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Mandawa Travel Guide
Mandawa Travel Guide
In
the heart of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan lies the beautiful small town
Mandawa, known throughout the state for its forts and avelis. The structures
of this place reminds one of the cultural and social hotspot this place used
to be in the bygone era. Mandawa is situated in the north of Rajasthan around
190 km off Jaipur, the capital of the state. The town lies between latitude
28.06° in the north and longitude 75.20° in the east. The fort town
of Mandawa is well connected with the other places in region through a good
network of roads Mandawa provides the visitors with a sense of discovery at
every turn; battlements that offer spectacular views of the town below, a whimsical
peacock weather van, and an arched window that overlooks the verdant garden
visited by peacocks. In the zenana or women's quarters, one room offers antique
murals, another has a marble fountain, and the turret room boasts of walls that
are seven feet thick. Looking out from the window of the turret room, it is
easy to imagine the marauding bandits that once roamed freely here. Little wonder
then that the family crest contains the motto, 'Veer Bhogya Vasundhara', which
translates into 'the brave shall inherit the earth'
Founded in the 18th century, the medieval fort of Mandawa dominates the town with a painted arched gateway adorned with Lord Krishna and his cows. The Chokhani and Ladia havelis and the street with Saraf havelis are some of the splendid examples of this region's havelis.
The Binsidhar Newatia Haveli has some curious paintings on its outer eastern wall-a boy using a telephone, and a European woman in a car driven by a chauffeur. The Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli has some defaced erotic images.
Excursions
Nawalgarh : is situated around 37 km south of Mandawa and is famous for its fort, built in 1737. Other attractions here include havelis of Anandi Lal Poddar, Aath Haveli, Hem Raj Kulwal Haveli, Bhagton Ki Haveli, and Khedwal Bhavan.
Parsurampura : is located some 43 km south east of Mandawa and has the distinction of having the best-preserved and oldest paintings in the Shekhawati region.
Mukundgarh : is around 25 km southeast of Mandawa and is a tiny village famous for its fort and havelis.
Dundlod : is situated around 30 southeast of Mandawa and is famous for its fort and havelis. The attractions in this place include the Jagathia Haveli, Satyanarayan Temple, and Tuganram Goenka Haveli apart from the Dundlod fort and palace.
Fatehpur : was established in 1451 as a capital for Muslim nawabs but was taken by the Shekhawat Rajputs in the 18th century. Some of the attractions include the Mahavir Prasad Goenka Haveli, Gauri Shankar Haveli, Nand Lal Devra Haveli, and Harikrishnan Das Sarogi Haveli apart from a 17th century baoli.
Jhunjhunu : is the district headquarters and the largest town in the Shekhawati region. The town was founded by the Kaimkhani nawabs in the mid-15th century, and stayed under their control until the Rajput ruler Sardul Singh took it in 1730. The major attractions in the city include the Khetri Mahal, Bihariji Temple, Modi Haveli, and Kaniram Narsinghdas Tiberwala Haveli.
Rajasthan
Tour Itinerary
