People believe that England is the best country to visit when in search of exposure to the medieval life.

Although England is where King Arthur is supposed to have ruled, there are more castles and forts that are still standing in India that give all visitors a glimpse of what life used to be when the cities were bustling with life.  The structures show off more culture than one can pick up from history books.

History of Mandawa

It is suggested that it was the Mandu Jat that founded this village by first building a hamlet, and then later digging a well.  Although the location is somewhat remote, the village was situated in an area that was frequently used by merchants from China and the Middle East.  This led to the improvement of the life of the population, and the richer ones started building havelis, known as mansions today.  These structures stand up until this day.  As time passed, the population moved to other areas and the city became a shadow of its former self, but the structures and their artistic designs are still there to witness.

Tourism in Mandawa

The Havelis are the major tour attractions of the area, and there are definitely more than a few.  These havelis are not just ordinary mansions, but have walls that are filled with paintings.  These paintings are of different themes, and they reflect the culture of the time it was built.  The older mansions have original Rajasthan art, while the newer ones reflect the influence of British rule.

Among the number of Havelis to be visited, tours would pass through the Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli.  This has walls that reflect more religious and cultural themes, with Indra Dev on an Elephant and lord Shiva on his Nandi Bull.  The Goenka Double Haveli is one that has two gates, and both gates have paintings of elephants and horses.  The rest of the walls, even on the outside, show transitions from traditional Rajasthani women to Europeans with Victorian styles.

The most extreme haveli is not considered a mansion, as it is the Mandawa fort.  This fort was built in 1755, and it dominates the town up until this day with an arch that has frescoes of lord Krishna and his cows.  The rest of the fort, also considered a castle, is filled with carvings and paintings that are guaranteed to awe any tourist.  A tour guide will definitely need to keep people moving in the fort, as tourists unguided may stay for days just to admire the artwork.

Mandawa is a place that would transport tourists to an era where romance and chivalry was active.  The city is hot, but people still brave this in order to see the wonders that a previous generation was able to create.  If the tour is timed correctly, one can travel to Mandawa and enjoy the different sites in comfortable temperatures.  No matter when the travel is scheduled, it is definite that this visit is one that won't be forgotten.