Rajasthan Travel Destinations - Shekhawati
Shekhawati, meaning the garden of Shekha, derives its name from Rao Shekha, its former ruler. Situated in the Delhi-Bikaner-Jaipur triangle, Shekhawati is a semi desert region in north Rajasthan. Known as the "Open art gallery of Rajasthan", this region is mainly famous for its amazing havelis richly painted and decorated. These havelis of Shekhawati in Rajasthan, India were built by the wealthy merchants of the past. They served as a measure of the prosperity and success of the merchants. The grander the haveli, the more prosperous the merchant was believed to be.
There are numerous havelis in Shekhawati, some of them dating back to the 18th century. They are in rich artistic tradition and the latest one were built in the early 20th century. From painted murals to carvings to mirror work, these havelis have their walls and ceilings adorned with numerous forms of fine art. The frescos of the some havelis even depict mythological themes as well as images of huge animals. With the passage of time the themes changed. Some havelis have frescos showing the arrival of the British and some others highlight steam locomotives and train.
Apart from the havelis, other highpoints of Shekhawati travel and tourism include forts, minor castles, mosques, step wells (baoris) and royal cenotaphs (chattris), etc. There are also a number of excursion places near Shekhawati that add to the tourist appeal of the region. A visit to Shekhawati will take you back to the bygone era of the city. The massive havelis, beautiful paintings and other amazing monuments will make your trip worthwhile.
Havelis: The beautiful and fascinating havelis of Shekhawati have proved to be a major tourist appeal. Striking architecture, graceful interiors and massive parapets of the havelis stand witness to the wealth and prosperity of the Marwari merchants. Adorned with exquisite murals and delicately latticed and carved windows, these havelis present an awe-inspiring sight. Almost every havelis is decorated with magnificent mirror work and paintings festooned with gold or silver leaf. During the old days, these wooden carvings and gold and silver paintings were assumed to be symbolical of the owner's status and wealth. More About Shekhawati Havelis
Dundlod: Amongst the other places to see in Shekhawati, is the town of Dundlod, situated in the center of the Shekhawati region. The main attractions of the town are its fort and havelis, dating back to the 18th century. The famous havelis of Dundlod are Jagathia and Goenka havelis.
Jhunjhunu: Offering peace and serenity to its visitors, is the town of Jhunjhunu. It is another town famous for its marvelously painted havelis. One of the known havelis is the Modi Haveli, housing some of the best paintings of the Shekhawati area. Then, there is also the Tibrewala Haveli, having numerous murals on it, along with colored glass windows. Amongst the other tourist attractions of Jhunjhunu, are Khetri Mahal (18th century), Bihariji Temple and Mertani Baori (step-well). All of these stand adorned with exquisite paintings. More About Jhunjhunu
Fatehpur: The town of Fatehpur was once under the rule of the Muslim Nawabs. A historic town in Shekhawati, Fatehpur has some beautiful havelis. The famous Devra and Singhania havelis of the town are adorned with murals that are of Indo-western style. Another havelis, Goenka has brilliant frescoes paintings, with some of them depicting Lord Krishna.
Climate
The climate of Shekhawati, like the other cities of Rajasthan, is of a typical desert type. Shekhawati weather experiences hot and dry summers. The average temperature remains in the range of 41.2° C (max) to 29° C (min). The climatic conditions of Shekhawati, Rajasthan in the winter season are cooler, but again dry. The average temperature falls in the range of 30° C (max) to 10.5° C (min). Between the months of July and mid September is the monsoon season, when the atmosphere gets very humid. The best time to visit Shekhawati is during the period of end September to March.
How to Reach Shekhawati
By Air: The nearest airport is at Jaipur, which is 150 km away
By Road: Lots of buses and taxis ply between Shekhawati and other destination in Rajasthan owing to a good network of roads.
By Rail: Since the railway track that connects Delhi, Jaipur and Bikaner passes through Shekhawati, Shekhawati is well connected by trains also.
