Rajasthan is well known as one of India’s most popular destinations.  The grandeur of historic wealth in the Land Of Kings is seen most visibly in the many palaces throughout the state, with Lake Palace in Udaipur being one of the world’s most famous travel images.  Beyond the obvious appeal of such cities as Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer lies a virtually unknown region of Rajasthan that international travellers visit, yet it offers a richly rewarding experience for those who try to get there.

Shekhawati is a few hours’ drive north of Jaipur, encompassing several small towns where wealthy Marwari merchants constructed extravagant homes for themselves and their families.  Known as havelis, the houses were decorated with colourful frescoes covering nearly every centimetre of their interior and exterior walls, resulting in an abundance of ornate mansions in some of the most unexpected places.  Of the hundreds of havelis built in the region’s heyday in the 1800s, most have fallen into disrepair.  Some have been restored to their former magnificence, allowing the intrepid visitor to see some of India’s most authentic historical architecture.

The towns of Mandawa, Ramgarh, Fatehpur, and Nawalgarh are places where the importance of historical preservation is on the rise, and Havelis are being restored.  Located in the centre of the Shekhawati region, Nawalgarh has seen several imposing mansions brought back to life, though perhaps the most fantastic restoration of all is found at Le Prince Haveli in the town of Fatehpur.  French artist Nadine Le Prince and her son Joël worked tirelessly for two decades to reinvigorate their splendid home, which, luckily for guests, is open to visitors not as a traditional hotel but as a homestay.

Nawalgarh Uattara Haveli entrance gate.

The continual restoration work at Le Prince Haveli is exciting as old-style techniques are used to keep with the conventional architecture; what has already been done is not short of magnificent.  North of Fatehpur, Ramgarh has a particular abundance of charmingly dilapidated havelis. Still, here, the draw is more of the enchanting chhatris, domed pavilions usually built in a set to make a visually harmonious complex of buildings.  In Mandawa, the castle belonging to a descendant of the local maharajah also welcomes visitors to stay in the region’s most visited town.

A car is necessary to get around the towns and from one city to another. Luxury tour operator Indian Vistas provides extraordinarily attentive personalised service for its clients and sees that they are delighted with their travel experiences.  A small company under meticulous ownership and management, Indian Vistas can arrange every aspect of a stay in India, including flights, rail journeys, cars with drivers, accommodation, and memorable insider travel experiences that sophisticated travellers adore.  In a place as fascinating as the Shekhawati region, that expertise in local culture is priceless in creating the trip of a lifetime for adventurous travellers.

Written by: Robert La Bua – Global Travel Connoisseur

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