Mandawa is a small town present in the heart of the Shekhawati region in Rajasthan. The city is located around 190km beyond Jaipur. Mandawa is popularly known for its forts and Havelis. The small town in northern Rajasthan was established during the 17th and 18th centuries. This place is visited by many actors and actresses to shoot their movies. The region is surrounded by several haveli’s and soon going to be transformed into an open art gallery due to a large number of Havelis beautifully decorated. Mandawa is a popular location for tourists yet, you can explore the entire area with peace. The city of Mandawa forms the social and cultural hotspot for many tourists. The best time to visit this place is between October to March as Mandawa experiences extreme climate and scorching hot summers. The annual rainfall recorded in Mandawa is between 45 to 60 mm. The clothing recommended as per the climate is light woolen clothes for the winters and light tropical clothing for the summers. Keep reading this article to know more about the city’s culture, history, popular places to visit, and much more.
OVERVIEW
Location: Rajasthan
Nearest Airport: Jaipur
How to reach: by air/road/train
Famous for: Frescoes, Havelis & Forts
Best time to visit: October to March
WHAT TO SEE
Havelis in Mandawa
Frescoes of Mandawa
Mandawa Fort
The small city of Mandawa was settled and fortified in the 18th century. Mandu Jat, a chieftain, is the founder of the city of Mandawa. The city later flourished under the Shekhawat Rajput rulers. The city became popular towards 1755 under the rule of Thakur Nawal Singh as it served as the trading center. Merchant families were dominant in the region. The wealthy resident businessmen of the village constructed beautiful Havelis and Baolis in the region and color painted their walls. Later, the merchant families migrated to other parts of India leaving behind no one to look after Havelis.
Frescoes in Mandawa: The most popular things to explore in Mandawa city are the Frescoes. A Fresco is a painting done using watercolors on a wall, or a ceiling, or wet plasters. These are also known as the “stars” of Mandawa. You can witness the beautiful color blast while exploring the city. Several Havelis will have luxurious frescoes hung up on their walls which keeps the tourists engaged in their trip. Common frescoes found are of God and Goddesses of the Hindu Mythology like Krishna, Radha, kings, queens, and other mythological characters. Frescoes of politicians like Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru can also be found in the Havelis. Frescoes do not only signify the glorious past of the city but also the skills of the artisans and workmanship.
Places of Interest
Havelis in Mandawa: Many traders have passed through the Mandawa town as it is home to ancient trading routes. Some popular Havelis built during the reign of Thakur Nawal Singh include Mohanlal Sarafaveli, Goenka Double Haveli, Lakshmi Narayan Haveli, Binsindhur Newatia Haveli, among many others. Some of these Havelis are now turned into hotels.
Famous Frescoes of Mandawa: Frescoes found are of God and Goddesses of the Hindu Mythology like Krishna, Radha, kings, queens, and other mythological characters. Frescoes of politicians like Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru can also be found in the Havelis. They do not only signify the glorious past of the city but also the skills of the artisans and workmanship.
Mandawa Fort: One of the major attractions in Madawa is theMandawa Fortbuilt in the 18th century. Frescoes in the archway attract visitors to theMandawa Fort. Frescoes of Lord Krishna, Radha, and many other mythological characters can be seen in this location. TheMandawa Fortnow serves as a hotel which does not affect its original charm of the evergreenMandawa Fort.
Nearby attractions
Traveling 37km south of Mandawa you will find the city of Nawalgarh. Famous for its fort built-in 1737. Other famous attractions in this region include Hem Raj Kulwal Haveli, Bhagton Ki Haveli, Khedwal Bhavan, Aath Haveli, and Anandi Lal Poddar.
Traveling further southeast for 43km you will find Parsurampur. This region is most popular amongst the tourists for having preserved the best and the oldest painting in the region of the Shekhawati.
Mukundgarh is another popular location located 25km southeast of Mandawa. This is another tiny village famous for its beautiful Havelis and forts.
Situated 30km southeast of Mandawa is the Dundlod region. Another location that is famous for its forts and Havelis. Other popular attractions include Jagathia Haveli, Satyanarayan Temple, and Tuganram Goenka Haveli.
Fatehpur was established in 1451 and is known as the capital of the Nawabs. This city was overtaken by the Shekawal Rajputs around the 18th century. Famous attractions in Fatehpur include Mahavir Prasad Goenka Haveli, Gauri Shankar Haveli, Nand Lal Devra Haveli, and Hari Krishnan Das Saraogi Haveli.
Jhunjhunu is the largest town in the Shekhawati region. This town was founded by the Kaimkhani Nawabs during the mid of the 15th century, later overtaken by Sardul Singh the Rajput ruler.
Where to stay
When visiting the city of Mandawa make sure to book your accommodations in either of the hotels mentioned below to avail maximum services, comfort, and sightseeing opportunities. The best hotels are:
Castle Mandawa Hotel
Mandawa Haveli
Desert Resort
Udai Villas Palace
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