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We are thinking about adding a stop in the Shekhawati region to our December itinerary. We would like to spend a day driving throughout the region looking at the painted havelis. What city/hotel is best for an overnight stay? We'd like either a nice heritage hotel with lots of ambiance, or a place that is close enough to a city or town that we can walk around in the late afternoon/evening. Suggestions anyone?
Shekhawati region in India
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You have the choice of several hotels-
Mandawa - Castle or Resort - www.mandawahotels.com, Alsisar - Alsisar Mahal - www.alsisar.com or Piramal Haveli at Baggar - www.neemranahotels.com
Each town in Shekhawati is full of painted havelis. Apart from Mandawa, Alsisar and Baggar, also look at Nawalgarh, Dundlod, Fatehpur. There is also the Roopniwas Kothi in Nawalgarh -www.roopniwaskothi.com or the idiosyncratic eco-lodge Apani Dhani also in Nawalgarh - www.apanidhani.com.
You do not have much choice for hotel accommodation in Shekhawati. Some of the finest Havelis are to be found at Nawalgarh. The Morarka Haveli & The Poddar, are the best examples of conserved & restored art forms. The Goenka Haveli in Fatehpur & Fort Dundlod has some fine frescoes, as well.
As for Hotels, Castle Mandawa has been well received. But lately this place has been more partial to large groups & if you do happen to be around on one of those days when it is full, you shall probably get a table well tucked away…and it is insulting when you have paid a large amount for the high category rooms! Just recently, an American couple, friends of ours, gave them a rating of (C -).
The Kothi Roop Niwas, a small heritage hotel, situates a walking distance from these havelis at Nawalgarh. You will probably get better personalized attention there. The small bazaar with it’s narrow streets is quite colourful as well. It lies at the back of the Poddar Haveli.
Best wishes!
Nice to see someone else planing to visit the Shakhawati region. I found it a great change of pace from the cities. See if you can find a copy of "The Painted Towns of Shekhawati" by Ilay Cooper, published by Mapin, to help decide what you want to see. I used www.rajasthantravelservice.com for a car and driver and hotel. They looked after me very well, but my hotel was somewhat isolated.