Mandawa Tour Packages

If you talk about history, art, and culture, Rajasthan will come to every traveler's mind. Rajasthan is known for its heritage and grandeur, but is this grandeur confined to just a few cities? Cities like Jaipur and Jaisalmer are famous for their beautiful art. There are many small towns on this soil of Rajasthan whose glory will surprise everyone. One of these small but significant places in Mandawa. If you want to roam Rajasthan well, do not forget to see this town. You will be filled with happiness seeing Rajasthan in this form. Mandawa is a small town in the state of Rajasthan, situated about 190 km from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. The city, essentially occupied by traders in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, has now become a tourist attraction due to its beautiful history. Mandawa is very famous for its forts and Havelis and is frequently referred to as the Open Art Gallery. There are many places to visit in Mandawa, which makes this city popular among tourists. In today's article, we will tell you about the famous tourist places of Mandawa - So, let's come and learn all about Mandawa tourism.

Why Mandawa?

Known for its famous Mandawa Fort, Mandawa is a small town in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Popularly known as the Open Art Gallery, it is filled with arches and magnificent Havelis and forts. It is situated in the center of the Shekhawati region. It is a good getaway for art and culture enthusiasts. Just as the whole of Shekhawati is worth visiting, it is one of the ancient and oldest cities, which is definitely worth a vacation.

Mandawa is the most popular city in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. It is a famous tourist destination filled with the hustle and bustle of tourists worldwide. It is one of those unique places where the economy is based on the tourism business, and for this reason, where tourists are more visible than residents. This place is also very famous among moviemakers. In the colorful streets of this city, many paintings have been painted. The reason for this is because of the various Havelis here, as well as the readily available rest houses. Mandawa is a contemporary city of other Shekhawati towns like Nawalgarh. The characteristics of all these Shekhawati towns under the Jhunjhunu district are almost identical, but Mandawa is more attractive and diverse than them.

Visit the Fabulous Havelis of Mandawa

Arriving in Mandawa, you will be overwhelmed by the tour guides, who want to show you all the Havelis and claim that it is impossible to do it alone. Of course, sometimes it is good to get a little more information, but to make a tour of the Havelis is also possible without a guide. The essential Havelis are easy to find, and these buildings now have signed with basic information. Most Havelis are well maintained, so the old paintings can still be seen well. The paintings show different themes, which vary depending on when they were made. There are paintings of hunting men and local legends to images of early trains and gramophones. Many of the larger houses have been renovated and transformed into a hotel. Upon entering a hotel like this, you imagine yourself in a new world. The walls are covered in paintings, and you almost hit your head on the giant chandeliers. Spending the night here is quite an experience; it doesn't even have to be very expensive.

One of the essential Havelis in Mandawa is the Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli. This haveli contains a religious image of Indra Dev on an elephant and Shiva. Goenka Double haveli is a haveli with two doors, richly decorated with camels, elephants, and horses. Through both gates, you can enter the haveli. In the Mumruria, you can see images of a train alongside the more traditional images of gods and elephants. The Jhunjhunwala is also worth a visit, mainly because parts of it are painted with gold leaf.

Vishwanath Goenka Haveli

Owned by the Goenka family, this haveli is divided into two parts, with a common outer courtyard. In that first area, you can begin to familiarize yourself with the majesty of the paintings on the walls. The first two frescoes, with scenes of elephants and horses, have been restored. If the furthest door is open, you will be able to enter the interior of the second house, in whose central courtyard a considerable tree grows. Climb the narrow stairs to the first floor and explore the beautifully decorated rooms. Don't miss the windows that look outside, from where the women gossiped about life outside the palace.

Bansidhar Nayatiya Mansion

Bansidhar Nayatia Haveli is one of the most important attractions of Mandawa city. The paintings of this haveli are world famous and show the perfect combination of art, traditions, and technological advancement in the early 19th century. The most iconic paintings of this mansion include the image of a boy using the telephone, the very first successful flight of the Wright Brothers, a woman riding a crewed car, and various others. The splendid design and architectural elements of this ancient haveli are worth admiring.

Murmuria Haveli

This haveli is very popular among art lovers. This beautiful historical haveli houses wonderful paintings of influential leaders of ancient times. This haveli is built in the traditional Rajasthani architectural style and attracts many tourists. The paintings inside the haveli depict the daily works of some of the stalwart leaders of the bygone era. This haveli is a classic example of traditional Rajasthani architecture and worth admiring.

Hotel Mandawa Haveli

It is the house that a former jeweler built in the 18th century and became first a craft workshop and then a charming hotel after being abandoned for a while. It has the typical decorations seen throughout Mandawa, both in the common areas and in the rooms. It also has a restaurant and a roof terrace with good views.

Seth Dayaram Dedraj Haveli

Also belonging to the Goenka family, this haveli is one of the best preserved in Mandawa and is in the process of being restored by the municipality. After passing through the outer door, you will arrive at the first patio, which was the place where business was carried out, or visitors were attended.

Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli

Seeing this haveli adorned with mythological paintings and beautiful sculptures is included in the list of every wanderer who comes to Mandawa. The haveli is situated around a large courtyard, due to which all the parts of the haveli are illuminated. You will get to see the best specimens of quality in Mandawa in these Havelis. The corridors of the haveli have also been done with delicate carvings. There are many windows in the Goenka Haveli. Due to this, you can also see the surrounding view. From these windows, you can also see the idol of Lord Shiva and Nandi located in the haveli courtyard.
Apart from this, you can also visit Murmuria Haveli, Laxminarayan Ladiya Haveli, Chokhni Double Haveli, and Binsidhar Navatiya Haveli.

Chokhani Double Haveli

There are many double havelis in Mandawa. Dohri Haveli means two combined identical havelis. The purpose of such havelis that such mansions are often built by a wealthy person to fulfill the future needs of his two sons. If there is harmony between the two sons, then both the havelis can be used as a joint haveli,

Goenka Haveli of Mandawa

The Goenka Haveli of Mandawa is also a well-preserved beautiful haveli. Here we also saw a rare picture of Yamaraja on the mural. This haveli is related to the famous Goenka Gharana. The paintings and engravings of the haveli are apparent. According to the residents of this region, the rich Marwari merchant houses of India like Birla, Mittal, Goenka, Bajaj, Dalmiya, Poddar, and Chokhani had settled in this city. Due to mutual competition, these Seths built beautiful havelis. It is said that Mandawa was a significant trading center falling on the ancient Silk Route, due to which the merchants here prospered immensely. Therefore, he did not allow any shortfall in the beautification of the havelis. Over time, these affluent families shifted to big cities in search of better amenities. Now they come to their havelis only for special events like worshiping the totem. Therefore, these havelis remain deserted or have been converted into a museum by handed over to an occupier.

Other Attractions and Things to do in Mandawa

Mandawa City, founded in the middle of the 18th century, was once a city inhabited by wealthy merchant families. Wealthy and ruling merchants built massive Havelis adorned with beautiful wall paintings for their residence. However, the merchants moved and migrated over time to other areas, leaving the beautiful havelis in the shadows of anonymity. Still, the magnificence of these Havelis did not diminish, and they have now become a significant tourist attraction in the city. The beautiful wall paintings that decorate the Mandawa Havelis in Rajasthan, India, have seen themes change from time to time. In the early days, mythology dominated the themes of the frescoes, showing local legends, animals, portraits, hunting, fighting scenes, etc. In the 19th century, the themes were changed to reflect the British (Raj) influence on Indian culture. Traditional themes were exchanged for cars, trains, balloons, telephones, gramophones, English men in hunting garb, immaculately dressed portraits of haveli owners, etc.

Talbelia Festival

Held in December, this festival is no less than any other festival. At Talbelia Mahotsav, you get a chance to enjoy top-class traditional Rajasthani music, which is a beautiful experience. You can also do Rajasthani folk dance at this festival. The festival also hosts various food stalls and workshops besides music and dance, which keeps people excited. If you consider visiting Mandawa, you should plan your trip for December.

Raghunath Temple

It is a Hindu temple in the purest local style: instead of having small sculptures of gods, in this case, they are all colorful frescoes on the walls. Twice a day, people come to pray. The rest of the time it is also open and accessible so you can visit it without any problems. Plus it's on the main street.

Goenka umbrella

The Goenka Chhatri is known as an open-air art gallery. It is named after the Goenkas who lived in this haveli. The walls of the haveli are decorated with paintings and frescoes of Rajasthani heritage. The vast and arched gates of the haveli are the epitome of grandeur and showcase the precision of the artisans. Many pictures of Lord Krishna are seen in this haveli, which shows the people's unwavering faith in god.

Mandawa Fort

Mandawa Fort is one of the important places in Mandawa to explore Rajput art and culture. The Durbar Hall of the fort is home to many Rajputana paintings and artifacts, with the main entrance being one of the most important attractions. This legendary fort has now been converted into a heritage hotel by the royal house of Mandawa. If you want to experience the grandeur and beauty of this incredible fort, then you must stay in this beautiful fort.

Shopping in Maine Bazaar of Mandawa

Main Bazaar is the most crowded area in Mandawa. Shopping in Maine Bazaar mainly involves shopping for a variety of art-related products. An ideal destination for art lovers, a visit to Main Bazaar exposes tourists to the state's tradition and culture. The most popular products in Maine Bazaar shops include drawings drawn on paper or fabric, decorated chests, cradles, chairs, low tables, metal utensils, and stools.

Harlalka water well

This stepwell is at the other end of the road from Jhunjhunwala Haveli. After descending a few steps, we reach the stepwell. Two pillars at the entrance seem to protect this stepwell. There are also many Chhatris around the stepwell. It is said that this stepwell is very deep. It is possible because, being a desert, underground water is obtained at a profound depth. While walking on the roads leading to the stepwell, I was stunned to see the beautiful paintings painted on the outer walls of the buildings. The boys playing there told me many Bollywood movies had been painted in these streets.

Eat In Mandawa

Indeed, you will not find restaurants as you expected... you can buy some bags of chips and soft drinks and stay at the Castle Mandawa Hotel where I certainly think they have lost their minds a bit with those prices that are not paid even in the center of Madrid. Monica was Mandawa's Haveli, where we had dinner every night upstairs. After going up several floors, there was a restaurant on the terrace with a magnificent view of the whole area, and the food was quite good.

The best time to visit India?

India is best visited between October and March when the monsoon rains have stopped, and the country is mainly hot and dry. The weather is also excellent at this time so that you can roam freely. Although you can come to Mandawa any time in the whole year, in the last months of the year, this place looks most pleasant. You will love to wander the streets of Mandawa while enjoying the pleasant weather. If you are wondering about the options for staying in Mandawa, let us tell you that you can stay in the Havelis here. In all these Havelis, you will get all the facilities like any big five-star hotel, and you will not face any problems staying. Apart from this, you can also choose a hotel according to your budget.

How to reach?

Mandawa itself cannot be reached by train or plane. The most accessible way is to take the train from Delhi to Jhunjhunu and then take a bus to Mandawa. Mandawa can also be reached by bus from Jaipur. Another option is a taxi. This is, of course, more expensive but comfortable. Roads are generally good, allowing taxis to travel quickly from city to city. Mandawa is well connected to all parts of the country. So you will not have much trouble coming here. You can easily reach Mandawa by taking a flight, train, or bus.

Flight: Jaipur Airport is the nearest airport, about 180 km away. It is located at a distance. Flights to Jaipur are readily available from all the cities in the country. After coming to Jaipur, you can take a government bus or taxi to Mandawa.

Train: To come by train, you must come to Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. Jhunjhunu Railway Station is just 30 km from Mandawa. So you can quickly come to Mandawa.

Via Road: If you want to come to Mandawa by road, you will not have any problem with that too. Mandawa is well connected to other cities in the country, so you will get access quickly.

Conclusion

Mandawa is a small town in Rajasthan which comes in the Jhunjhunu district. This place is perfect for you if you are an art lover and a little interested in history. The beauty of the haveli and fort here is still illuminating. This town of Rajasthan will not disappoint you. You see in Mandawa tourism that Mandawa is a small treasure in the heart of Rajasthan, and its Havelis are the most precious ingots. We hope it has become more apparent to you what to see and do in Madawa and which are the best Havelis.