Founded in the 18th century,
Mandawa
was a trading outpost for the
ancient caravan routes that stopped here from
China and the Middle East. An attraction for wealthy
merchants, today it is famous for the havelis
(houses) constructed by the dominant
merchant families of Shekhawati
(the region in Rajasthan comprising the
districts of Sikar, Churu and
Jhunjunu).
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More about
Mandawa
Climate
Mandawa has very hot and
dry summers (average temperatures 25-45 deg.
celsius) and cool winters (average
temperatures 10-22 deg. celsius).
Language
Rajasthani, Hindi and
English (in tourist spots) are
the main languages.
Mandawa
provides the visitors with a sense of discovery at every turn
- battlements offering spectacular views of
the town below, a whimsical peacock weather
vane, an arched window overlooking
the verdant garden; and 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.
The
Chowkhani 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. Bhagchandika Haveli, Newtia Haveli,
Murmuria Haveli, Raj Well, Akhramka Haveli, Goenka
Haveli and Harlalka
Chattri are the other havelis
to
visit.
The medieval
fort of Mandawa dominates the town with a
painted arched gateway adorned with
Lord Krishna and his
cows. This fort has now been converted into a
heritage hotel that portrays a medieval image
but has all modern facilities.
In and around
Mandawa, one can also visit the Nawalgarh
fort, havelis of Anandi Lal
Poddar, Aath Haveli, Hem Raj Kulwal Haveli, Bhagton Ki Haveli,
and Khedwal Bhavan,
Parsurampura (having the best-preserved and
oldest paintings in the Shekhawati
region), Mukundgarh,
Fatehpur and Dundlod
fort and havelis,
Jhunjhunu, with the
Khetri Mahal, Bihariji Temple, Modi
Haveli, and
Kaniram Narsinghdas Tiberwala
Haveli.
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