Shekhawati Fair
The Shekhawati Festival
held on 10th and 11th February every year is organised jointly by the State Department
of Tourism, District administrations of Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu.
Shekhawati,
already famous for its frescoes, is fast becoming a rural tourism destination
too. Travelling on horse back, the tourists get a closer view of the countryside
and the people.
And they return with an indelible imprint of not only
the friendliness of the people but also of the agricultural revolution sweeping
the villages -- the region now exports 80 per cent of its crops whereas only a
few years ago it could meet only 10 per cent of its requirement through local
production.
For a broad-based discovery of Shekhawati's culture, the festival
is spread over a number of venues - Nawalgarh, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu.
The
programmes include a one day tour of the region, camel and jeep safaris, farm
visits, rural games, cultural programmes, haveli competitions and fireworks.
Nawalgarh
is the central venue of the festival and can be reached comfortably by train and
road from Jaipur (140 kms by Road).
Nawalgarh also has some of the finest
frescoes of Shekhawati. The Clock Tower is a famous landmark and the Roop Niwas
Palace hotel occupies a place of pride in the town.
