Heritage on Wheels Destinations

The itinerary of the Heritage on Wheels is so planned that tourists can have experience of Shekhawati Region - Bikaner - Nawalgarh - Ramgarh (Mahansar) - Mandawa including Gajner and Tal Chhapar sanctuaries.

This is a semi desert region in north Rajasthan and it is situated entirely in the triangle between Delhi-Bikaner-Jaipur. Shekhawati is a region and not just a town or fort; it takes its name after its ruler Rao Shekha. Shekhawati means the garden of Shekha.
 

Jaipur : Jaipur is 260 km from Delhi and 240 km from Agra and forms the most chosen tourism golden triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. It a bustling capital city and a business
centre with all the trapping of modern metropolis but yet flavoured strongly with an age-old charm that never fails to surprise a traveller. The old Jaipur painted in Pink can grip
any visitor with admiration. Stunning backdrop of ancient forts Nahargarh, Amer, Jagarh and Moti Dungri are dramatic testimonials of the bygone era and a reminder of their
lingering romance.

Bikaner : Lying in the north of the desert state, the city is dotted with scores of sand dunes. Bikaner retains the medieval grandeur that permeates the city's lifestyle. More readily called the camel country, the city is distinguished for the best riding camels in the world and hence boasts of having one of the largest Camel research and breeading farm in the world. The ship of the desert is an inseparable part of life here. A camel besides doing transportation duties, also works on wells. These are built on high plinths with slender minarets on each of the four corners and can be noticed even from a distance.
 

Gajner : Gajner is an incomparable Jewel in the Thar. Built by the great Maharaja Ganga Singhji of Bikaner on the embankment of a lake with a generous dose of flora and fauna. Basically a hunting and relaxing lodge, the maharaja and the family shared their passion with their exclusive guests and hosted exotic holidays for them.

Around the palace is a thick forestation that attracts the guests to take up a simple walk around admiring the migratory birds in winters like imperial sand goose,antelopes, black bucks and the animal species that wander around in the form of Nilgais, chinkaras, deers etc. The hotel is spread in a large area, and the ambiance around is as raw and authentic as it was before.

Tal Chhapar : The Tal Chhapar wildlife sanctuary in Rajasthan, India is known for the black-buck that is a flat saline depression with its own ecosystem. A number of migratory birds visit this region especially the harries. These birds visit this region during the month of September.

Ramgarh : This town was founded by the Poddars in the late 18th century. The Poddars left the town in discontent against the then ruler of Churu. Unlike the frescoes on the havelis in the other towns and villages of Shekhawati, the finest frescoes depicting scenes from the Ramayana in Ramgarh can be seen on the ceiling of a chhatri or cenotaph built to commemorate a Poddar scion.

Mahansar : Your tour of Shekhawati will not be complete without a visit to Mahansar's Sone-chandi ki Sal or the chamber of gold and silver built by the Poddars in the 18th century. Fruit and floral designs in the Sone-chandi-ki Sal are some of the most intricate in Shekhawati and boast of the finest fresco workmanship. It is believed that painters must have possibly come from Bikaner, since similar work is found in the Junagarh Fort at Bikaner. The Narain Niwas Castle, a heritage hotel at Mahansar, is a great place to experience the life and tastes of the region.
 

Mandawa : Founded in the mid 18th century Manawa skyline today is dominated by an imposing mirage like fort now a heritage hotel that is maintained in the classic medieval theme with the modern luxuries. The painted archway is painted with interesting forms of paintings of Lord Krishna and his cowherds. The sprawling architecture houses a different
theme in different wings. The spacious rooms are adorned by intricate interior wall paintings and mirror work with open terrace that offers a panoramic view of the whole town. The women folks of the Mandawa family who lived in a royal style once used this floor. The ambiences of those years still linger around the rooms.