The region of Mandawa rises from a flat, featureless landscape roughly midway between Jhunjhunu and Fatehpur. The town`s imposing fort has made this the most tourist-oriented place in Shekhawati. However, the handicraft shops, touts and guides clustered around its cannonball-chipped walls detract very little from the dilapidated beauty of the profusion of mansions.

Location of Mandawa: It is located within the Shekhawati Region, Rajasthan. It lies in the northern part of Rajasthan and is accessible from major tourist destinations in Rajasthan.

History of Mandawa: The kingdom was founded by the Shekhawats in 1755. It was primarily a remote feudal principality that had a trading outpost on an ancient caravan route to China and Middle East. It was the strong hold of Rao Shekhaji, who founded a dynasty here. A fort was also built in the 18th century by Thakur Nawal Singh to protect it from invasions.

Travel Information on Mandawa: Buses from Jhunjhunu and Nawalgarh as well as Jaipur and Bikaner stop at Sonthalia Gate in the east of town. From Fatehpur, too, buses are available. Jeeps ply on the same routes. Rented cars are available for touring the city. The best season to visit the place is from September to March.

Accommodations in Mandawa: Hotel Castle Mandawa, Desert Resort, Singhasan Haveli, RTDC Hotel Haveli and others offer accommodation units to the guests. Services ranging from dining, recreation, sightseeing to the usual ones, such as, laundry, car parking and others are available for the guests.

Mandawa City: The city looks beautiful with ancient havelis and sprawling bazaars. Apart from the historical buildings the tourists can also check out the shopping centers. Here they will come across local handicrafts.

Places of Interest in Mandawa: One of the splendid examples of region`s attraction here is the subject of murals in Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli, ranging from everyday life scenes to erotica. The colourful frescoes of Bansidhar Nevada Haveli depict whimsical copies of the popular British prints. The Sneh Ram Ladia Haveli has portraits of the owners. The `eroticism` painted on the outer wall of Goenka Haveli is quite amusing. A Shiva temple with a rock crystal `lingam` is worth a visit.

Places of Interest around Mandawa: There are several places of interest around Mandawa. To reach these places the travelers can easily avail the local transports. Kota, Nawalgarh, Fatehpur and several other places lying within the district of Jhunjhunu are accessible from Mandawa. While some of these places are historically significant others are important because of their craftsmanship. In case the travelers are interested they can always stay at these places.