Shekhawati Haveli Mandawa – Open Air Art Gallery
You may have appreciated the Mona Lisa in the Louver, wandered around the Met, and been tempt by the Tate Modern. Yet, nothing will leave you expanding, surprised, similar to the outside workmanship exhibition that is Shekhawati. Concealed in northern Rajasthan, this was before the support wherein India’s most extravagant families thrived. They fabricated the most terrific havelis and brightened them with frescoes of stunning thoughts and detail. The breezes of fortune scattered the Marwari diaspora across India, yet their wonders remain disintegrating endlessly in Shekhawati, anticipating your revelation.
Also known as Rajasthan’s open-air art gallery because of flawlessly frescoes painted on the walls of elaborate havelis in the area, Shekhawati—around 160 km (100 miles) from Jaipur or 200 km (124 miles) from Delhi—makes a charming day trip. On my recent Wander Across India tour, I got the chance to explore some of these splendid Havelis at Mandawa, Rajasthan. We also stayed at Hotel Vivaana Haveli, which is also an old Haveli turned into a luxury hotel.
Influenced by the Persian, Jaipur, and Mughal schools of painting, Shekhawati Haveli Mandawa frescoes, huge numbers of which go back to the mid-nineteenth century, represent subjects running from fanciful stories and nearby legends to chasing safaris and scenes of ordinary life. You’ll even discover represented encounters with the British and autos or planes. The presentation of photography in 1840 gave Shekhawati’s painters still more to work with.
Once part of the trading route to Arabian Sea from northern plains of India, Land of Shekhawati is home to the biggest centralization of frescos on the planets. Arranged in the north-east of Rajasthan, Region saw a brilliant period of high income through outposts for caravans which resulted to mass construction of ornately decorated mansions (Havelis), showing Shekhawati’s craft. In Shekhawati, Havelis were manufactured by trader group (Marwaris) to symbolize their richness and to give sanctuary to their more distant family when they were away working together.
These rich groups called artists (generally potters) to paint their residences. Havelis were the image of status of trader families. Later as vendor families (Marwaris) moved to coastal areas of India, Havelis suffered years of carelessness and numerous weathered and succumbed. Beautifully painted and carved, Havelis of Shekhawati are currently the prime vacation spots of Rajasthan and without a doubt a standout amongst the most lavish stay alternatives of India.
At first, they shaded their work with vegetable colors; in the wake of blending these with lime water and treating the walls with three layers of a fine mud, the chiteras carefully drew their plans on a last layer of separated lime dust. Time was short, as the design must be finished before the mortar dried, yet the method guaranteed that the pictures wouldn’t blur.
The havelis themselves are truly fantastic, with courtyards, arched windows, minute mirror work, vaulted roofs, huge balconies, and fancy gates.
They date from the British Raj, amid which conventional overland trading routes to Central Asia, Europe, and China were gradually superseded by rail and sea routes. Just a modest bunch of the havelis have survived time—some have been restored by their holders, and a couple have been changed over into the finest luxury hotels.
How to Get There
The Shekhawati region is best approached from Jaipur or Bikaner, in Rajasthan, or Delhi. If you want to take the train from Delhi, Indian Railways trains depart from Delhi Sarai Rohilla station and go via Churu (on the outskirts of the region) to Bikaner or Jodhpur. Travel time is approximately 4.5 hours. There are more frequent departures from Jaipur, and they conveniently stop at Nawalgarh. Travel time is approximately 3.5 hours. The nearest airport is in Jaipur, around 150 kilometers (93 miles) away.
Hiring a car and driver is recommended and facilitates easy touring of the region.
When to Go
The fundamental vacationer season stretches out from October until March, when the climate is the coolest and driest. In the event that you go toward the beginning of February, you’ll have the option to get the annual Shekhawati Festival that happens in Nawalgarh. This celebration is committed to displaying the legacy of the locale. Features incorporate a crafted works market, natural food court, social exhibitions, and nearby games. Winter evenings are cold however, so pack comfortable apparel!
Mandawa
Generally, the Shekhawati district isn’t very traveler amicable (however it is gradually arriving). Of these, however, Mandawa is the one town that is best set up for the travel industry. There are a few spots to remain, eateries to eat at and it is more (for the need of a superior word) touristy as contrasted and different towns in the Shekhawati locale.
Among Nawalgarh and Mandawa, we liked to set up our base in the last mentioned. Mandawa has a few havelis, some more fabulous than the others and some others in different conditions of decay. You can go through a whole day visiting practically these havelis however risks are you will get exhausted as the story behind each haveli is essentially the equivalent and most havelis are in such a condition of unsavoriness it consumes your heart to simply take a gander at them. There are some havelis that are preferred known over the others.
Nawalgarh
In the event that you are not enthused about remaining at Mandawa, at that point Nawalgarh is your next most ideal alternative. Two of the most terrific havelis in Nawalgarh are Podar Haveli and Morarka Haveli, the two of which have been changed over into exhibition halls. Established by Thakur Nawal Singh Bahadur in 1737, Nawalgarh was home to a few Marwari business families. Prior to the uncontrolled turn of events, the town’s commercial center and the design of the havelis uncover that it might have been a very much arranged one. Situated at the core of the Shekhawati district, Nawalgarh is moderately less-touristy than Mandawa yet stays a beguiling little town.
Why stroll past frescoes when you can rest under them? Why stop at one wall painting when you have a chateau brimming with them to wonder about? Why simply meet sovereignty when you can eat with them? Why wonder where in Rajasthan when you can Breakaway?
Also Read: India Travel Guide – 25 Smart Things to know Before Coming