A guide to Shekhawati attractions that you cannot miss

The sprawling old havelis of Shekhawati are an architectural marvel that were built between the late 18th and early 20th centuries by local Marwari merchants, who had migrated to the port cities of Mumbai and Kolkata to seek their fortunes. Their interaction with the British and exposure to modern urban and industrial trends influenced the designs of the exuberant frescoes on the walls. Their homes grew increasingly grand, reflecting their newfound wealth and social status.

The local artists, on instructions from their masters, juxtaposed among the various subjects and created a melange with frescoes of gentlemen with hats, brass bands and soldiers, trains, steamers, motor cars, aeroplanes, and telephones. The style created has been unique and is sometimes thought to be amusing, but is a telling comment on the urbanisation of a traditional genre of painting. The final result has been Rajasthan’s most unusual artistic and architectural legacies—the largest open air art gallery in the world.
The region of Shekhavat lies on an important caravan route and, is a cluster of small sand-blown towns situated between sprawling expanses of parched land and dunes at the easternmost edges of the Thar Desert. Shekhawati is crossed by a railway line, but services are slow and inconvenient, and you’re better off travelling by road.

Another point of interest is the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, famous for black bucks. Remember that every second home in Shekhawati is a haveli, and sometimes it may be impossible as a traveller to see all of them. As these are small towns, it makes sense to dress conservatively.
Here is a list of important towns in Shekhawati from a tourist’s point of view: