![]() The Kothari and Surana Havelis are a group of handsome painted havelis built by two prominent Oswal Jain merchant families, the Kothari and Surana clans. Amongst them are 'Malji Ka Kamra' (Malji's Haveli), an exotic stucco extravagaza built by Malaji Kothari around 1925 and the massive Surana Double Haveli, said to boast 1111 windows and doors built in the 1870s. Just south of the main bazaar, this haveli built around 1880 boasts the finest frieze in the entire Shekhawati region. It illustrates Dhola and Maru on a camel fleeing the wicked Umra-Sumra, Sassi and Punu side by side on horseback, two set of lovers from folk tales. To the south-west is a mosque, Jama Masjid, and a little Muslim haveli decorated with non-figurative work. ![]() Churu has some good memorial domes, chattris, mostly raised to rich merchants, north of town. Historically the most significant is 'Aath Kambh Chhatri' (Eight Pillar Dome) west of the vegetable market. It was built in 1776 on a Rajput's cremation site. Its base has been virtually buried by windblown sand. The interior is covered with murals, one detail depicting an early European mercenary on foot, bearing a musket. Further north are chhatris of the Mantri , Bagla and Lohia merchant families. Ratannagar, the mini Jaipur, is said to have been built and developed by Seth Nand Ram Kedia from Bissau, in Vikram Samvat 1917 (1860 A.D.) and named after Bikaner ruler, Raja Ratangingh. The town was developed in a planned manner having wide pathway crossing one another at a 90 degree angle and proper drainage system. At every Chouraha, there is a beautiful circular tree stand. Beautiful gardens and well decorated palatial havelis in a sequential row give a heritage look to the same. The main havelis are: Champalal Sohanlal Hiralal Hirawat haveli, Bilas Rai Arjundas Kedia haveli, Chandi Prasad Kedia haveli, Laxminarayan Chandgothia haveli, Ganga Prasad Chandgothia haveli, Hari Charan, Dwarka Das, Basudev gadodia haveli, Mool Chand Poddar haveli and Jalan haveli. Raghunathji, Laxminarayanji and Chandgothia temples are also decorated with beautiful wall paintings. The paintings in Godia 'Chhatri' are worth seeing. The Ratnagar forest adjoining it is home to a great many varieties of animals. The religious places situated in Ratannagar are Shyam Vatika, Onkar Ashram, Ganesh Mandir, Veer Hanuman temple, Rani Sati temple, Idgah mosque, Jumma mosque, Madina mosque and Dargha Peer Sahib. Other tourist places around the town include Ramgarh, Mahansar, Bissau, Churu and Mandawa, Mukandgarh, Fatehpur, Laxmangarh and Nawalgarh as nearby towns. ![]() Talchhapar Sanctuary is famous for the endangered black-buck. Other wild animals found in the sanctuary are chinkara, fox, jungle cat and rojra along with many resident and migratory birds. It lies along the way of the migratory passage of many birds and therefore it is also popular with bird lovers. Talchhapar, which is actually a flat saline depression, has a unique ecosystem. Talchhapar area was a game reservoir for the erstwhile Maharaja of Bikaner State and was declared a reserved area for the protection of wild animals and birds in the year 1962. Total area of Talchhapar Sanctuary is 719 hectares. The sanctuary area is mostly covered by grass with very few and sparse trees of Khejri, Salvadora, Ber, Ker and Neem tree. Main types of grass found in the area are Sewan, Doob, Dhaman Lampla, Lana and Moth etc. The area has a lush green look during te rainy season but dries up again during the summer season. Thus discussed above are the various places of tourism in the district of Churu, Rajasthan. (Last Updated on : 22-04-2013) |
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