Havelis are lavishly painted mansions. Many of them are found in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. The Vivaana Culture Hotel (pictured) is a good place to start a haveli journey.
India's havelis —
Havelis are lavishly painted mansions. Many of them are found in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. The Vivaana Culture Hotel (pictured) is a good place to start a haveli journey.
courtesy Vivaana Culture Hotel
The hotel, made up of two havelis from the 19th century, is located in a village of Churi-Ajitgarh. Rooms 103, 104 and 106 are the most impressive of the hotel's 23 chambers.
Vivaana Culture Hotel —
The hotel, made up of two havelis from the 19th century, is located in a village of Churi-Ajitgarh. Rooms 103, 104 and 106 are the most impressive of the hotel's 23 chambers.
courtesy Vivaana Culture Hotel
It took Vivaana Culture Hotel owner Atul Khanna five years to obtain the two havelis and another three years to restore them. The result is a hotel filled with exquisite murals and well-preserved original features.
A long restoration project —
It took Vivaana Culture Hotel owner Atul Khanna five years to obtain the two havelis and another three years to restore them. The result is a hotel filled with exquisite murals and well-preserved original features.
courtesy Vivaana Culture Hotel
These delicately embellished havelis were built by members of India's Marwari community, who amassed fortunes doing trade. They then hired painters to decorate the wall of their mansions to boast their wealth.
A classy way to show off —
These delicately embellished havelis were built by members of India's Marwari community, who amassed fortunes doing trade. They then hired painters to decorate the wall of their mansions to boast their wealth.
Divya Dugar
The paintings are usually themed on the owners' experiences but also depict popular imagery, folk mythology and even erotica. The courtyard of the Chokhani Double Haveli is covered with depictions of Hindu deity Krishna alongside camels and elephants.
Chokhani Double Haveli (Mandawa) —
The paintings are usually themed on the owners' experiences but also depict popular imagery, folk mythology and even erotica. The courtyard of the Chokhani Double Haveli is covered with depictions of Hindu deity Krishna alongside camels and elephants.
Divya Dugar
Constructed in 1902, this museum has more than 750 preserved and restored frescoes created using stone and vegetable colors. Here's one of the walls in the inner courtyard. <br />
Dr Ramnath A Podar Haveli Musuem (Nawalgarh) —
Constructed in 1902, this museum has more than 750 preserved and restored frescoes created using stone and vegetable colors. Here's one of the walls in the inner courtyard. 
Divya Dugar
At the Dr Ramnath A Podar Haveli, the frescoes cover more than 11,200 square meters. Nawalgarh has one of the highest concentrations of painted havelis in the region -- close to 200.
Highly concentrated —
At the Dr Ramnath A Podar Haveli, the frescoes cover more than 11,200 square meters. Nawalgarh has one of the highest concentrations of painted havelis in the region -- close to 200.
Divya Dugar
Bhagton Ki Haveli has some of the most eclectic wall imagery. Here's an interesting mix of European and mythological paintings.
Bhagton Ki Haveli (Nawalgarh) —
Bhagton Ki Haveli has some of the most eclectic wall imagery. Here's an interesting mix of European and mythological paintings.
Divya Dugar
Bhagton Ki Haveli was constructed in the 19th century. The facade of the outer courtyard is covered with a scene composed of a royal procession, English memsahibs, some religious imagery and a portrait of Queen Victoria.
Stunning facade —
Bhagton Ki Haveli was constructed in the 19th century. The facade of the outer courtyard is covered with a scene composed of a royal procession, English memsahibs, some religious imagery and a portrait of Queen Victoria.
Divya Dugar
The outer courtyard and grand entrance of Vivaana Culture Hotel, restored by Atul Khanna. A haveli is usually organized around two courtyards. The outer is strictly reserved for meetings and trade with visitors while the inner is occupied by an extended family.
Courtyards —
The outer courtyard and grand entrance of Vivaana Culture Hotel, restored by Atul Khanna. A haveli is usually organized around two courtyards. The outer is strictly reserved for meetings and trade with visitors while the inner is occupied by an extended family.
Divya Dugar
A more elegant way to show off your travel memories than Facebook? This mural shows a family seeing off a plane, showing the advent of East-meets-West influence in Mandawa.
Travel diaries —
A more elegant way to show off your travel memories than Facebook? This mural shows a family seeing off a plane, showing the advent of East-meets-West influence in Mandawa.
Divya Dugar
Many heritage havelis are being replaced by modern structures or painted in sharp candy colors. Those that remain and have been preserved are now tourist attractions.
Chokhani Double Haveli —
Many heritage havelis are being replaced by modern structures or painted in sharp candy colors. Those that remain and have been preserved are now tourist attractions.
Divya Dugar
You don't have to get inside a haveli to admire its frescoes. Here's one spotted in the street in Nawalgarh.
Hundreds-year-old Graffiti —
You don't have to get inside a haveli to admire its frescoes. Here's one spotted in the street in Nawalgarh.
Divya Dugar
"The most interesting part of these frescoes are the indigenous techniques and materials used to obtain colors," says Dr. Hotchand, conservator of one haveli. "Earth color was derived from minerals, blue from indigo, white from lime, red from vermilion and black from kohl."
Natural ingredients —
"The most interesting part of these frescoes are the indigenous techniques and materials used to obtain colors," says Dr. Hotchand, conservator of one haveli. "Earth color was derived from minerals, blue from indigo, white from lime, red from vermilion and black from kohl."
Divya Dugar
There's no room for wallpaper in a building where paintings cover the interior from ceiling to floor. The common room here was once used to conduct business at Snehi Ram Ladia Haveli.
Snehi Ram Ladia Haveli (Mandawa) —
There's no room for wallpaper in a building where paintings cover the interior from ceiling to floor. The common room here was once used to conduct business at Snehi Ram Ladia Haveli.
Divya Dugar