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A Rendezvous With
Shekhawati ? |
Shekhawati
in Rajasthan is a semi-desert region with colorful fantasy, uniquely of its
own. Popularly known as the open air art gallery, Shekhawati is famous for
its plethora of painted havelis, all commendable pieces of the rich artistic
traditions of this region. Shekhawati’s magnificent havelis or
mansions, built by rich merchants of the region, display a unique
architectural style that evolved around the courtyards to ensure safety and
privacy of the women and protection from the heat of the long and harsh
summers.
Shekhawati or the land of Shekhs, derives its name from Rao Shekha (1433
A.D.-1488 A.D. ) a section of the Kachhwaha family of Jaipur.
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Things You Can Do
in Shekhawati ? |
» Sightseeing : Go for sightseeing, as
Shekhawati has some rare sites which are difficult to find elsewhere. The
magnificent forts, the medieval town, the picture perfect locations, finest
frescoes and dozens of exquisitely painted havelis, all are worth visiting.
» Shopping : Shekhawati is well- known for
low-legged Shekhawati chair. One can also look forward to buy wood carvings,
metal utensils, made-as-old furniture, and tie-dye fabrics.
» Eating Out : As far as eating out is concerned
Shekhawati is not the best choice. The restaurants or the food in
Shekhawati, is not outstanding. Most restaurants serve banal Mughalised
fare. If you are looking for authentic Rajasthani cuisine, you will have to
make a special request to the cook. Some well-known places, where you can
enjoy a variety of food are, Castle Mandawa, Desert Resort, Piramal Haveli,
Niwas Palace, Apni Dhani and Dera Dundlod Qila.
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Sightseeing in
Shekhawati ? |
» Lachhmangarh Fort : One of the most
imposing forts in the Shekhawati region, Lachhmangarh commands a bird’s
eye view of the town modeled to resemble the city plan of Jaipur. Founded in
the early 19th century by Raja Lachhman Singh of Sikar, the town has some
lovely havelis.
» Mandawa : Founded in the 18th century, this
medieval fort 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. A shiva temple with a rock crystal lingam is also worth a visit.
The fort is now converted into a heritage hotel.
» Nawalgarh : Founded in the 18th century it has the
finest of Shekhawati’s frescoes. Its two old forts and palace hotel,
with garden and fountains along with a host of temples known for their
architecture and frescoes add interest to the town. The prominent havelis
are of the Poddars, Bhagats and Dangaichs.
» Alsisar and Malsisar : Founded in the late and mid
18th centuries respectively, these towns lie at the northern edge of
Shekhawati. The angular style of frescoes in various colours make the trip
to these town a memorable one. Beside the fort in Alsisar, the Jhunjhunuwala
havelis and a well complex are other interesting structures. The fort,
temples and havelis along the main street are also worth a visit.
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Excursions From
Shekhawati ? |
Shekhawati,
also known as open-air-gallery, has some wonderfully painted havelis and it
lends its colors to the nearby areas also, like, Dundlod, Fatehgarh,
Jhunjhunu, Lakshmangarh, Ramgarh, Sikar. Dundlod is situated around 30
south-east of Mandawa, having havelis such as Jathia Haveli, and Tuganram
Goenka Haveli. Another famous attraction here is the Satyanarayan Temple.
Fatehpur, established in 1451 as the capital of the Muslim Nawabs has some
attractions like, the Mahavir Prasad Goenka Haveli, the Gauri Shankar
Haveli, the Nand Lal Devra Haveli, the Harikrishnan Das Sarogi Haveli, and a
17th-century baoli or step-well.
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Most Ideal Time to
Visit Shekhawati ? |
Similar to the desert states, the climate in Shekhawati also is very
hot. The average maximum temperature in summers shoots up to 42.2 while
minimum is 28.7. In winters the average maximum temperature reaches up to 30
degrees and minimum goes down to 10 degrees. The best time to visit
Shekhawati in Rajasthan, is between October and March.
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Getting There ? |
» By Air : The nearest airport is Sanganert
airport at Jaipur, connected daily to all the metros. Shekhawati is situated
nearby Delhi, the capital city of India. Hence, Delhi airport could be the
most convenient base for the air travelers. There is no availability of
flights or trains to Shekhawati. One can reach Shekhawati from Delhi through
Jhunjhunu via Rewari and Chirawa. Some towns like Jhunjhunu, Mukundgarh
-Dandlod, Nawalgarh, Sikar are connected to Delhi and Jaipur by rail with a
daily service of Shekhawati express.
» By Rail : The Shekhawati region is served by
several stations. Jhunjhunu, Dundlod-Mukundgarh and Nawalgarh are the best
rail heads for Mandawa and its surrounding areas. The Shekhawati Express
runs daily between Delhi and Jaipur stopping at Jhunjhunu, Mukundgarh and
Sikar. Jaipur-Loharu Express connects Delhi and state capital Jaipur
respectively to all three stations.
» By Road : Traveling through the Shekhawati region
is best done by road. Regular bus services link most of the towns with Sikar
and Jaipur. Good roads connect Shekhawati to almost all the major towns of
Rajasthan. Delhi makes an excellent base to visit Shekhawati and most parts
of it can be approached within six hours of driving.
» Private Vehicles : You can contact us for this, as
we are well established with an extensive number of cars and coaches
(ranging from luxury to budget and between) for the tourists from all over.
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Anchoring in
Shekhawati ? |
Shekhawati,
the land of magnificent frescoes and wall paintings, is a small region but
highly attention catching. It has some exquisite forts, temples, cenotaphs,
havelis and palaces, which are unique and intriguing. Shekhawati also
carries the charm and liveliness of Rajasthan, along with its culture and
tradition, to which people of Rajasthan are highly sensitive. If the
tourists have some prior knowledge about the place befrore the journey then
it can enable them a better understanding of the place. By respecting the
local population and its lifestyle during your stay in Shekhawati, you will
contribute to preserving its authenticity, while greatly enhancing your own
experience.
To reach Shekhawati you can take a bus, taxi or a private vehicle from
Jaipur airport or any other part of Rajasthan. In order to forget the
hassles book with us. We provide quite a good number of vehicles that offer
personalized services, helping you to enjoy the tour to the utmost.
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Accommodations ? |
Shekhawati has plenty of accommodation facilities that ranges from
luxury to budget. The heritagge hotels of the place are the major
attractions. One can arrange accommodation at Jaipur as it is nearby and
hotels are easily available.
Hotels in Shekhawati
Hotel Castle Mandawa
The Desert Resort
shekhawati
india
