Shekhawati Villages - Mandawa, Nawalgarh, Dundlod
People who are fond of art and architecture will enjoy the beauty of the Shekhawati region. This area is located on the northern side of Rajasthan, precisely situated in the triangle of Delhi, Bikaner, and Jaipur. One of the interesting facts about the Shekhawati region is that it is known as the largest open art gallery in the world. Some of the Shekhawati Villages are known for being the most popular tourist destination.If you are wondering about the famous attractions of this region, then you will not be disappointed because this place has some of the best Fresco paintings, Havelis, step wells, and temples from the ancient times. These places are well-preserved in most of the villages and now serve as the famous attraction for tourists. You will be amazed to see the incredible architecture of the place, some of the art galleries in this area are filled with the large concentration of frescoes. This fact becomes even more interesting when the surrounding of this region is quite colorless and completely flat and bare.
Quick Glance
Location: Northern Rajasthan
Established: 1445
The language used: Shekhawati
Main Attractions: Fresco Paintings, Art, Havelis, temples
Best Places to Visit
Out of many Shekhawati Villages, some of them are extra special due to their stunning attractions. To bring the point home, here are three such Shekhawati Villages that offer incredible things to offer.
Nawalgarh
If you are planning to stay in the Shekhawati region for a long duration of time, then Nawalgarh will be a perfect place. This village is known to have great options for accommodation for the tourists; the lodging style includes painted Havelis to give you a royal vibe of Rajasthan. Out of all the villages, Nawalgarh is said to have the finest frescoes. You can visit the famous Havelis of this area like Bansidhar Bhagat Haveli, Jodhraj Patodia Haveli, Haveli complex, and Chokhani Haveli. It also has some of the famous attarctions in this town, here are some of the places you can visit:
Attractions of Nawalgarh
• Sheesh Mahal• The Poddar Haveli
• Roop Niwas Palace
• Morarka Haveli
Visiting these places is taking a step towards exploring the interesting history and stories of princesses. Don’t forget to carry a camera to capture the best moments; this place has brilliant spots to get you some instant-worthy shots.
Mandawa
This Shekhawati Villages look more ancient than the rest of the other villages. The architecture of the Mandawa Haveli is more antique and royal. However, due to extreme heat and other unstable weather conditions of this region, many of the architecture is decaying slowly. Mandawa is undoubtedly filled with incredible accommodation options; the famous Mandawa Castle is the well-known attraction of this town. It was a fort, which is now turned into a heritage hotel.
Attractions of Mandawa
• Visit the famous Haveli like Double Haveli, and Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli• Open-air galleries
• Shopping in local places in Mandawa
Buying souvenirs from Mandawa will be a good idea because you will be able to buy ties, fabric, furniture, antique jewelry, handicraft, and many food items to take back home.
Dundlod
Dundlod is very close to Mandawa and it is located towards the south. Even though this town has a small number of Havelis as compared to the other towns, it is fairly beautiful and highly recommended. It is known as the heart of the Rajasthan region, Dundlod also has some of the famous Havelis that tell completely different stories of the bygone era. Some of the best places to visit in Dundlod are as follows:
Attractions of Dundlod
• Badalgarh fort• Tuganram Goenka haveli
• Satyanarayan temple
• Jagathia temple
• Fort of Dunlod
Dundlod being the heart of the Shekhawati region offers many incredible places to visit and traditional cuisines to taste. Since Dundlod is in a close distance to Mandawa, you will get an amazing opportunity to visit this city easily.
Other Shekhawati Villages Worth Visiting
Some other places in the Shekhawati region are worth exploring. A few of the villages have incredible ancient architecture and temples to visit. You must plan a separate day to visit these villages to get a complete view of the Shekhawati region. Some of the Shekhawati Villages are as follows:• Jhunjhunu
• Fatehpur
• Ramgarh
• Mahansar
• Mukundgarh
These villages are also under famous places to explore because they have a variation of Havelis, paintings by French artists, forts, and many other interesting things.
The entire region can be explored in 2-3 days and make sure you are prepared with an itinerary. The best time to visit this area is the winter season. You can visit Shekhawati in October, November, December, and March, the winter months are quite pleasant for sightseeing.
Transportation Guide
To make sure your travel to Rajasthan is easy and hassle-free; you must know some of the famous modes of local transport. Almost all parts of Rajasthan have numerous modes and routes to take you from place to place. Some of the travel availability are:• Battery operated rickshaw
• Cabs
• Tourists buses
• Local buses
• Tourist permit car
• Tuk-Tuk
These modes of transportation are highly preferred in the state of Rajasthan. You can also hire car rentals to self-drive and explore the beauty of the region. To make sure your journey to the Shekhawati region is smooth; you can follow some of these travel tips.
Basic Travel Tips
To have the trip of your lifetime, you must keep in mind some of these tips.• Stay hydrated
• Get the vaccination before visiting India
• Avoid Tap water
• Carry bottled water
• Learn to haggle
• Avoid wearing body-hugging clothes while visiting the temples
• Wear comfortable shoes to walk if need
• Carry small denomination of money
Following these travel tips while visiting the Shekhawati region will help you escape unwanted issues, and you will be able to explore the location more precisely. This location is the hotspot in Rajasthan due to its ancient cultural and architectural heritage.
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