Published on : Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Lack of connectivity and apathy of the state government has ensured that the structures belonging to 18th and 19th centuries are decaying into ruins, claim locals and experts.
“What makes the Shekhwati region, including Jhunjhunu, unique are the mansions with exquisitely painted walls. These are found only in few places around the world but unfortunately the government has not done much to preserve them. Lack of proper drainage system in many villages where these mansions exist is affecting the structures.
Moreover, the effort to attract more number of tourists to these villages is negligible,” said Randhir Vikram Singh of Indian Heritage Hotels Association.
Shekhawati is located in northern Rajasthan, comprising districts like Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Churu and Nagaur. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Marwari merchants constructed these grand mansions in the region.
“The wealth of the Shekhawati region flourished after trade routes from China to the west were diverted from the Silk Route to the ports of India. The region was ideally located along the route from central Asia to the ports of western India. During that time, havelis were constructed for the traders to rest while travelling”, said Bhaskar Sharma, owner of a nearly century-old mansion in Mandawa.
There are 35 villages in the region like Mandawa, Ramgarh, Nawalgarh and others where approximately 2,000 houses have walls, flaunting unique paintings of the times.