Fort
Highlights
Location : Jaipur
Built in : 1892
Highlights : Gardens and Coutyards
Perfect Time to Visit : October to February
Shekhawati, ' the garden of Shekha', derives its name from Rao Shekha, its
former ruler. Known as the "Open art gallery of Rajasthan", this
region is known for its amazing havelis, which are richly painted and
decorated. There are numerous havelis in Shekhawati, some of them dating
back to the 18th century. These havelis are not just admired for their large
sizes, rather are a beauty to adore. The Shekhawati havelis were built by
the wealthy merchants of the past and they served as a measure of the
prosperity and success of these merchants. These havelis display a unique
architectural style that evolved around the courtyards to ensure safety and
privacy of the women folk and protection from the heat of the long and harsh
summers.
Painted predominantly in the blue, maroon, yellow, green and indigo, they
have beautiful wall paintings that adorn their walls. From painted murals to
carvings to mirror work, these havelis have their walls and ceilings adorned
with numerous forms of fine art. The lavish Havelis are a fine example of
craftsmanship - some of them are even painted in pure gold. The frescos of
the some havelis even depict mythological themes as well as images of huge
animals as well as wrestling scenes and a glimpse of everyday life. Some
havelis have frescos showing the arrival of the British and some others
highlight steam locomotives and train.
Some of these havelis have now been converted into heritage hotels, though
most of them are looked after by old family caretakers. The havelis
popularly had a carved wooden gateway as the main entrance that opened into
a courtyard. Larger havelis are double storeyed and have upto four
courtyards. The windows of these havelis are richly carved and glow with
exquisite mirror work. Few famous haveli's are Goenka Haveli, Aath Haveli,
Nand Lal Devra Haveli etc.
How to Reach
Air :Jaipur is the nearest airport, about 185 Kms.
Rail : Shekhawati is well connected by trains to places like Delhi,
Jaipur and Bikaner .
Road : Shekhawati is well connected with buses and taxis between
Shekhawati and other destination in Rajasthan.
