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| Flying through times immemorial |
Mandawa is a tiny village town in northeastern Rajasthan. Had it not been for PK and Bajrangi Bhaijaan (two Hindi blockbusters of recent years) and my
Aunt who suggested it, I would have, perhaps, never known about its
existence. The village town showcases a blend of Moghul and Rajasthani art and ostentatious
havelis, many of which have been turned into heritage hotels, while many are
dilapidated and lost to the pressures of changing times. PS: (Rajwada (royal abode) is a Marathi word..a more appropriate
Rajasthani term is 'Haveli')
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A Whited throated Kingfisher greeted us on the way near Jhunjhunu. There are three suggested routes on Google Maps. We took NH8, via Gurgaon, bhiwadi, neemrana, narnaul, jhunjhunu. Preferably avoid this route. The road through Narnaul village is pretty bad and the entire travel took us more than 6 tedious hours. |
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Some sunsets are unforgettable... the sanguine sky as we entered Mandawa |
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A Good Misty Morning To Mr. Crow at the Desert and Dunes resort in Mandawa |
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Not yet deserted but neglected....we spent the day haveli hopping |
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The once upon a time rich flamboyant havelis, cry the tales of deprivation and penury |
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While the affluent owners have moved to bigger cities leaving behind their once grand havelis to fend for their fate, the poorer ones continue to live under the shadows of old glory |
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| Looking for open doors |
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| Mandawa Haveli to Heritage Hotel |
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| Keeping the tradition alive - Grandma embellishing lac bangles |
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| For sale - A piece of history |
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| The Mandawa Royal Palace - A heritage hotel but on the higher end. A day tariff starts from 10k |
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| As development encroached! |
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| The terrace line |
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| The central courtyard |
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| An age-old method of keeping water cold |
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| Vibrant with colors, puppets, and paintings |
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| Detailed paintings found their way under sills as well |
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We had a scrumptious Rajasthani meal here. Interesting to know. The cook went to the market after taking the order. The food was prepared fresh. They served it after 2 hours but tasty nevertheless. |
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| The end of the weekend getaway |
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| The DDLJ 'Sarson ke khet' - Long stretches of mustard fields mesmerize |
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| The end of a beautiful weekend - heading back |
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The journey should take about 5 hours without traffic and bad roads. The Narnaul route took us more than 6 hrs but the beautiful mustard fields made it worthwhile.
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