Mandawa itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Mandawa

1. 01

   Day 1: Haveli streets on foot

   Start early at the Goenka Double Haveli, then walk to Murmuria Haveli to see the independence-era murals. Continue to Jhunjhunwala Haveli for its Golden Room and Chokhani Double Haveli for the mirrored layout. Break for lunch and rest; if you are not staying at the fort, ask Castle Mandawa about a meal or visit. In the late afternoon, walk the streets again, looking up at painted facades while the light is soft.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Goenka Double Haveli	45-60 minutes	Easy	Morning, when the courtyard is shaded and quiet; November to February
   Murmuria Haveli	30-45 minutes	Easy	Morning light; November to February
   Jhunjhunwala Haveli	30-45 minutes	Easy	Morning; November to February
   Chokhani Double Haveli	30-45 minutes	Easy	Morning; November to February
   Castle Mandawa	30-60 minutes for a look and a drink; a night if you stay	Easy	Late afternoon for the light on the bastions; November to February for comfortable weather

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Mandawa

1. 01

   Day 1: The town in the morning

   Walk the central haveli streets in the morning: Goenka Double Haveli, Murmuria Haveli, Jhunjhunwala Haveli and Chokhani Double Haveli. Rest after lunch, then visit the fort gateway at Castle Mandawa late in the day.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Goenka Double Haveli	45-60 minutes	Easy	Morning, when the courtyard is shaded and quiet; November to February
   Murmuria Haveli	30-45 minutes	Easy	Morning light; November to February
   Jhunjhunwala Haveli	30-45 minutes	Easy	Morning; November to February
   Chokhani Double Haveli	30-45 minutes	Easy	Morning; November to February
   Castle Mandawa	30-60 minutes for a look and a drink; a night if you stay	Easy	Late afternoon for the light on the bastions; November to February for comfortable weather

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Nawalgarh or Fatehpur and Ramgarh

   Drive to Nawalgarh for the Podar Haveli Museum in the morning, with a lunch stop, and return in the afternoon. If you prefer painted cenotaphs and an arts centre, choose Fatehpur's Nadine Le Prince Haveli and the Ram Gopal Poddar Chhatri in Ramgarh instead.

Plan 03

3 days in Mandawa

1. 01

   Day 1: Mandawa on foot

   Walk the haveli streets in the morning, rest at midday and spend the late afternoon at the fort and in the lanes.

2. 02

   Day 2: Nawalgarh

   Visit the Podar Haveli Museum, then see other Nawalgarh havelis such as Morarka Haveli if energy allows. Return to Mandawa for the evening.

3. 03

   Day 3: Fatehpur and Ramgarh

   Tour the Nadine Le Prince Haveli in Fatehpur in the morning, then drive to Ramgarh for the Ram Gopal Poddar Chhatri and the Khemka Shani Temple before heading back or onward.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Mandawa trip for parents and children

• Visit havelis in the morning and rest after lunch; courtyards offer little shade and summer heat is severe.
• Most havelis are level but have thresholds, uneven stone and a few steps; wear closed, flat shoes.
• Hire a car and driver for the whole day to reach Nawalgarh, Fatehpur and Ramgarh, so you have somewhere cool to rest.
• Choose a hotel that can confirm ground-floor rooms or lift access; haveli conversions often have stairs.
• Carry small notes for caretakers' fees, and ask before photographing inside private rooms or temples.
• Allow a day without sightseeing when you arrive from a long drive; the journey from Jaipur is several hours.

Mandawa with elderly parents: the full guide →