Shekhawati

The realm of lovely havelis, harking back to the yester years, epitomizes the beauty of Shekhawati – a region that comprises of Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Mandawa and Churu. It is a major landmark tourist destination of colourful Rajasthan. Shekhawati is a tourist's paradise. The land is laced with innumerable beautiful havelis or grand mansions that are guaranteed to capture one's imagination. It is a haven for a true connoisseur of art and architecture. A riot of colours encapsulates the spirit of this vibrant landscape. Exquisitely embellished havelis mushroomed during the eighteenth century and former half of the twentieth.

WEATHER

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Shekhawati is accessible throughout the year though the climate is at the extremes here. The summers are excruciatingly hot with temperatures reaching up to 45 degrees Celsius. The winters are relatively cooler with the days having an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius while the nights are as cool as 9 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit this place would be during the months of November to March.

CUISINE

One must not leave the Shekhawati region without tasting the lip smacking delicacies like Dal Bati Churma, Moong Dal Ka Halwa, Ghevar, Rabdi and a few more as they are appealing and at the same time can satisfy your hunger. The beautiful hotels and restaurants finely decorated with fresco paintings serve food that is extremely tasty. Sampling the snack dishes and the sweet treats will tickle the taste buds of every individual and turn them to be a great food lover after the trip to Shekhawati. If you are fond of non vegetarian food then Laal Maans (Royal Mutton Recipe) is the best thing to try.

SHOPPING

Shekhawati, often called an open art gallery, is a superb place for shopping in Rajasthan. Shekhawati shopping destinations are mostly famous for their excellent handicrafts and are well known for their miniature paintings. The frescos painted on paper and cloths are truly amazing. Other shopping items of Shekhawati include some excellent furniture. Carved and decorated chests, chairs, cradles, low tables, stools, etc. Buying textiles, tie-dye fabrics, brass and iron scissors, metal utensils and bangles is quite worthy in Shekhawati.

On your visit to Shekhawati, you can buy some miniature paintings, carved and decorated chests, chairs, cradles, low tables, stool, textiles, tie-dye fabrics, brass and iron scissors, metal utensils and bangles.

LANGUAGE

Shekhawati, a dialect of Rajasthani language, is mainly spoken here.

THINGS TO DO

1. SPOTTING MURAL PAINTINGS

Numerous structures in and around Shekhawati are famous for mural paintings. The best place to enjoy this is the havelis like Bhagtonki haveli, Anadilalpoddar haveli, Khedwal Bhawan and others. These mural paintings are an expression of the artisanship of yesteryear Rajasthani people.

2. VISIT TO ANCIENT STRUCTURES

Shekhawati is famous for its link with the history of the land. You can find numerous ancient structures like forts, temples, havelis, Jagannath Singhania Chattri and others. The best place to enjoy the architecture is Fatehpur. Do not confuse it with Fatehpur Shikri of Agra.

3. TEMPLES OF THE LAND

A little away from Fatehpur, you can find a small town, rich for its temples. Fortunately, the ancient people did not see the temples as a way of spirituality alone. They bombarded these structures with their art fever. You can find ceiling paintings, fresco painting, mural painting and much more. The best of all temples of the region are Ganga temple, Ganesh temple and Shani Mandir (a temple for Saturn). Those who are undergoing series of misfortune, pray to the deity in Shani Mandir to get a new start. It is an important activity of the Hindus in the region. Other temples of Shekhawati are Jain temples, Jeen Mata temple, Madan Mohan temple, Raghunath temple and others.

4. STAY AT A HERITAGE HOTEL

Mukundgarh is a small region in Shekhawati, which holds Mukundgarh Fort, which serves as a luxury heritage hotel. If you are looking for a luxurious vacation, you ought to visit this hotel for a stay during your vacation. If you wish to enjoy the luxury throughout your vacation, span Rajasthan with Palace on Wheels or other luxury trains.

5. ENJOY JEEP SAFARI

The region of Shekhawati consists of a few small towns that are filled with many attractive constructions. One can enjoy seeing the whole region by taking a jeep safari which offers a chance to see various things closely.

6. SHOPPING

A vacation in a heritage site is best known for shopping unique items and souvenirs. The same goes for Shekhawati too. This small town is famous for shopping unique souvenirs like handicrafts, iron articles, brass statues, textiles, artefacts and others.

PLACES TO VISIT

1. MANDAWA

Known for its very popular Mandawa Fort, Mandawa is a quaint little town in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. Popularly known as the Open Art Gallery, the town is replete with paved archways and magnificent havelis and fortresses. It is located in the heart of the Shekhawati region and is dotted with palaces and splendid mansions (havelis). The aura and vibe of the place reflect the social and cultural environment of the place in the bygone era. Owing to its royal rendition, it is also a hot spot for movie shoots and is filled in by media on and off the year.

2. DUNDLOD

Dundlod, a town in Jhunjhunu is famous for its fort and havelis. This fort was built in 1750 by Keshari Singh, son of Rajput ruler, Sardul Singh. Dundlod is easily accessible by road from Delhi, Jaipur, and Bikaner. The Dundlod fort is a blend of the Rajput and Mughal art and architecture. The Chhatri (cenotaph) of Ram Dutt Goenka, located near the fort is also a popular tourist attraction. Built in 1888, the dome of the cenotaph is decorated with floral motifs with banners extending from the centre. The Marwari breed of horses, that are now finding their own identity across the world, are bred in Dundlod.

3. NAWALGARH

Located midway between Jhunjhunu and Sikar, Nawalgarh is well-known for its stunning havelis. It is also a favoured spot for film makers and many Indian and International movies have been shot here. A famous attraction here is the Nawalgarh Fort, which was built by Thakur Nawal Singh. The Roop Niwas Palace, located one km from Nawalgarh fort is a charming palace with beautiful gardens and fountains. It is now a heritage hotel.

4. ALSISAR

Alsisar, a small town in Jhunjhunu is surrounded by arid dessert. Alsisar was awarded to Thakur Samarth Singh by his father, Thakur Pahad Singh of Heerwa, who made it his capital in 1783 AD. The famous Alsisar Mahal, a fine example of Rajput architecture with its fresco carvings and depiction of historical events on its walls, was built by Shekhawat Thikanedars. Alsisar is renowned for its Rajasthani hospitality, and tourists flock here to get a taste of that along with its famous castles, havelis and cenotaphs. Make sure you pay a visit to the Kejriwal Haveli, Laxmi Narayan temple, Thakur Chaatu Singh’s cenotaph, Ram Jas Jhunjhunwala Ki Haveli among others.

5. BISSAU

Bissau, a village in Jhunjhunu, was originally called Vishala Jat Ki Dhani. It was awarded to Thakur Keshri Singh by his Father MahaRao Shardul Singh Ji. Keshari Singh constructed a war fort and a defensive boundary wall for defence. He named it Bissau in 1746 AD. The rulers of Bissau belong to the Bhojraj clan of Shekhawats, and were the descendants of the famous ruler Maharao Shekha.

6. KHATU SHAYAM TEMPLE

Khatu Shyamji Temple (55km) One of Rajasthan’s most revered pilgrimage destinations, the village of khatu, home to the Khatu Shyamji shrine attracts devotees for its Krishna temple. Krishna is worshipped as Khatu Shyam. The 10-day Khatu Shyamji Fair is also held in February/March. During the Khatu Shyamji’s mela, many devotees start their padyatra from the Bhairuji Temple (Ringus).

7. JEENMATA TEMPLE

Jeenmata temple is situated near the hill 10 km away from village Rewasa. The temple of Jeen Mataji is around 108 km from Jaipur and 30 km from Sikar . It is surrounded by thick forest. The temple was constructed around 1000 years ago. The temple of Jeen Mataji was a place of pilgrimage from early times and was repaired and rebuilt several times. Jeen Mata's main followers and kuldevi of  Acharya / Brahmins,  Yadavs  /  Ahir , Khandelwal,Agarwal, Sonawane, Kasliwal, Bakliwal, Meena, Jats, Shekhawati Rajputs (Shekhawat & Rao Rajputs and other Rajput residing in Shekhawati area) and Jangir, of Rajasthan.

8. LAXMANGARH FORT

Laxmangarh stands tall as the most impressive building in Laxmangarh town, looming majestically over the well laid township on its western side. An exceptional specimen of fort architecture in the entire world, Laxmangarh Fort is built upon scattered pieces of colossal rocks. The top of the ramp offers a fascinating bird's eye view of the Laxmangarh town modeled to resemble the city layout of Jaipur – Rajasthan's bustling capital city.

9. SETHANI KA JOHARA

Sethani Ka Johara lies on the north side of the road perhaps 5 km west of Churu along the Ratangarh road. It is perhaps the finest johara (reservoir) in the area in that it is not only attractive but also efficient, holding a store of water, often from one monsoon to the next. It was built in 1899 by the widow of Bhagwan Das Bagla as part of the famine relief projects that the merchants financed in those terrible years of the close of the century. A peaceful place, it attracts various birds and animals, including Nilgais, in winter.

10. KHETRI MAHAL

Khetri Mahal in Khetri, Jhunjhunu is one of the most excellent instances of fine art and structural design of Shekhawati region. It is also known as the Wind Palace of Jhunjhunu. Khetri Mahal was built in the year 1770. A surprising factor is that Khetri Mahal has no windows or doors even though it is named as the Wind Palace. The inimitability of Khetri Mahal lies in the uninterrupted stream of wind which perpetually makes this construction unique from countless buildings. Almost all rooms of the Mahal are linked with each other through an ingenious chain of pillars and arches that offer a gorgeous proportioned vision to the fortress.

11. TAL CHHAPAR SANCTUARY

Renowned for being a safe haven black bucks and a variety of birds, this sanctuary is named after the Chhapar village. Located in the Sujangarh Tehsil of Churu, it is 210 km from Jaipur. Its open grasslands scattered with trees give it the appearance of a savannah. The sanctuary is a bird watcher’s paradise as it is home to birds such as eastern imperial eagle, black ibis, demoiselle cranes, skylarks, ring doves and more. One can also spot the desert fox and desert cat here.

12. FATEHPUR

The city of Fatehpur was established by Kayamkhani Nawab Fateh Mohd in 1508 AD. He also constructed the Fort of Fatehpur in 1516. The city once served as the capital of Sikar. Today, Fatehpur is popularly known as the culture capital of Shekhawati. It is full of stunning sights to visit, of which, the Dwarkadheesh Mandir, Singhania Haveli, Nadine Le Prince Cultural Centre and Fatehchandka Haveli are the more notable ones.