Travelogues

We were going to Shekhawati which is a region in Rajasthan best known for wall murals and old havelis. It lies between Jhunjhunu - Bikaner - Seekar triangle with Mandawa as central town and Fatehpur, Dundlod, and other small places around. We were in two cars (Mahindra Scorpio and Toyota Corolla), a total of 8 adults and 3 kids (Harshal, Tanya and Pihu)

Day 1 - Feb 16

We started early in the morning from Delhi. Hopped on to NH8. Took an exit towards Rewari. Then Mahendargarh, had breakfast on car bonnet and after a while we were at Bagad by 1100 hrs. Its about 200 Km away from Delhi and it will take you 5 hours. Good roads. Infact whole of Rajashtan has good reads, esp compared to MP, UP, Bihar. Post Rewari, there is not much traffic, infact very minimal traffic and which is good. And there happens the damp-squib.
Piramal Haveli is owned by Piramals (Nicholas Piramal fame) and Neemrana folks have taken this on lease and they provide the hospitality services. Just like any other Neemrana hotel, this haveli is expensive. Essentially its a big rectangular building/haveli with a 1000 odd sq yard garden in fornt it which is flanked by a pathway with two exits. There is a portico and there are rooms on all three sides. There is a inner courtyard which also doubles up as dining area. Rooms are spacious but not modernly equipped (no tea maker for e.g.), good hospitality serivice and thats all about it. Outside this haveli lies the Bagad town. Bagad is not a great town to write home about so there is not much you can do then to take a good sun bath on the terrace or enjoy daal-baati.
After a quick discussion, we decided to have a quick tea and move quickly to the centre of Shekhawati viz. Mandawa. Courtsey fantastic roads, we were in Mandawa in another couple of hours and we headed to ‘Castle Mandawa’ - the place to stay. The route from Bagad goes like Bagad-Loharu-Chirawa-Mandawa. The last leg is amazing to beleive. Its like a small thin black tar which is somehow managing to keep his character amid vast terrain of yellow-saffron-soilish colored land. The best part of these roads are there at any point of time you dont see more then 2 vehicles so you are almost alone. The experience is pretty filmy (aka un-beleivable) and one must take a eye-full of it.