The area of Shekhawati covers several villages and towns in north eastern Rajasthan, which can be approached from Bikaner, Jaipur, and Delhi and comprises the Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts. Small towns dot these two districts and contain within themselves some of the most elaborate havelis, stepwells, and temples. When you travel around this region, you stumble across some truly marvelous treasures. Even today, the entire region of Shekhawati is known for its exquisite frescoes and popularly called the "open art gallery". No other region, anywhere in the world, has such large concentration of frescoes. This is even more interesting as the landscape here is totally bare - flat and colourless.


Rao Shekha, the founder of Shekhawati, came to power at the young age of 12 and established a region that lasted 43 years. His power grew steadily and he became a force to reckon with in a very short period. The Rajput nobles who ruled over the small thikanas, or fiefdoms, became great patrons of art and financed the frescoes on their havelies. Up to the early 19th century the themes were largely religious.


Other historical events, personages, battle scenes, and folk heroes were also painted in great detail. These paintings were a record of those times. By the end of the 19th century, there was a slight change in the patronage. The business community, Marwaris, found itself in a position of strength. When the East India Company began to make its presence felt in this part of Rajasthan, it opened several avenues for the hardworking and enterprising Marwari. The volume of trade increased and the Marwaris began to spread their branches all over the country. Even after spending several years away from their homeland, these now successful and wealthy businessmen remained true sons of the soil. While they lived austerely in their adopted cities, they sent back huge sums of money to their families. They spent large sums on the welfare of their community - wells, reservoirs, schools, colleges, dharamshalas and gaushalas were financed.


Most of them had left their families behind and they returned to build some huge mansions for them. They were in a position to show off their new status and there was no better way of doing this than commissioning the most intricate frescoes on their havelies. Very soon it became customary to have a painted haveli and the artists were kept busy moving from one village to the next. The demand for these painters kept growing and very soon unskilled painters and masons too began to get involved in the paintings. The themes of these paintings, as mentioned earlier, reflected those times and very soon the purely mythological them gave way to western influences. Cars, trains, airplanes, ships, telephones, foreigners in hats, suits and gowns began to appear on the walls with scenes from Lord Krishna's life.


Attractions to See

• Mandawa
• Jhunjhunu
• Dundlod
• Nawalgarh

How to Reach

• By Air
  Sangner Airport at Jaipur. The area could be easily accessed through Jaipur airport.
• By Rail
  Well connected to cities in Rajasthan. Shekhawati Express connects Delhi to Shekhawati.
• By Road
  The Shikar and Jhunjhunu are connected to Rajasthan. The distance between Sikar and Jaipur is 114 kms.