Travel Incredible India
Rajasthan
Cities Mandawa City
Mandawa City Guide
In the heart of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan lies the beautiful small
town Mandawa, known throughout the state for its forts and havelis. 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 Indian state 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.
Like most of the other places in north India, Mandawa too has an extreme
climate. The summers can be very hot with the mercury touching 40.5°C,
whereas winters can be chilly and the temperature can fall below 10°C.
The best season to visit this place is winter i.e. October to March. The
annual rainfall is between 45 to 60 cm. Recommended clothing is light
tropical for summer and light woolen for winter.
The compact and busy little market town of Mandawa was settled and fortified
in 18th century by the dominant merchant families of the region. The wealthy
businessmen of the village constructed many havelis and baolis with colored
painting adorning their walls. Later on, with the migration of these merchant
families, their old settlements remained in total obscurity with no one
to look after them. Despite the time lapse and ignorance about these visual
and architectural extravaganzas, their attraction did not fade and today
they are some of the major attractions for the tourists visiting Rajasthan.
Sightseeing in Mandawa
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. Most importantly, the fact that no two rooms are
alike in the palace here. 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.