SHEKHAWATI: “THE WORLD’S LARGEST OPEN-AIR ART GALLERY” IN RAJASTHAN

The realm of lovely havelis, harking back to the yester years, epitomizes the beauty of Shekhawati – a region that comprises of Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu. The land has the largest collection of painted buildings anywhere in the world, laced with innumerable beautiful havelis or grand mansions. An “open-air art gallery "as it is called , it is a haven for a true connoisseur of art and architecture.

The region is not only an open-air art gallery, but also an open book on the country's business history. Marwari merchants - who later became famous entrepreneurs and industrialists, built these havelis. You can trace the roots of just about every major business house of contemporary India to Shekhawati - the Birlas, Bangurs, Goenkas, Poddars, Morarkas, Bajajs, Sethias, Singhanias, Jhunjhunuwalas, Santhalias, Ganeriwals, Tiberewals, Sekhasarias, and so on. Leading business communities among the Marwaris, such as the Agarwals, Oswals and Maheshwaris, originated in Shekhawati. The Marwari merchants and moneylenders from Shekhawati spread all over the country, particularly to Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad, and to Bihar and Assam.