Shekhawati is the part of Rajasthan that surprises even well-travelled Indians. Across a cluster of small towns in the semi-desert north of Jaipur, Marwari trading families who made fortunes in Calcutta, Bombay and beyond built havelis in the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and covered them, inside and out, with frescoes: gods and epics, kings on elephants, but also steam trains, motor cars, gramophones and European ladies. Mandawa, with its castle and dense old quarter, is the best base. Because the towns are spread out and poorly linked by public transport, seeing Shekhawati by road with a chauffeur is the only practical way. This guide explains the Jaipur-Mandawa drive, RutzIndia.com fares for 2026, how to plan a haveli circuit through Nawalgarh, Fatehpur and Ramgarh, seasons and festivals, and tips for respectful visits to what are, in many cases, still private homes.
Mandawa by road from Jaipur (and Delhi): route, time and fares
Mandawa is about 170 km north-west of Jaipur, usually 3.5 to 4 hours by car via Chomu and Sikar. A one-way Dzire-class sedan costs Rs 6,120 Pay Now to Reserve and an Innova Crysta Rs 9,690 Pay Now to Reserve. A two-day round trip is billed on 500 km: Rs 18,000 Pay Now to Reserve in a sedan or Rs 28,500 Pay Now to Reserve in an Innova. From Delhi, Mandawa is about 260 km. Fares are before 5% GST.
Fares follow the kilometre: Rs 36 for a sedan, Rs 42 for an Ertiga, Rs 57.6 for an Innova, Rs 78 for a Tempo Traveller. A round trip is billed on the greater of actual distance or 250 km per calendar day, and a Shekhawati circuit of three or four towns typically adds 80 to 120 km of local driving on top of the Jaipur run, which the two-day minimum comfortably absorbs. From Delhi, a one-way sedan to Mandawa is about Rs 9,360 Pay Now to Reserve and an Innova about Rs 14,820 Pay Now to Reserve. Tolls and parking are billed as paid. If you are starting in the capital, book through our Delhi taxi service; in the Pink City, our Jaipur taxi service handles pickups from hotels and the airport.
Why Shekhawati: the painted towns
Mandawa
Mandawa grew around an eighteenth-century fort, now the Castle Mandawa heritage hotel, whose ramparts overlook the town. In the lanes below, dozens of havelis carry frescoes on their outer walls and courtyards. Several are open to visitors for a small fee paid to the caretaker; others you admire from the street. Look for panels showing early aeroplanes and trains, a sign of how widely these merchant families travelled. The Mandawa article on Wikipedia gives background on the town's history.
Nawalgarh
About 30 km south of Mandawa, Nawalgarh has some of the best-maintained havelis in the region, including two that operate as museums: the Dr Ramnath A. Poddar Haveli Museum and the Morarka Haveli Museum. Both have restored frescoes and exhibits on Shekhawati life, and they are the easiest introduction to the region's art.
Fatehpur
Fatehpur, about 20 km west of Mandawa on NH-52, is known for the haveli restored by the French artist Nadine Le Prince, which now serves as a cultural centre and gallery. Many other havelis in town are faded or crumbling, which gives a sense of how much has been lost and how much remains.
Ramgarh Shekhawati and Jhunjhunu
Ramgarh, founded by the Poddar family, has a remarkable concentration of painted cenotaphs and temples. Jhunjhunu, the district headquarters, offers the Khetri Mahal with its airy wind-palace design and the huge Rani Sati temple, one of the most visited shrines in the region. The broader story of the region's art and merchant communities is outlined in the Shekhawati article on Wikipedia, and the Jhunjhunu district portal posts local notices and tourist information.
The roads to Mandawa
From Jaipur (about 170 km). Head north on NH-52 through Chomu, where traffic can be heavy in the mornings, to Sikar, the largest town on the way and a good tea stop at around 115 km. From Sikar there are two ways on: continue on NH-52 to Fatehpur and turn east to Mandawa, or cut north-east through Nawalgarh, which lets you visit its museums on the way in. Roads are generally good two- and four-lane routes through flat farmland, with occasional camel carts and tractors. Plan on 3.5 to 4 hours.
From Delhi (about 260 km). The usual route is via Gurgaon, Rewari and Narnaul to Jhunjhunu and Mandawa. It is a long day through small towns of Haryana and northern Rajasthan, typically 5.5 to 6.5 hours. Leaving Delhi before 7 am avoids the worst of the Gurgaon traffic.
From Bikaner (about 190 km). Via Ratangarh and Fatehpur, a straight desert road. Mandawa makes a natural stop between Jaipur and Bikaner; see our Bikaner by road guide for the next leg.
Inside Mandawa's old quarter, lanes are narrow and busy with motorbikes. Your chauffeur will drop you near the main bazaar or castle gate and wait at the nearest parking spot.
When to visit Shekhawati
- October to March is best. Days are sunny and comfortable for walking between havelis; nights in December and January can drop close to freezing in this dry region, so bring warm clothes.
- The Shekhawati festival, usually held in February, has featured cultural programmes, fairs and rural sports across the district. Confirm the year's schedule with the district or state tourism department before planning around it.
- April to June is very hot, with dusty winds. Plan early morning and late afternoon walks only.
- July to September brings limited but welcome rain and green fields; humidity rises and some unpaved lanes get muddy.
- Festival days such as Holi and Diwali are celebrated with gusto; expect closures at some private havelis during family events.
Chauffeured options from RutzIndia.com
- Two or three day Shekhawati tours from Jaipur or Delhi, with the car and chauffeur staying with you for the haveli circuit.
- One-way transfers from Jaipur or Delhi to Mandawa hotels, or onward to Bikaner and Jaisalmer.
- Longer Rajasthan loops that add Shekhawati to Jaipur, Bikaner and Jodhpur; see our Rajasthan tour by car.
- Airport pickups at Jaipur or Delhi, with flight tracking, a name board and free waiting of 60 minutes after international flights and 30 after domestic flights.
- Groups such as art-history classes or extended families in a Tempo Traveller from Jaipur.
| Vehicle | Jaipur to Mandawa one way (170 km) | Two-day round trip (500 km billed) | Three-day Shekhawati tour (750 km billed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dzire-class sedan | Rs 6,120 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 18,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 27,000 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Ertiga MUV | Rs 7,140 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 21,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 31,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Innova Crysta | Rs 9,690 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 28,500 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 42,750 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Tempo Traveller | Rs 13,260 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 39,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 58,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
All fares exclude 5% GST. Tolls and parking are billed at actual cost, and the driver's night allowance of Rs 1,500 per night is added on multi-day tours. Every car is within four model years. You pay by card or UPI through the booker, and business travellers receive a GST invoice.
If you need to cancel, our cancellation policy applies: free cancellation more than 72 hours before pickup, then 10% within 72 hours, 50% within 48 hours and the whole fare within 24 hours of pickup or for a no-show.
A three-day Shekhawati itinerary by car
Day 1: Jaipur to Mandawa via Nawalgarh (about 175 km). Leave Jaipur at 8 am, tea in Sikar, and reach Nawalgarh by 11:30. Visit the Poddar and Morarka haveli museums, then have lunch. Continue to Mandawa by mid-afternoon, check in, and walk the lanes of the old town in the golden light before sunset.
Day 2: Fatehpur, Ramgarh and Jhunjhunu loop (about 140 km). Morning in Fatehpur's haveli and gallery, then drive to Ramgarh for its painted cenotaphs and temples. Lunch on the road, then Jhunjhunu for the Khetri Mahal and Rani Sati temple before returning to Mandawa.
Day 3: Mandawa to Jaipur or Delhi (about 170 to 260 km). A final morning walk and a visit to any haveli you missed, then drive back. Alternatively, continue west to Bikaner.
Billing is the three-day minimum of 750 km (Rs 27,000 Pay Now to Reserve in a sedan, Rs 42,750 Pay Now to Reserve in an Innova), plus two night allowances, tolls, parking and GST. For a shorter visit, a two-day plan covering Nawalgarh and Mandawa fits within the 500 km minimum.
Visiting havelis respectfully: practical tips
- These are homes. Many havelis are owned by families who live elsewhere and employ caretakers, and some are still lived in. Knock, ask and pay the small entry fee requested.
- Hire a local guide for at least half a day; the frescoes are full of stories you would otherwise miss, and guides know which houses are open.
- Photography. Usually allowed on exteriors; ask before photographing interiors or residents.
- Do not touch the painted surfaces; oils from hands damage them.
- Comfortable shoes for dusty lanes, and a hat for midday.
- Food. Haveli hotels serve Rajasthani thalis; small dhabas near bus stands are good for chai and kachori.
- Start in Jaipur. Spend a day in the capital first with our Jaipur by road guide, then head north for a completely different Rajasthan.
Who should go to Mandawa
Shekhawati suits curious travellers more than checklist tourists. Art and architecture enthusiasts can spend days here; photographers love the colour and texture; families with older children enjoy the rural setting and camel cart rides offered by some hotels. Travellers with limited time may find two nights the right balance. Because the attractions are spread over several towns rather than one fort, a car with a chauffeur who knows the back roads makes the difference between a frustrating trip and a memorable one.
Foreign visitors and NRIs returning to explore family roots in Shekhawati are a growing share of travellers here; many Marwari families trace their origins to these very towns. If that is your reason for going, tell us the ancestral town when you book, and we will plan the route and timing around it. Our NRI car hire service can also arrange longer hires with the same chauffeur for family visits across Rajasthan and beyond.
