Mandawa Tour

History of Mandawa

The city of Mandawa, founded in the mid 18th century, was once a town inhabited by the rich merchant families. The wealthy and dominant merchants constructed massive havelis, adorned with beautiful wall paintings, for the purpose of their residence. However, with time, the merchants moved on and migrated to other areas, leaving the beautiful havelis in the shadows of anonymity. Still, the magnificence of these havelis did not diminish and now they have become a major tourist attraction of the city. Read on this Mandawa city guide to get further information about this city:

The beautiful wall paintings that decorate the havelis of Mandawa in Rajasthan, India, have seen the themes changing from time to time. In the earlier days, mythology dominated the themes of the frescoes, displaying local legends, animals, portraits, hunting and wrestling scenes, etc. 19th century saw the themes being changed to reflect the British (Raj) influence on the Indian culture. The traditional subjects were exchanged for cars, trains, balloons, telephones, gramophones, English men in hunting attires and portraits of the haveli owners immaculately dressed, etc.

Apart from the havelis, another major feature of Manawa is its massive fort, now converted into a heritage hotel. The archway of the fort is painted with fascinating paintings, depicting Lord Krishna and his cowherds. Displaying architectural brilliance, each wing of the fort is set up with a different theme. Exquisite wall paintings and amazing mirror work adorn the rooms of the fort. Mandawa travel and tourism will take you on a ride of architectural brilliance and artistic genius. Even if you do not have a penchant for art, you will still marvel at the beauty and splendor of the various monuments in the city.

Transportation

Air : Jaipur is the nearest airport from Mandawa and is about 168 Km away. You can reach Jaipur from cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Udaipur. Buses and taxis for Mandawa are easily available from Jaipur

Rail: Jhunjhunu is the nearest railhead from Mandawa. The station is linked to major cities like, Delhi, Bikaner and Jaipur.

Road: A network of roads connects Mandawa with other parts of Rajasthan and North India. You may reach Mandawa from Delhi, Jaipur and Bikaner.

Mandawa General Information

Temperature : Max 45 ºC, Min 25 ºC (summer); Max 22 ºC, Min 10 ºC (winter)

Season : October to March is the ideal time to visit Mandawa

Clothing : Light tropical (cotton) for summer & Light woolen for winter.

Languages : Hindi, Rajasthani & English

PLACES OF INTEREST ARE:

Mandawa Castle
Situated in the middle of the town, the Mandawa castle has now been converted into a heritage hotel. However, once the castle served as the residence of a noble. Built as per a medieval theme, the castle of Mandawa is adorned with beautiful frescoes. The rooms of this palace are decorated with Lord Krishna paintings, exquisite carvings and amazing mirror work. The Durbar Hall of the palace houses a number of antiques and paintings.

Nawalgarh
Mandawa excursions include the town of Nawalgarh, 37 km from Mandawa. The city of Nawalgarh is famous for some of the most brilliant paintings of the Shekhawati region. The havelis of Nawalgarh are quite famous for their amazing frescoes and exquisite architecture. Some of the known havelis are Anandilal Poddar Haveli, Aath Haveli, Hodh Raj Patodia Haveli, etc. Other attractions of this town include two forts, a beautiful palace, etc.

Parasrampuria
This town, 43 km from Mandawa, has some of the oldest Shekhawati paintings. The main attraction of this place is the Shyamji Saraf Haveli, dating back to the 18th century.

Mukundgarh
Mukundgarh lies approximately 25 km to the southeast of Mandawa. A magnificent fort and a number of havelis add to the appeal of this town.

Dundlod
Excursions around Mandawa, Rajasthan also include Dundlod, lying 30 km to the southeast of Mandawa. The town houses a massive fort, a fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture. Stained glass windows, an array of antiques, an impressive library and a number of structures within the fort add to its magnificence.

Jhunjhunu
Jhunjhunu, the largest town in Shekhawati, is also its district headquarter. The major draws of this town are the Modi Haveli, Kaniram Narsinghdas Tiberwala Haveli, Narudin Farooqi Haveli, Mohanlal Ishwardas Haveli, Bihariji Temple, Khetri Mahal, etc.