Castle Mandawa

The Shekhawati region is famous for its colourful frescoes. The best place to discover the legacy of Shekhawati is from the comfort of Castle Mandawa, a fortress, now converted into a luxurious heritage hotel.

Castle Mandawa is a unique blend of modern airs and traditional graces. Medieval turreted towers, palanquin-roofed balconies, blend with modern comforts to provide a delightful experience.

Here is a place where you can enjoy the heritage & charm that is the essence of Rajput tradition.

History

If the desert blooms in myriad colours it is in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, where every home is adorned with gaily painted murals that illuminate the arid landscape.

Traditionally, this was the stronghold of Rao Shekhaji, who founded a dynasty and gave it his name. Mandawa, a remote feudal principality in the center of the Shekhawati region, was a trading outpost for the ancient caravan routes that stopped  from China and the Middle East.

The Rajput ruler of Mandawa, Thakur Nawal Singh, built a fort in 1755 to protect this outpost. The township that grew around the fort soon attracted a large community of traders, who settled.

When the caravan traffic ceased in the late 18th century, the traders created business empires in other parts of the country, but returned to Mandawa to build palatial mansions in their hometown.

The Castle Mandawa is 168km from Jaipur, 240km from Delhiand 190km from Bikaner.

The large and airy rooms of the Castle have been tastefully renovated using period furniture and local furnishing. They are blend of modern comforts in medieval surroundings.

Each room displaying the grandeur & taste of the rulers of the past. In the zenana or women's quarters, one room offers antique murals, another has a marble fountain, while the turret room boasts of walls that are 7 feet thick.

Part of the excitement of staying at Mandawa is a sense of discovery at every turn. Battlements that offer spectacular views of the town below, a whimsical peacock weathervane, an arched window that overlooks the  garden visited by peacocks.

The Castle Mandawa consists of 70 air conditioned rooms with attached bathrooms and telephones.

• Camel and Horse rides
• Jeep Safaris
• Verandah bar
• Gala Dinners
• Puppet shows
• Folk dances
• Conference Facilities
• Royal welcome
• Theme Weddings
• Turret Dinners
• Ayurvedic centre
• Billiard room
• Pool table
• Table Tennis
• Swimming pool
• Spa
• Vintage car rides

At Mandawa, simple pleasures leave a listing impression... whether it is a quiet breakfast on a terrace offering great views of distant temples and cenotaphs, a leisurely lunch in the mural-painted dining room, sundowners sipped in the congenial setting of the veranda bar, or an alfresco dinner under the stars, entertained by Rajasthani folk singers and dancers. Every meal becomes a memorable occasion.

One of the highlights of the stay at Castle Mandawa is the royal repast. A  dinner on the lawns, or around a bonfire in the courtyard, is climaxed by the performance of a fire dancer who sways to the hypnotic beat of traditional drums.