Two hours north of Jaipur is a region most itineraries never mention, which is exactly why it’s special. Shekhawati is an open-air art gallery — dozens of small towns full of painted havelis, the grand mansions built by Marwari merchant families in the 18th and 19th centuries, their walls covered inside and out with frescoes.
It’s a short trip, it’s completely different from the fort-and-palace circuit, and it’s a photographer’s dream.
The route
From Jaipur, drive to Nawalgarh, often called the gateway to Shekhawati, with some of the region’s finest and best-preserved painted havelis. Then Mandawa, the most famous of the Shekhawati towns, where you can even stay in a converted haveli-hotel. And Fatehpur, with its restored havelis and a real sense of faded grandeur.
What’s included: private air-conditioned car with driver, hotels with breakfast, and all driving. A local guide, who really brings the fresco stories to life, is worth adding here.
Questions about this trip
Where is Shekhawati?
Shekhawati is a region in north-eastern Rajasthan, about two to three hours' drive north of Jaipur. Its main towns are Nawalgarh, Mandawa and Fatehpur.
Why visit Shekhawati?
For the painted havelis — grand merchant mansions covered in frescoes, spread across small towns. It's an open-air art gallery unlike anywhere else in Rajasthan, and refreshingly uncrowded.
Can it be done as a day trip from Jaipur?
You can see a taste in a long day, but two nights lets you cover Nawalgarh, Mandawa and Fatehpur properly without spending the whole time driving.
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