Forgotten Rajasthan
Tucked away in northeastern Rajasthan, Shekhawati is often overlooked by tourists bound for the desert state’s great royal cities, such as Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. But this “lesserknown” region is also “captivating”, says Poonam Binayak in The Daily Telegraph, thanks in particular to the many hundreds of old merchants’ houses, or havelis (pictured), to which it is home. Built between the 18th and early 20th centuries, these mansions are crowded together in “once-prosperous” trading towns such as Nawalgarh, Mandawa and Dundlod. Their owners were among the richest families in India, and they “bristle” with cupolas, balconies and arcaded courtyards. Most marvellous, however, are their richly coloured murals, depicting scenes from myth and folklore. Some havelis have been restored, but most are derelict, and more bewitching for it. The…