The ultimate travel guide for visiting Shekhawati havelis: Itinerary planning tips, stays & places to visit

They are known as Rajasthan’s painted towns
Glamorous havelis and ornate cenotaphs fill their grounds.
Their residents might have forgotten their locked doors
But even today the beauty of these Shekhawati havelis scores.

Let’s rediscover the gorgeous fresco-covered mansions and the other places to visit in Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. Discover the best towns to visit through this Shekhawati travel guide and get insider tips on where to stay and the best time to visit. 

The painted towns of Shekhawati, Rajasthan had me completely bewitched with their fresco-covered mansions or havelis. Rightfully called the “Open Art Gallery”, I was enthralled by the Shekhawati paintings that framed ornate doors, the jharokha windows and the carved pillars of every haveli. The sensorial ecstasy was further heightened by the authentic Rajasthani food, vibrant markets, unique temples and picturesque cenotaphs. Three complete days here and I still feel that I left a lot unseen – in fact, enough to wish for one more Shekhawati trip.

Check out my Shekhawati travel guide with tips to plan a trip here
Check out my Shekhawati travel guide with tips to plan a trip here

One of the biggest hurdles I found when planning my Shekhawati itinerary was the lack of proper information. It took a lot of research to get answers to some of these common questions –

Where are the best Shekhawati haveli paintings?

What are the key places to visit in Shekhawati – town-wise?

Where can you stay in Shekhawati?

Should you just stick to one Shekhawati town or can you do multiple towns in a single day?

If you are planning a Shekhawati tour, then I am sure you have these questions too. In this mega Shekhawati travel guide, I will not only answer these questions but will share insider tips on how to plan a trip to Shekhawati. The blog post includes details on all the major Shekhawati tourist places and villages, road trip circuits to include in your itinerary, where are the best Shekhawati hotels and what is the best time to visit. Also, to help you understand and enjoy the havelis of Shekhawati, I have added a section on the history of the region and the typical architecture of the mansions.

Get ready! This is going to be your complete guide to the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan.

Quick links for your Shekhawati Trip

Here are some links that will help you with your Shekhawati trip plan. You can click through them and book the ones that appeal to you.

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What is the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan?

 Yes, you read that right. Shekhawati is a region, NOT a town or a city. Located in the northeastern part of Rajasthan, this region comprises of three key districts – Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Neem ka Thana.  It also includes towns like Churu and Nagaur. The entire region is a part of the Thar desert and is largely semi-arid in condition. It also, has the largest concentration of ornate painted havelis or mansions – which is why this area has been popularly called the “Open air art gallery” of Rajasthan. These Shekhawati havelis are also why these towns are called the painted towns of Rajasthan.

The fresco-covered Shekhawati havelis in Rajasthan
The fresco-covered Shekhawati havelis in Rajasthan

From the perspective of places to visit in Shekhawati, the key towns or villages that you should note in the region are –

  • Mandawa
  • Nawalgarh
  • Dundlod
  • Fatehpur
  • Ramgarh
  • Mahansar
  • Churu
  • Sikar
  • Jhunjhunu

History of Shekhawati, Rajasthan

There are a few places in this region that have been mentioned in the Rigveda and other mythological stories. The nomenclature – Shekhawati however, came into existence with the first independent ruler – Rao Shekha. Part of the Kachhwaha clan of Amer (Jaipur), he decided to free himself from the sovereign rule of the Amber Fort. In 1471, he took over this area and renamed it Shekhawati – meaning the Land of Shekhawats.

Rao Shekhawat divided his land into 33 thikanas and set them up as administrative centers – complete with a mud fort in each smaller areas. His descendants continued to rule until the area came into Mughal administration and the Nawabs took over.

Inside Castle Mandawa - a heritage fortress and now a stay in this Shekhawati village
Inside Castle Mandawa – a heritage fortress and now a stay in this Shekhawati village

As the clasp of the Mughals weakened under Aurangzeb’s rule, one of the descendants of Rao Shekhawat decided to win back his territory, In 1730, Shardul Singh Shekhawat succeeded in ousting the then Nawab. He made Jhunjhunu the capital of Shekhawati and took Shekhawati to greater heights. Before his death, Shekhawati was equally divided into five estates for each of his sons. The Panchpana as it was called, continued to exist right up to the independence of India.

It was under the rule of Shardul Singh that Shekhawati rose to riches. The region and its towns fell along the famed Silk Route used by traders of opium, silk and spices from the Middle East, India and China. The neighboring kingdoms of Bikaner and Jaipur used to charge high taxes and taking advantage of this fact, Shardul Singh lowered the amount in Shekhawati. This helped the local Banias (traders) to establish a better business with these overseas visitors. Thus, emerged the clan of Marwaris.

Before I take forward this story of Shekhawati, let me dispel a myth that most of us have when we hear the term – Marwari. We think this refers to people from Marwar area of Rajasthan. However, it was during my own visit to Shekhawati that I discovered that this was not the case. The term Marwaris in fact, referred to the traders of Shekhawati.

The Morarka Haveli - one of the key things to add to your Nawalgarh sightseeing tour
The Morarka Haveli – one of the key things to add to your Nawalgarh sightseeing tour

Back to the Shekhawati history, these Marwaris with their sharp business acumen accumulated wealth with their dealings on the Silk Route. It is this that they poured into their homes – creating majestic havelis of carved splendor and artistic frescoes. The more the wealth, the grander their mansion. They even built beautiful baolis (stepwells), gardens and temples for their locality.

With British rule, the silk route slowly declined and the overseas trade shifted to port cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. The Marwaris too, moved their business to these centers and continued to grow by leaps and bounds. The Bajajs, Poddars, Piramal, Modi, Birlas, Jhunjhunwalas, Goenkas are just few of these names that you will still recognize today as India’s best businessmen.

Eventually, with time, the families shifted their base away from their hometown in Shekhawati. Their grand Shekhawati havelis were locked and some even abandoned. However, despite this, the aura of these mansions has not diminished.

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A typical Shekhawati Haveli architecture and layout

The two havelis that are mirror images of each other - Chokhani Double haveli
The two havelis that are mirror images of each other – Chokhani Double haveli

While there are many other attractions to see in Shekhawati, the most prominent of them all are the Shekhawati havelis. I feel that to understand them and appreciate their beauty, you need to have a basic understanding of their architecture. If you have already seen my earlier posts on Nawalgarh Podar Haveli and Mandawa Havelis, you can skip this section of my travel guide. I am just going to share the salient points of a typical Shekhawati architecture

Outer courtyard with the entrance and door to the inner courtyard
Outer courtyard with the entrance and door to the inner courtyard
  • Homes with courtyards. Every Shekhawati haveli has at least two courtyards with the outer-most being the common courtyard. This common courtyard is where you will find the Baithak (drawing room), Diwan Khana (accounts office) and other offices are. Some havelis like the Podar haveli in Nawalgarh have elaborate rooms for these offices while others only have open spaces with mattress settees and desks. The visitors are allowed only till this courtyard.
  • The inner courtyard was akin to the zenana area for the women . It is the private space reserved only for family members.
  • Some have a third courtyard called Nohra that is used for animal shelters and vehicle parking like the Morarka Haveli of Nawalgarh
  • Most of the havelis have at least one floor.
  • Every haveli has a Mukhya Dwar – a majestic entrance. It is big enough to allow a horse and his rider in but is usually not opened. A smaller gate within the frame of this big gate called the Toran Darwaza is used to enter the havelis of Shekhawati.
  • The highlight of every Shekhawati haveli are their paintings and they literally cover the entire mansion. These Shekhawati haveli paintings can be categorized into three types – Descriptive frescoes (elaborate scenes from mythological stories or even day-to-day life), Portraits and Decorative frescoes (fillers like flowers, plants etc).
My favorite door of the Podar haveli that separates the private and public courtyards
My favorite door of the Podar haveli that separates the private and public courtyards

If you keep these elements, especially the fresco theme in mind, you will notice the differences between various havelis of Shekhawati. Some of these mansions really have unique paintings like the freedom fighters of the Mandawa Murmuria haveli or the classic double haveli layout of the Goenka in Mandawa.

Shekhawati paintings and their creators

Portraits of the freedom fighters etched along the entrance of the Murmuria havelis
Portraits of the freedom fighters etched along the entrance of the Murmuria havelis

The paintings on the Shekhawati havelis were created by local artisans called chiteras or chejaras. These artisans belong to the mason community called kumhars and took care of both the construction as well as the paintings. They only used natural colors like indigo, kajal, geru (red stone) and kesar (saffron). These colors were mixed with chuna (limestone) and fixed into the façade – a typical fresco method. These natural colors have lasted an eternity and are still vibrant enough for you to see on your Shekhawati tour.

One of the frescoes on the Shekhawati havelis that compliments the carved windows
One of the frescoes on the Shekhawati havelis that compliments the carved windows

With the British coming in, the method of frescoes on these Shekhawati havelis evolved. A form of Oleogaphy or oil murals started becoming popular. This new technique allowed the painters to now use their colors on dry plaster as compared to the wet ones earlier. The use of natural colors reduced and imported chemical ones from England and Germany came to be used. To be honest, I did not find much of a difference in the overall outcome but well, maybe to an expert eye, it would be quite discernable.

Places to visit in Shekhawati (with a Shekhawati map)

I am pretty sure that now your next question to me is  – Where are the best Shekhawati mansions and which are the towns in this region that you should be visiting?

Every town and village in Shekhawati region of Rajasthan has its share of havelis. The good news is that these towns and villages are quite close to each other. This makes it easy for you to plan a visit to multiple Shekhawati tourist places in a single day. These places to see include havelis, baolis, cenotaphs and temples.

Gher ka mandir - one of the many Shekhawati tourist places that you can visit
Gher ka mandir – one of the many Shekhawati tourist places that you can visit

Many of the Shekhawati havelis are locked and cannot be visited from the inside. Some of them have caretakers staying within – who for a small fee allow you to tour the place. Havelis like the Dundlod Goenka haveli and the Nawalgarh Podar haveli have been converted into museums. And then there are havelis like Harlalka haveli in Mandawa and the Mahansar Narayan Niwas that have become hotels. In any case, here goes my list of the best Shekhawati places to visit and their attractions.

Mandawa – a popular base for all Shekhawati tours

Mandawa was a part of the original thikana owned by Thakur Nawal Singh, son of Shardul Singh. Though a village, it is one of the most popular places to stay in Shekhawati. For one, it is quite central to most other Shekhawati places and two, it has a good selection of hotels and resorts to act as a base for your Shekhawati tour.

The Faded frescoes on Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli - one of the Mandawa Havelis
The Faded frescoes on Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli – one of the Mandawa Havelis

This Shekhawati village can be covered on foot in a few hours. However, for its small size, it has a good density of the frescoes havelis for you to explore – both from inside as well as out. Most of these Mandawa Havelis have been empty for years and are not in such a great shape. The frescoes might seem faded and dated but sure enough, they have some unique Shekhawati themes etched.

I have put together a post on the best havelis and places to visit in Mandawa. It also, includes the key frescoes and highlights of each of these attractions. Check it out to plan your own walking tour with the map enclosed in that post.

  • Distance from Jaipur: 170 km
  • Distance from Delhi: 255 km
  • List of key places to see in Mandawa
    • Jhunjhunwala Haveli with its golden room
    • Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli
    • Mohan Saraf Haveli
    • Murmuria Haveli
    • Goenka double haveli – the supposedly haunted haveli of Mandawa
    • Seth Dayaram Dedraj Goenka Haveli
    • Bansidhar Newatia Haveli
    • Chokhani double haveli
    • Harlalka Well
    • Mandawa Castle
    • Mandawa Market
    • Paardarshi Shivling mandir

Nawalgarh – my recommended starting point for your Shekhawati sightseeing tour

Though I said Mandawa was a popular base for Shekhawati trips, my recommendation would be to begin with Nawalgarh. This prime town of Thakur Nawal Singh has better-preserved havelis as compared its neighbour Mandawa. Its biggest and most famous Podar Haveli museum is a great initiation into the Shekhawati world of architecture and frescoes. It gives you a good base to understand the rest of the Shekhawati mansions that you will see when you proceed with the rest of your trip.

Podar Haveli museum in Nawalgarh - the best start to your tour of Shekhawati
Podar Haveli museum in Nawalgarh – the best start to your tour of Shekhawati

That said, the number of Shekhawati hotels and stay options is lesser than Mandawa. Nothing that cannot be tackled if you book in advance. Alternately, even if you choose to stay in Mandawa, just try and get to Nawalgarh as early in your Shekhawati tour.

I have covered Nawalgarh and its tourist attractions in this detailed post. Check it out for additional information.

  • Distance from Jaipur: 140 km
  • Distance from Delhi: 265 km
  • List of key places to see in Nawalgarh
    • Podar haveli museum
    • Morarka haveli
    • Bhagton ki choti haveli
    • Aath haveli
    • Surajmal Chhauchharia Haveli
    • Mansingka Haveli
    • Khokhani haveli
    • Sajan Goenka haveli
    • Roop Niwas Palace – now a heritage hotel
    • Nawalgarh fort (Bala Kila)
    • Gher ka mandir
    • Gopinath Ji Temple

Dundlod

The Dundlod Goenka haveli that has been converted to a museum - a good place to add to your Shekhawati itinerary
The Dundlod Goenka haveli that has been converted to a museum – a good place to add to your Shekhawati itinerary

Almost like an extension to Nawalgarh (just 9 km), this tiny village used to be the settlement of the Goenka family. It is renowned for horseback riding tours and its small fort which even has a Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace). The Goenka haveli here too, has been converted into a museum and is quite well maintained.

Dundlod makes a good day trip from Mandawa or Nawalgarh. It is best to tour it along the way rather than stay here.

  • Distance from Jaipur: 148 km
  • Distance from Delhi: 265 km
  • List of key places to see in Dundlod
    • Dundlod Fort
    • Ram Dutt Goenka Chhatri (cenotaph)
    • Goenka baoli (it is right next to the cenotaph)
    • Goenka haveli museum
    • Satyanarayan temple built by the Goenka and has its share of Shekhawati paintings.

Fatehpur Shekhawati – with the most colorful Shekhawati havelis

Not to be confused with Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, this town with the same name in Shekhawati has some of the most colorful frescoes. The town has been named after its Kaimkhani Rajput Muslim ruler- Fateh Khan. He ruled this area in the 1400s and his descendants were later ousted by Shardul Khan.

One of the most beautiful Shekhawati havelis in Fatehpur - Nadine Le Prince Haveli
One of the most beautiful Shekhawati havelis in Fatehpur – Nadine Le Prince Haveli

One of the most prominent Shekhawati tourist places here is Nadine Le Prince Haveli. It has been dubbed as a cultural center where at some point (pre-pandemic), students from Europe would stay and learn about the fresco paintings. The haveli was originally called the Devra haveli and was bought over by a French lady Nadine. She not only restored this haveli but also, attempted to preserve the other heritage Shekhawati mansion.

Sadly though, during my visit to Shekhawati Fatehpur, this haveli was closed owing to a court case. However, even from the outside, it was stunning as were the other interesting attractions of Shekhawati Fatehpur

  • Distance from Jaipur: 174 km
  • Distance from Delhi: 277 km
  • List of key places to see in Shekhawati Fatehpur
    • Nadine Le Prince haveli and cultural center
    • Mohan Saraf haveli
    • Kedia haveli (also, called Bijliwali haveli)
    • Singhania haveli
    • Dwarkadheesh Mandir built by the Podar family

Ramgarh, Shekhawati

The Podar cenotaph in Ramgarh - a town that you should include in your Shekhawati trip
The Podar cenotaph in Ramgarh – a town that you should include in your Shekhawati trip

If Fatehpur in Shekhwati was about colorful frescoes then for me, Ramgarh was the prettiest town. There was something super charming about this small town – from its narrow roads to gorgeous havelis, remarkable cenotaphs and stunning temples. This was the base town of the Podars who moved in from Churu.

This is a great town to spend at least half a day in – which honestly I could not. While you check out the various Shekhawati havelis and cenotaphs, don’t forget to grab some Rajasthani snacks with a cup of tea. They are scrumptious.

  • Distance from Jaipur: 93 km
  • Distance from Delhi: 320 km
  • List of key places to see in Ramgarh
    • Podar havelis (there are more than one belonging to various sons of the Podar family)
    • Ruia haveli
    • Khemka haveli (now a hotel)
    • Ram Laxman Mandir
    • Shani Mandir
    • Ganga Mandir
    • Podar Cenotaph (a highlight for me)

Mahansar – renowned for its Sone Chandi ki Dukaan (Gold-silver shop)

Among all the places that I visited in Shekhawati, Mahansar (pronounced as Man-sir) was the smallest. The only reason I chose to add it to my day trips from Mandawa was the unique Sone ki Dukaan (shop of gold) that lies in this village. The tiny shop has frescoes made with pure gold paint and that is what makes it an alluring stop.

Sone ki Dukaan - one of the most unusual Shekhawati attractions located in Mahansar
Sone ki Dukaan – one of the most unusual Shekhawati attractions located in Mahansar

Mahansar was a trading stop for opium and thus, had its share of riches. You have some unique havelis to check out as well as the old fort and a grand cenotaph. I would definitely say, go for this Shekhawati destination.

  • Distance from Jaipur: 204 km
  • Distance from Delhi: 267 km
  • List of key places to see in Mahansar
    • Sone ki Dukaan
    • Mahansar fort (Narayan Niwas Palace)
    • Tolaram Haveli and its dancing hall ( this was closed when I visited)
    • Raghunath temple
    • Sahaj Ram Podar Chhatri (cenotaph)

Churu – a base for exploring from the northern part of Shekhawati region

Considered a gateway to the Thar desert, Churu is a popular base for those looking to explore Shekhawati from the north. It is one place that was on my Shekhawati itinerary but I could not make it there during my last trip. I hope to correct that when I get a chance again and possibly start my journey from there to the rest of the unseen towns.

  • Distance from Jaipur: 212 km
  • Distance from Delhi: 252 km
  • List of key places to see in Churu
    • Malji ka Kamra
    • Surana haveli
    • Kothari haveli
    • Kanhaiya Lal Baghla ki haveli
    • Churu fort
    • Sethani ka johra (a reservoir, perfect for some birdwatching)
    • Aath Khamb Chhatri
Rampuria Havelis - the start of Merchant Trail of Bikaner
Rampuria Havelis – the start of Merchant Trail of Bikaner

Shekhawati’s neighbor town – Bikaner has its own share of merchant havelis for you to explore. These are different from the Shekhawati mansions for they involve intricately carved facades. Check them out in this post

Jhunjhunu

The erstwhile capital of Shekhawati was a little out of my road trip plan and hence I chose to leave it out for my last trip. However, it definitely has its share of impressive things to see, including a mini Hawa Mahal (wind palace).

  • Distance from Jaipur: 185 km
  • Distance from Delhi: 226 km
  • List of key places to see in Jhunjhunu
    • Khetri Mahal (Wind Palace)
    • Farooqi havelis
    • Tibrewala havelis (more than 4 of them)
    • Piramal haveli (now a hotel)
    • Rani Sati Mandir

Other notable Shekhawati towns

Shekhwati region of Rajasthan has the largest concentration of these painted havelis and it is no surprise that even the smallest of villages that you pass along the way will have one such art mansion. A few other towns that you should keep an eye out for include Sikar, Mukundgarh, Bissau and Laxmangarh. You might just encounter them while touring around the Shekhawati region.

The small town of Shekhawati Fatehpur offers so many colorful mansions, temples and cenotaphs
The small town of Shekhawati Fatehpur offers so many colorful mansions, temples and cenotaphs

How many days are enough for a Shekhawati trip plan?

I would recommend at least 3 full days to cover some of the key towns of Shekhawati. If you are short of time, you can always do a day trip from Jaipur to Mandawa or Nawalgarh or from Delhi to Churu. There are several organized tours and private sightseeing options available online that you can consider booking.

Where to stay in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan?

The beautiful courtyard of The Legacy Mandawa - a heritage haveli stay
The beautiful courtyard of The Legacy Mandawa – a heritage haveli stay

The three key towns that I would recommend for a stay or base in my Shekhawati travel guide are Mandawa, Nawalgarh or Churu. These three towns have plenty of hotels and homestays – including heritage hotels that were once the glorious Shekhawati havelis. Here are some suggestions for each of these cities –

Mandawa Shekhawati hotels

Nawalgarh hotels

Churu stay options

The painted ceiling with mirror work inside the Saraf haveli in Fatehpur Shekhawati
The painted ceiling with mirror work inside the Saraf haveli in Fatehpur Shekhawati

Suggested Shekhawati itinerary

Once you have decided on the base for your Shekhawati tour, you can follow some of these routes to cover the various painted towns of Rajasthan. Each route can be covered in a day. If you start early – say by 8 am, you can comfortably be back by 6 pm at your base.

Note that these routes do not include Shekhawati tourist attractions at the base town (Mandawa, Churu or Nawalgarh). For covering the base town, keep aside at least half a day.

Route One:

Shekhawati trip route map one
Shekhawati trip route map one

Mandawa – Fatehpur Shekhawati (21 km) – Ramgarh (26 km) – Mahansar (9 km) – Mandawa (25 km)

You can do this route from Nawalgarh too. Just replace Mandawa as your base and follow this alternate route.

Nawalgarh – Fatehpur Shekhawati (47 km) – Ramgarh (26 km) – Mahansar (9 km) – Mandawa (25 km)

Route Two:

An option of a route for a day trip on your Shekhawati tour
An option of a route for a day trip on your Shekhawati tour

Mandawa – Mukundgarh (13km) – Dundlod (9km) – Nawalgarh (7 km) – Mandawa (30 km)

One suggestion for this route is that if you have finished seeing Mandawa, then you can check out of the town and then check in directly at Nawalgarh to explore the various Shekhawati tourist places here. Similarly, if you already in Nawalagarh, you can check out of the place and follow the trail to Mandawa.

Route three

Shekhawati tour route
Shekhawati tour route

Nawalgarh – Sikar (21 km) – Laxmangarh (28km) – Dundlod (26km) – Nawalgarh (9km)

Route Four

A Churu route option for your Shekhawati itinerary
A Churu route option for your Shekhawati itinerary

Churu – Bissau (16km) – Mahansar (7 km) – Ramgarh Shekhawati (9km) – Fatehpur Shekhwati (26km) – Churu (38 km)

In the above day trip option from Churu, you can drop Fatehpur Shekhawati, if you feel time is short. It is a little out of the way as you can see in the above Shekhawati map.

If you wish to include Jhunjhunu, then consider adding it from Churu or Mandawa as it is closer to these two towns. You will have to do it as a separate road trip as there are not many other towns that fall along the way or can be combined on this road trip.

What is the best way to reach Shekhawati?

Note that none of the Shekhawati towns have an airport of their own. The closest airport would be in Jaipur or Delhi – both of which have great connectivity to the rest of the country. From either airport, you have to opt for a train journey or a road trip.

If you are going with suggestions from this travel guide, then you would be opting for either Mandawa, Nawalgarh or Churu as your base for exploring the various Shekhawati havelis. Churu and Nawalgarh have their own railway station. For Mandawa, you will have to either get off at Nawalgarh or Jhunjhunu.

Road journeys can be made using a self-drive option or hiring cabs which are easily available in Jaipur and Delhi. In fact, I recommend booking these cabs for the entire duration of the trip as it will be easy to do the rest of your day trips in Shekhawati.

There are several public and tourist buses that you can use to travel to Mandawa or Nawalgarh from Jaipur and Churu from Delhi. This is a good alternative for backpackers and budget travelers.

Nadine Le Prince Haveli - one of the key Shekhawati havelis to visit
Nadine Le Prince Haveli – one of the key Shekhawati havelis to visit

What to eat while in Shekhawati?

Grab an authentic Rajasthani meal with Dal Baati Churma in Mandawa
Grab an authentic Rajasthani meal with Dal Baati Churma in Mandawa

Shekhawati towns are the best places to sample authentic Rajasthani cuisine. From the spotlight dish of Dal-Baati-Churma to Gatte ki Sabzi and Bajre ki roti, you will find tons of options in almost any of the towns. In addition to the local cuisine, you will find multi-cuisine restaurants in all the big towns like Mandawa, Churu, Jhunjhunu and Nawalgarh. Some of them offer continental menus for all meals – including breakfast.

From my own trip, here are a few suggestions in Mandawa and Nawalgarh.

  • Mandawa Pavilion restaurant – for Daal Baati Churma. Remember to pre-order it though. You can call them on +91 98291 38268
  • Mona Lisa roof top restaurant (Mandawa)
  • Sri Thaliya (Nawalgarh) – a small curb-side eatery with amazing kachoris. It is under a banyan tree and is over a century old.
  • Sadafal Cafe & Dining (Nawalgarh)

What can you shop in Shekhawati?

Patchwork textiles - a specialty of Mandawa
Patchwork textiles – a specialty of Mandawa

Shekhawati is well known for its wooden furniture, handicrafts and miniature artwork. The wooden furniture is best seen in Fatehpur, Ramgarh and Mandawa. The Mandawa market is good for their colorful jewelry and bandhini (tie and dye) clothes. Patchwork quilts and craft items are also, created in many of these towns of Shekhawati. You will also, find Shekhawati miniature art shops in Mandawa where they demonstrate the art.

Additional insider tips for planning a Shekhawati trip

At the Podar Haveli Museum in Nawalgarh, Rajasthan
At the Podar Haveli Museum in Nawalgarh, Rajasthan
Inside Podar cenotaph of Ramgarh, Shekhawati
Inside Podar cenotaph of Ramgarh, Shekhawati

I have covered most of the broad points to plan a good tour of Shekhawati. Based on my experience here, I have a few more miscellaneous tips –

  • Carry a lot of water when you are out exploring the various Shekhawati attractions. Every town and village has grocery outlets and cafes where you can buy water in case you run out.
  • You have to walk everywhere to see the best of Shekhawati mansions. So, don’t forget your walking shoes.
  • The Shekhawati havelis make great Instagram frames. Pick some bold colors and flowy fabrics to get the most out of your photos. Breathable, cotton clothes are highly recommended. Also, carry a light shawl or sweater if you are visiting in December or January.
  • Visiting Shekhawati havelis one after the other can be very overwhelming. These mansions are covered with so much detail that the frescoes seem similar after some time. Take adequate breaks between two mansions. In fact, if possible head to some other Shekhawati attraction like a temple or cenotaph between the mansions.
  • Hire a local guide. You get plenty in Mandawa, Nawalgarh or Churu. You can check with your hotel desk for one or get one online through this link. The local guides know the caretakers, which make it easy for you to access the interiors of these mansions. The local guide charges in Mandawa range from INR 500 for half a day to INR 1200 for a full day of sightseeing. The entrance fees are charged at actuals. Sharing the number of my guide Shikandar from Mandawa who took me around Fatehpur, Ramgarh and Mansar too. You can reach him on +91 9799988494.
  • There is no official fee in most of the havelis of Shekhawati. However, you will have to pay the caretakers a small amount (between INR 100 – 150) for access to the interiors. Most of the payment is in cash. Some of them do accept UPI payments.

Common FAQs for planning a Shekhawati visit

Why is Shekhawati called Shekhawati?

Shekhawati is a region that was first ruled by Rao Shekha of Kacchawaha dynasty. He broke away from the rule of Amber palace of Jaipur and established his area as the Land of Shekhawat or Shekhawati. His descendants were called Shekhawat Rajputs and hence the name stuck on as Shekhawati.

What is the best time to visit Shekhawati?

The best months to plan a Shekhwati trip are from October to February. This is when the temperatures are reasonable  – allowing a pleasant outdoor excursion. I chose to visit Shekhawati in early September – which honestly, was not too bad either. Though the temperature was slightly high at noon, it was not obstructive. What made it even more worthwhile was that it was off-season and hence there were lesser crowds.

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