A SHEKHAWATI AFFAIR

Hundreds of years ago the region of Shekhawati was a vast expanse of arid land, populated only with sand dunes and no natural source of water. This uninviting desert area boasted little.

Of all the non-mountainous regions in India, Shekhawati was and continues to be, the hottest in summer and the coldest in winter. And yet, despite these challenges, the region of Shekhawati and all its many towns, emerged as one of the wealthiest during the Rajput rule in the 18th and 19th centuries becoming a wealthy trading center, with homes of extraordinary conception and refinement.

This success story is credited to a powerful and complex people, the Marwadis, who persevered in this barren region with a sense of life which trusted in growth, enterprise and profit.

Disportionately rich, these money minded philanthropists and money lenders are even today, an enigma.

They are tough but sweet talking business practitioners who are both envied and admired at the same time.

They are vegetarian, non violent and religious conservatives, often with contradictory traits of business ruthlessness and generosity who during their most prosperous times created a region of exceptional architectural importance, unlike the rest of India.

The magnificent havelis they created to withstand the harsh weather of Shekhawati equally rivalled or exceeded the grandest colonial homes in Bombay and Calcutta, with their intricate designs and exquisite frescoes, revealing sophistication in both taste and artistic acumen.

Although, sadly, most of these stunning structures were left to ruin when the merchants moved on, they still remain today as a haunting reminder of the prosperity and riches of earlier times and never cease to enchant visitors to Shekhawati with their enviable beauty.

The numerous villages of Shekhawati cover a great expanse and each of its many towns provide a unique and memorable experience. It easily becomes a magical journey, to move from one small town to the next as they are in fact not more than 10-30 kilometers apart. And though the many vast and elegant havelis are by far the golden talking points, each little town sparkles with endless streets of individuality and charm.

This makes for days of endless exploration and discovery - plentiful and satisfying