The Painted Town · Rajasthan city guide

Mandawa, the painted town

A small town in Shekhawati whose merchant mansions are covered in frescoes, from Hindu gods to steam trains, crowned by an old castle.

Things to do Food & shopping Getting there Good to know

Ideal stay1 night

Best timeOctober – March

Nearest railJhunjhunu

From DelhiAbout 260 km

About Mandawa

Why visit.

Mandawa grew in the 18th century around a fort built by the local Shekhawat rulers, on an old caravan route. Its Marwari merchant families later made fortunes in trade across India and spent them on grand havelis back home.

They covered walls, courtyards and ceilings with paintings of gods and legends, hunting scenes, and the marvels of their day: trains, motor cars and even aeroplanes. Today Mandawa is the easiest base for exploring Shekhawati, the open-air art gallery of Rajasthan.

01 / Things to do

Top things to do in Mandawa.

Mandawa CastleThe 18th-century fort at the heart of town, now a heritage hotel.
Murmuria HaveliFrescoes that mix Indian legends with scenes of Venice and early motor cars.
Binsidhar Newatia HaveliFamous for its paintings of an early aeroplane, a man on the telephone and other modern wonders.
Goenka Double HaveliTwin mansions with painted elephants and horses on the facade.
Chokhani Double HaveliA grand house built for two brothers, with richly painted courtyards.
Harlalka stepwellAn old stepwell on the edge of town, with domed pavilions.
Shekhawati townsDay trips to the painted havelis of Nawalgarh, Fatehpur and Jhunjhunu.

Our tip: Look up as well as around: some of the finest paintings are on the ceilings and under the eaves.

02 / Food & shopping

Eat, browse and take home.

Heritage hotel dinnersRajasthani meals in castle and haveli courtyards.
Village walkA gentle stroll through the lanes, past wells, temples and painted houses.
Camel cart rideA slow ride into the countryside at sunset.
Local bazaarBangles, textiles, puppets and village crafts.

03 / Getting there

How to reach Mandawa.

By airJaipur airport is about 170 km away.
By railJhunjhunu station is about 30 km away, with trains to Delhi and Jaipur.
By roadAbout 5–6 hours from Delhi, 3.5–4 hours from Jaipur and 3.5 hours from Bikaner.

04 / Good to know