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 MandawaMandawa
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.
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