The Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli is one of the most palatial mansions of Mandawa. The haveli is considered an exceptional piece of art and architecture for its exotic imagery. Even today, the haveli is known to hold the old vintage charm and ambiance. Every nook of the haveli holds the true essence of the Rajputana era. While walking through the corridors of haveli, one can have a look at the creative work of art by Rajput artisans. The walls of the haveli reflect the glory and wealth of the past era. The haveli features exceptional murals in varied themes. One can find images on the walls of the haveli which depict different scenes like a woman giving birth, mirror images of tigers and horse, bird tending her eggs and many more. The main attractions of the haveli are its beautifully carved wooden gates and latticed windows which talk of the originality of the artisans of those times.
This haveli is located in the south of town, where the decoration of the outer and inner walls is perhaps the finest in Shekhawati. Blue washes here and there betray twentieth-century censorship of the erotic scenes that had been commonly acceptable one hundred years earlier. The Binsidhar Newatia Haveli, Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli and Chokhani Double Haveli are some of the other painted havelis in the area. Murals in the Thakurji temple, located opposite the Goenka Double Haveli and the Murmuria Haveli, include soldiers being shot from the mouths of cannons, a reflection of the horrors of the Mutiny of 1857. Further west are a couple of chhatris, and a step-well, still used today and bearing paintings inside its decorative corner domes.
By Air - Through Jaipur (167 km), one can easily reach Mandawa, the royal castle town
By Railways - The closest train station to Mandawa is Jaipur.
By Road – Mandawa enjoys strong road connectivity through Jaipur, Bikaner, Sikar or Churu.
The best time to visit Mandawa is during the winters, between the months of October and March. Light woollen clothing should suffice for the winters, and in case you visit the town during the hot summer season, from March to June, light cotton clothing is recommended. The monsoon, from July to September, is quite pleasant as well.
