aren’t necessarily part of the mainstream. I’ll keep this book marked.
I’m a big fan of Rajasthan and I’d never heard of Mandawa so thanks for bringing it to my attention. Loving the history and architecture of Murmuria Haveli and Hanuman Prasad Goeeka Haveli. Fantastic article!
Loved the history from your article. The pictures made the article come alive. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.