In some ways, the Shekhawati
region is the most beautiful of Rajasthan. It perhaps
has the largest concentration of frescoes anywhere in
the world, and is often called an "open art gallery".
Shekhawati was founded by Rao Shekha. He and other Rajput
nobles ruling over small thikanas financed frescoes in
their havelis on religious themes. When the Marwaris flourished
in business in the end-19th century, they built
large hawelis and called in fresco-makers but the themes
were more than religion. Every village and town in Shekhawati
contains these treasures but the temples of Sikar, the
hawelis of Ramgarh, Fatehgarh, Nawalgarh and Mukundgarh,
and the forts of Lachmangarh and Mandawa are unmissable. |
