Nawalgarh, founded in 1737 AD gets its name from Thakur Nawal Singh, the fourth son of the great Shekhawati Rajput, Sardul Singh. Located 30 km south-east of Fatehpur, Nawalgarh stands for its old city charm and rich history this place still captures through its fortresses, castles, mosques, wells etc. This town in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan is part of the Shekhawati region, which is desert lying inside the triangle made by the Bikaner, Jaipur and Delhi. Shekhawati means ‘Garden of Shekha’; it got its name from ruler Rao Shekha.
This beautiful destination gives an impression of a walk-in art gallery. The eye-catching architecture dating back to 18th – 19th century is truly mesmerizing and makes one travel back to the rich Shekhawati culture. Surrounded with havelis, striking wall paintings, traditional arts and crafts, the place is a must visit for history enthusiasts.
The traders and merchants constructed most of the havelis in the 18th century and the early 19th century with the silk and opium business bringing in a lot of wealth to the merchants.
The amazing murals painted on both the sides of the walls and the paintings further decorated with small pieces of mirror, gold and silver leaves are marvelous. Some of the havelis have more as many as ten courtyards displaying brilliant architectural techniques. The ornate iron and brass fittings reveals the affluence of the original owner of the haveli.
In the past, Nawalgarh was encircled all around by the high Parkota (walls) comprising of four Pols (gates) in different directions, namely Agoona Darwaja, Bawadi Darwaja (in north), Mandi Darwaja and Nansa Darwaja, each gate has iron doors. Nawalgarh was considered to be the most modern towns of Shekhawati. The Rulers of Nawalgarh belongs to Shekhawat sub-clan (of Kachwaha Dynasty of Jaipur Princely State.
The best way to explore this destination is by a horse/ a camel safari. The safari through the desert along the traditional and ethnic painted havelis makes one travel back to the rich Rajasthani culture. The destination experiences extreme weather conditions and it is advisable to carry woolens if you plan a trip during the winter months.
There are many havelis which have been converted into heritage hotels, which are the best bet to stay in Nawalgarh to enjoy the luxury and royalty of the old city. One of them is Roop Niwas Palace, which offers spacious painted rooms, luxurious interiors and great thematic evening sumptuous cuisine
0 Comments:
It is our hope that by providing a stage for cultural, social, and professional interaction, we will help bridge a perceived gap between our native land and our new homelands. We also hope that this interaction within the community will allow us to come together as a group, and subsequently, contribute positively to the world around us.