Shekhavati is a semi arid but stunningly beautiful area that hides a wealth of lawless history.

Shekhavati is known for having previously been a lawless land, stretching along the trade routes between the ports of the Arabian Sea and the Ganges valley.  The noblemen that resided here were noted for their absolute indulgence and lack of cooperation between themselves.  They began to prosper in the mid 18^th century when they began to show a little organization.

The Background Info on Shekhavati

Encompassing the administrative districts of Jhunjhunu and Sikar however some parts of Churu and Nagaur districts are for all intensive purposes considered to be part of the Shekhavati district too.

The inhabitants of Shekhavati are considered to be brave and hardworking people with Shekhavati providing the largest number of people for the Indian Army.  This has earned them the reputation of being the “Scotland of India” in reference to the same brave and sacrificing ideals being found in the Scottish people.

Climate and Geography of Shekhavati

The climate of Shekhavati can be both harsh and extreme and can be anywhere from 0 C in the winter or colder to more than 50C in the height of summer.  Rainwater has to be stored in tanks and used for drinking water though out the year due to ground water being deep in the ground, sometimes as much as 60 meters deep and even being hard and salty at times.

On average every third year in the Shekhavati region is dry and every 8 years or so there is a famine.  During the famine years it becomes extremely hard for animals to survive and the cattle will decline in numbers drastically.  All this makes for a terribly hard life for the people of Shekhavati.

Stunning Havelis Reflect History in Shekhavati

The region did lose some importance as a trading center however due to the good wealth of this period we are left with absolutely stunning Havelis or mansions.  Most of these were constructed by prosperous merchants from the 18^th century until the 20^th century.

Due to the area being somewhat of an arid wasteland the opportunities to prosper here have been quite limited.  The more enterprising of merchants took this opportunity to carve out niche markets for themselves.  One way for these men to show how well off they had become was to build themselves a mansion.

The most popular design for these Havelis was a plain faceted design with particular detail to the internal courtyard.  Entrance into the building is often through a carved wooden gate that leads into the courtyard which will then in turn lead into another courtyard.

There is one difference between the Haveli of the Shekhavati people and Mughal Havelis and that is that these local Shekhavati Havelis consist of two courtyards, one outer and one inner. The larger Havelis can have up to four courtyards and be two stories high.  With windows that are absolutely stunning being latticed and carved it is not surprising that the rest of the house is just as amazing. Murals, Paintings, facades and gateways, ceilings covered in frescoes were all ways that were used to demonstrate the owners’ wealth.  These Havelis were a place of residence but they were also a way to wall in the domestic life of the people who lived in them.