Mandawa Darshan

Mandawa Darshan is often known as Open Art Gallery. Marvelous mansions dot the town and make it an important tourist attraction of Rajasthan. One of the prime attractions of Mandawa is Goenka Double Haveli, with a façade adorned with elephants and horses. Another one is Murmuria Havel, with brilliant paintings of Lord Krishna, cars, Nehru etc. Talking of painting, Jhunjhunwala Haveli is notable for striking details of the painting. Asharam ki Haveli and Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli too are must-visit sites of Mandawa.

Climate
Like most of the other places in north India, Mandawa too has an extreme climate. The summers can be very hot with the mercury touching 40.5°C, whereas winters can be chilly and the temperature can fall below 10°C. The best season to visit this place is winter i.e. October to March. The annual rainfall is between 45 to 60 cm. Recommended clothing is light tropical for summer and light woolen for winter.

Mandawa provides the visitors with a sense of discovery at every turn; battlements that offer spectacular views of the town below, a whimsical peacock weather van, and an arched window that overlooks the verdant garden visited by peacocks. Most importantly, the fact that no two rooms are alike in the palace here. In the zenana or women's quarters, one room offers antique murals, another has a marble fountain, and the turret room boasts of walls that are seven feet thick. Looking out from the window of the turret room, it is easy to imagine the marauding bandits that once roamed freely here. Little wonder then that the family crest contains the motto, 'Veer Bhogya Vasundhara', which translates into 'the brave shall inherit the earth'

Shopping
The busy little market of Mandawa has many antique shops that sell local handicrafts and antiques. Before purchasing anything from these shops, it is better to confirm that it has not been taken out from the havelis of the region. Export of antiques older than 100 years is illegal and should not be done, for the sake of saving the heritage of this region.

How to Reach
By Air : The nearest charter airport is Jhunjhunu, the largest city in the region and the district headquarters. Jaipur is the nearest airport for regular flights. Many domestic airlines operate out of Jaipur and connect it with other cities in the country.
By Rail : Jhunjhunu is the nearest convenient railhead and one can take trains for Sikar, Jaipur, and Delhi from Jhunjhunu.
By Road : Road networks crisscross the entire region of Shekhawati, and Mandawa is well connected with other places in the region by private as well as government buses. It is a good idea for groups of four or five persons to hire taxis to move around the place.