{"id":29622,"date":"2018-03-31T08:58:54","date_gmt":"2018-03-31T06:58:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/no-problem-mam.com\/?p=29622"},"modified":"2025-08-13T11:27:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T09:27:07","slug":"shekhawati-rajasthan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/shekhawati-rajasthan\/","title":{"rendered":"Shekhawati, Rajasthan’s open-air art gallery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Organised tours often bypass the Shekhawati region in northwest Rajasthan<\/a>, yet in the 18th and 19th centuries it was one of Rajasthan’s richest regions. Wealthy Marwari merchants built huge mansions there, decorated inside and out with sumptuous frescoes in which Hindu mythology mingles with scenes from daily life. These masterpieces have earned the region a reputation as Rajasthan’s open-air art gallery.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Shekhawati region covers a large part of northeastern Rajasthan, it includes the major cities of: <\/strong>Nawalgarh, Dundlod, Mukundgarh, Churi Ajitgarh, Mandawa, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Alsisar, Ramgarh, Bissau, Mahansar, Lakshmangarh, Fatehpur, Sikar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Creation of Shekhawati<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Statue of Thakur Shekha ji in Sikar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shekhawati was founded by Rao Shekha Ji of Dhundhar (Jaipur region)<\/a><\/strong>. He is related to the Rajput Kachhwaha clan of Jaipur-Amber. In 1471 CE, he refused to pay tribute to the Kachhawaha rulers and declared his independence. Thus, Shekhawati came into existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ruler Man Singh ji of Amber, Kachhwaha Dynasty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rao Shekha Ji made several incursions into this region during the 15th century. <\/strong>Later his descendants who had friendly relations with the Kachhwaha Rajputs of Amber and the Mughals received several landed estates from the Mughal emperors. By the 18th century, almost the entire Shekhawati region came under the control of the Shekhawats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shekhawati was ruled by the Shekhawat Rajputs until India’s independence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Marwaris Merchands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Rajasthan has been a necessary passage for trade caravans since ancient times.<\/strong> They take the route from Delhi to Sindh via Bikaner <\/a>and Jaisalmer.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early 18th century, Rajasthan’s roads became safer and shorter,<\/strong> and it escaped Maharashtra’s <\/a>rebellions against the Mughal Empire. Commercial activity increased considerably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Map of Jaipur in Nawalgarh Fort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thus, in the second half of the 18th century, Jaipur became an important trading centre<\/strong>. However, internal quarrels and a deficit treasury forced the rulers of Jaipur to impose heavy taxes on their territories. Bikaner followed suit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Representation of the Thakurs of Shekhawati on a painting of the haveli “Snehi Ram Ladia” – Mandawa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Thakurs (local lords) of Shekhawati took advantage of this opportunity to divert trade routes by considerably reducing taxes. <\/strong>The region then became the most frequented by trade caravans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Marwaris of Shekhawati, vintage photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Thakurs also encouraged the banias (traders), who are called “Marwaris” in Shekhawati, to settle in their territory<\/strong>. For more than 50 years, from 1740 to 1800 CE, Shekhawati became one of the richest provinces in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New transportations, such as the railway, changed the pattern of trade in Shekhawati – Fresco on one of the havelis of Ramgarh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, from the second half of the 19th century, the installation of a railway network by the British Raj and especially of ports in Bombay and Calcutta <\/a>changed the model of trade<\/strong>. The prosperity of Shekhawati based on land routes ran out of steam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New means of transport and the British are widely illustrated on the havelis of Shekhawati – Painting of the haveli of Parasrampura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Marwaris, however, as worthy businessmen, bounced back very quickly by migrating to the big Indian cities from 1820,<\/strong> mainly Mumbai and Kolkata, and further increased their wealth by investing in big industries, particularly cotton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Old photo of Marwaris of Mumbai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Marwaris, whose fortune is unrivaled in India, built many grandiose residences (havelis) <\/strong>in the villages where their families still lived, which delight architecture lovers like me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Podar Haveli, one of the palatial residences of Shekhawati<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even today, the descendants of the Marwaris of Shekhawati, <\/strong>the Birlas, Damias, Goenkas, Podars, to name a few, largely dominate the industrial sector in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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