Mandawa is located in the north Indian state of Rajasthan around 190 km off Jaipur, the capital of the state. The town lies between latitude 28.06° in the north and longitude 75.20° in the east. The fort town of Mandawa is well connected with the other places in region through a good network of roads.

Founded in the mid 18th century Manawa skyline today is dominated by an imposing mirage like fort now a heritage hotel that is maintained in the classic medieval theme with the modern luxuries. The painted archway is painted with interesting forms of paintings of Lord Krishna and his cowherds. The sprawling architecture houses a different theme in different wings. The spacious rooms are adorned by intricate interior wall paintings and mirror work with open terrace that offers a panoramic view of the whole town.

The women folks of the Mandawa family who lived in a royal style once used this floor. The ambiences of those years still linger around the rooms. The Mandawa family has a unique collection of their preserved paintings and antiques that adorn the main huge hall in the centre of the castle, originally the durbar hall and now an exotic lounge. The ceremonial costumes of the family collection and the precious arms with handle of jade and beautiful curios brought by the British as a gift for the nobles are well placed like a showcase of a museum. The hotel is well equipped with modern facilities in an ethnic set-up. A night stay is an experience in itself with thematic evenings and oriented and medieval cuisine. The warm hospitality is touching.

The heart of Shekhawati

In the heart of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan lies the beautiful small town Mandawa, known throughout the state for its forts and havelis. The structures of this place reminds one of the cultural and social hotspot this place used to be in the bygone era.The compact and busy little market town of Mandawa was settled and fortified in 18th century by the dominant merchant families of the region. The wealthy businessmen of the village constructed many havelis and baolis with colored painting adorning their walls. Later on, with the migration of these merchant families, their old settlements remained in total obscurity with no one to look after them. Despite the time lapse and ignorance about these visual and architectural extravaganzas, their attraction did not fade and today they are some of the major attractions for the tourists visiting Rajasthan

Havelis

Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli has a depiction of Indra on an elephant and Shiva on His Nandi Bull. Right across from it is the Goenka Double Haveli with two gates. The haveli has monumental façade of elephants and horses. Some of its frescos are in bad shape. Nearby by is also Murmuria Haveli has train with a crowded level crossing. It also shows a low flying crow above the train. The haveli also has an imposing picture of Nehru on a horseback holding the national flag. The Jhunjhunwala Haveli has impressive gold leaf painted room and charges an admission fee of Rs 10. The Mohan Lal Saraf Haveli has an impressive picture of a Maharaja stroking his moustaches. The Binsidhar Newatia Haveli, Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli, Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli and Chokhani Double Haveli are some other havelis in the area

Places of Tourist Interest

Castle Mandwa : the most popular place, towering high above the town Mandawa, this rugged, handsome fort guides the tired and weary traveler to it's portals. Mustachioed sword bearing guards stand at the immensely tall, spiked gate to welcome the travelers.

Gulab Rai Wadia Haveli : Another haveli worth asking for by name is Gulab Rai Wadia Haveli , in the south of town, where the decoration of the outer and inner walls is perhaps the finest in Shekhawati. Blue washes here and there betray twentieth-century censorship of the erotic scenes that had been commonly acceptable one hundred years earlier.

Chowkhadi Haveli : Chowkhadi Haveli is unique in the region for having twin wings. Its murals are particularly beautiful and well preserved; look for the miserable British soldiers and chillum -smoking sadhu on the walls in the recess of the facade

Goenka Double Haveli : The outer walls, jutting balconies, alcoves and overhanging upper storeys of the Goenka Double Haveli in the west of town are replete with patterns and paintings, ranging from traditional Rajasthani women and religious motifs to Europeans in stylish hats and Victorian finery.
 

Castle Mandawa

This castle was built in the year 1755 and is approachable through two gateways mounted with cannons. Several narrow staircases and courtyards connect the dinning room with the rest of the rooms, which were added to the palace over the centuries. A terrace offers a view over the entire town. Now converted into a charming heritage hotel, do not miss to enjoy the dinner in the open environment of the castle's back lawns.

How to get there

By Air : The nearest charter airport is Jhunjhunu, the largest city in the region and the district headquarters. Jaipur is the nearest airport for regular flights. Many domestic airlines operate out of Jaipur and connect it with other cities in the country.

By Rail : Jhunjhunu is the nearest convenient railhead and one can take trains for Sikar, Jaipur, and Delhi from Jhunjhunu.

By Road : Road networks crisscross the entire region of Shekhawati, and Mandawa is well connected with other places in the region by private as well as government buses. It is a good idea for groups of four or five persons to hire taxis to move around the place.
 

Rajasthan is one of the 26 states that, along, with seven union territories forms the republic of India. Rajasthan is one of the 26 states that, along, with seven union territories forms the republic of India. Located in the north-west, it shares its borders with Punjab, Hariyana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and and Gujarat, The Complete Rajasthan -- Take a desert- burning sand in the long summers, large tracts of dune-decked plains, with scarce water and even scarcer vegetation and create a habitation with the mind's eye, if you can. And the come to Rajasthan to see if you imagination can begin to match where reality takes over.

History
Archaeological and historical evidence shows a continuous human habitation of the area dating back 100,000 years. Between the 7th and the 11th century AD, several dynasties arose, with Rajput strength reaching its peak at the beginning of the 16th century. Emperor Akbar brought the Rajput states into the Mughal Empire; by early 19th century, they allied with the Marathas. Later, the British established supremacy in the region. Rajasthan soon emerged as a centre of Indian nationalism. When the new constitution went into effect in 1950, Rajput princes surrendered their powers to the Indian Union.`

Ajmer -   Bhartpur -   Bikaner -  Chittaurgarh -   Jaipur -   Jodhpur -   Jaisalmer -   Mandwa

Mount Abu  -   Pushkar -   Ranthambhor -   Sariska -   Ranakpur -   Udaipur