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 History :
Founded
in the 18th century, Mandawa was a trading outpost for the
ancient caravan routes that stopped here from China and the
Middle East. Mandawa was an attraction for the wealthy
merchants, who then constructed many Hawelis here. You can learn
more about the past of Mandawa on tours to Mandawa.
Mandawa is one of
the important town and a tourist center in the Shekhawati region
of Rajasthan. It is a small yet busy market town, which was
enclosed in the 18th century AD by the influential merchant
families of the region. The tour to Mandawa is very interesting
as you will come across many colorful havelis with certain
unique features, which makes each haveli stand out from each
other.
While on tour to Mandawa, you must check out Chowkhani Haveli,
Mohanlal Saraf Haveli, Bhagchandika Haveli, Gulab Rai Ladia
Haveli and Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli. The Newtia Haveli,
Harlalka Well, Thakurji Temple, Murmuria Haveli, Chowkhani
Double Haveli, Raj Well, Akhramka Haveli, Sonthalia Gate, Goenka
Double Haveli, Tanu Manu Saraf Haveli, Harlalka Chattri, Goenka
Chattri and the Saraf Haveli are other places to visit in
Mandawa.
 The Chowkhani Haveli and
Saraf Haveli are among the best surviving havelis of the region.
The fort town of Mandawa is
well connected with the other places in region through a good network of
roads.
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.
Tourist Attractions
 The Castle Mandawa is
located in the heart of Mandawa town. The Castle was originally the home
of a noble, but now it is a heritage hotel that still retains it
medieval theme.
The rooms at this
palace have paintings depicting Krishna in his childhood and
youth. The walls of the rooms at this palace have intricate
carvings and paintings along with mirror work. The castle still
has a lot of antiques and paintings that can be seen in the huge
hall, which used to be the Durbar hall. There are numerous
ancient Havelis too like the Bhagchandika Haveli, Gulab Rai
Ladia Haveli, Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli, Mohanlal Saraf Haveli,
and Chowkhani Haveli that you can see while you are on a tour of
Mandawa. The other major attractions are, Harlalka Well,
Thakurji Temple, Tanu Manu Saraf Haveli, Akhramka Haveli and
Goenka chattri.
Shopping
The busy little market of
Mandawa has many antique shops that sell local handicrafts and antiques.
Before purchasing anything from these shops, it is better to confirm
that it has not been taken out from the havelis of the region. Export of
antiques older than 100 years is illegal and should not be done, for the
sake of saving the heritage of this region.
Mandawa - Excursions
 About 37 kms
south of Mandawa is Nawalgarh, which is famous for a fort built in 1737.
At Nawalgarh you can also take a tour of many havelis, like Anandi Lal
Poddar, Bhagton Ki Haveli, Aath Haveli and Hem Raj Kulwal Haveli. You
can also take a tour to Parsurampura, which is 43 kms southeast of
Mandawa and here you can see the oldest paintings in Shekhawati region.
About 25kms southeast of Mandawa, is a small village of Mukundgarh,
known for its havelis and forts. If you are for a few days in Mandawa,
then you can also travel to Dundlod, which is 30 kms southeast of
Mandawa. The major attractions of this place are, the Jagathia Haveli,
Satyanarayan Temple, and the Dundlod Fort and Palace. You can travel to
Jhunjhunu, which is the district headquarter and the largest town in
Shekhawati region. The major attractions of this place are the Khetri
Mahal, Bihariji Temple and Kaniram Narsinghdas Tiberwala Haveli.
How to Reach
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By Air
The nearest
charter airport is Jhunjhunu, the largest city in the region and the
district headquarters. Jaipur is the nearest airport for regular
flights. Many domestic airlines operate out of Jaipur and connect it
with other cities in the country.
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By Rail
Jhunjhunu is
the nearest convenient railhead and one can take trains for Sikar,
Jaipur, and Delhi from Jhunjhunu.
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By Road
Road networks
crisscross the entire region of Shekhawati, and Mandawa is well
connected with other places in the region by private as well as
government buses. It is a good idea for groups of four or five
persons to hire taxis to move around the place.
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