History
Origin and Foundation of Mandawa
The history of Mandawa, a prominent fiefdom (thikana) in the historic Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, is intricately linked with the rise of the Shekhawat clan of Rajputs. The lineage of Mandawa's rulers traces back to Rao Shekha, the 15th-century ruler of Amarsar who founded the Shekhawat clan. However, the specific foundation of Mandawa as an independent estate occurred in the mid-18th century.
Following the death of Thakur Shardul Singh of Jhunjhunu in 1742, his estate was divided equally among his five surviving sons in a system known as Panchpana (the five shares). Thakur Nawal Singh, one of the five sons and the founder of the nearby town of Nawalgarh, was granted this portion of the territory. In 1755 (Vikram Samvat 1812), Nawal Singh established a fort at Mandawa to secure the northern frontier of his territories and protect the lucrative caravan trade routes running through the region. Gradually, a vibrant settlement grew around this protective outpost, which eventually emerged as the independent Thikana of Mandawa under Thakur Nawal Singh’s descendants, beginning with his son, Thakur Padam Singh.
The Golden Era: Trade, Wealth, and the Rise of Havelis
During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Mandawa grew from a military outpost into a bustling commercial hub. Strategically positioned on the ancient caravan routes connecting northern India with the ports of Gujarat and the Silk Road, the town attracted wealthy Marwari merchants (known as Banias). Families such as the Goenkas, Ladia, Saraf, and Chokhanis established their businesses here, trading in textiles, spices, opium, and indigo.
To showcase their immense wealth and prestige, these merchant families constructed palatial mansions known as havelis. These buildings were adorned with breathtakingly intricate frescoes depicting mythological scenes, royal processions, daily life, and later, British innovations like trains, cars, and gramophones. This architectural boom earned the town of Mandawa, along with the broader Shekhawati region, the moniker of the "Open-Air Art Gallery of Rajasthan."
The British Colonial Period and Treaty of 1818
In 1818, the Kingdom of Jaipur (under whose nominal suzerainty the Shekhawat thikanas fell) signed a treaty of subsidiary alliance with the British East India Company. This brought a degree of geopolitical stability to the region, shielding Shekhawati from the frequent raids of Maratha forces and Pindari plunderers. However, local lawlessness and banditry remained a challenge. To secure the trade routes, the British raised a paramilitary force known as the Shekhawati Brigade, commanded by Major Henry Forster.
Despite initial stability, the late 19th century saw a decline in Mandawa's commercial importance. As the British developed modern railway networks and major port cities like Calcutta (Kolkata), Bombay (Mumbai), and Madras (Chennai), traditional caravan routes became obsolete. This prompted a massive migration of Mandawa's merchant class to these emerging colonial capitals. Although these merchants physically relocated, they continued to send back vast sums of money to maintain and expand their family havelis, ensuring the town's architectural splendor survived well into the early 20th century.
The key architectural highlights from this era include:
- Castle Mandawa: The original 18th-century fortress built by Thakur Nawal Singh, featuring imposing ramparts, a painted Durbar Hall, and arched windows.
- The Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli: Renowned for its detailed paintings depicting Lord Shiva on his Nandi bull and Indra Dev on an elephant.
- Sewaram Saraf Haveli: Famous for its early depictions of British lifestyle and technological advancements of the late Victorian era.
- Murmuria Haveli: Showcasing a unique blend of Eastern and Western art styles, including paintings of Venice, cars, and trains alongside traditional Indian deities.
Post-Independence Era and Modern Tourism
Following India's independence in 1947, the princely state of Jaipur merged into the newly formed United State of Greater Rajasthan in 1949. With the passing of the Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act in 1952, the traditional feudal jagirdari system was abolished, stripped of its administrative power, and the thikanas were integrated into the democratic framework of India.
Faced with the loss of traditional tax revenues, the royal descendants of Mandawa pioneered a transition towards heritage tourism. In the late 20th century, the ruling family converted Castle Mandawa into a luxury heritage hotel, setting a precedent for the preservation of historical structures in Shekhawati. Today, Mandawa is one of Rajasthan's premier cultural tourism destinations, attracting historians, art lovers, and travelers from around the globe. Its uniquely preserved streets have also made it a highly sought-after filming location for national and international cinema.
Genealogy
MANDAWA - Line 1
- Thakur PADAM SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1791/1823, granted the Tazim in 1806, married Thakurani Jatan Kanwar of Rian, and had issue. He died .
- Thakur Gopal Singh (qv)
- Thakur GOPAL SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1823/1848, born , married Thakurani Amrit Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Ranjit Singh of Kuchaman, and his wife, Thakurani Raj Kanwar, and had issue. He died .
- Thakur Rampratap Singh (qv)
- Thakur Jawahar Singh, married and had issue. He died .
- Thakur Sabal Singh, died sp 1866.
- Thakur RAMPRATAP SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1848/1854, born , married 1stly, Thakurani Badan Kanwar of Balunda, died sp 1844, married 2ndly, Thakurani Gyan Kanwar of Chandawal, and had issue, two sons by 2nd marriage. He died .
- Thakur Jait Singh (qv)
- Thakur Ajit Singh (qv)
- Thakur JAIT SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1854/1905, born , married Thakurani Nand Kanwar of Bhadran, and had issue. He died .
- Kunwar Gordhan Singh, died young.
- Thakur Inder Singh (qv)
- Kunwar Bahadur Singh, adopted by Thakur Berisal Singh of Mukangarh.
- Thakur AJIT SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1854/1900, born , Judge of the Appellate Court 1886/1895, married Thakurani Suraj Kanwar of Kharwa, and had issue. He died .
- Thakur CHATTERSAL SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1900/-, born , married Thakurani Anand Kanwar of Bhadran. He died sp.
- Thakur INDER SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1905/1946, born , married 1stly, 1897, Thakurani Suraj Kanwar of Ledi, married 2ndly, Thakurani Sobhag Kanwar of Natwada, and had issue. He died .
- Baiji Lal Ballabh Kanwar [Thakurani Ballabh Kanwar of Bidwal], married 1916 at Mandawa, Thakur Duleha Singh of Bidwal.
- Thakur BHIM SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1946/1993, born , adopted 6th June 1933 by his predecessor, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer and Agriculture College, Allahabad; Deputy Minister in Rajasthan Government, member of the 7th Lok Sabha, married 1944, Thakurani Krishna Kumari, daughter of Thakur Umed Singh of Shyamgarh, and had issue. He died .
- Thakur Durga Singh (qv)
- Baiji Lal Chandra Prabha [Thakurani Chandra Prabha of Dhamotar], married Thakur Digvijay Singh of Dhamotar, and has issue.
- Baiji Lal Kusum Kumari, married Raja Prem Singh of Dattigaon.
- Baiji Lal Nirmala Kumari [Kunwarani Sahib Nirmala Kumari of Amla], married Kanwar Jitendra Singh of Amla, and has issue, two sons.
- Baiji Lal Archana Kumari, married Col. Karan Singh of Jharod.
- Thakur DURGA SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1993/-, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer and Rajasthan College of Agriculture (B.Sc. Ag.), married Thakurani Usha Kumari, daughter of Maharaj Rajendra Singhji of Amla, and has issue. (Mandawa House, Sansar Chandra Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan)
- Capt. Kunwar Nirbhay Singh, currently (2008) a commercial airline pilot; married 22nd November 2008, Bai Sahiba Yuvragi Kumari, daughter of Thakur Bharat Sen Singhji Rathore of Hariyadhana by his wife Thakurani Shri Yogeshwari Ranawat, and has issues, three daughters.
- Baiji Lal Veerangana Kumari, born .
- Baiji Lal Hari Priya, born .
- Baiji Lal Krishnavi, born .
- Baiji Lal Shruti Kumari
- Baiji Lal Smiriti Kumari
- Capt. Kunwar Nirbhay Singh, currently (2008) a commercial airline pilot; married 22nd November 2008, Bai Sahiba Yuvragi Kumari, daughter of Thakur Bharat Sen Singhji Rathore of Hariyadhana by his wife Thakurani Shri Yogeshwari Ranawat, and has issues, three daughters.
MANDAWA - Line 2
- Thakur GYAN SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1791/1823, granted the Tazim in 1806, married Thakurani Raj Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Sher Singh of Mahajan, and had issue. He died .
- Thakur Madho Singh (qv)
- Thakur Awaz Singh of Barwasi, married and had issue.
- Kunwar Agar Singh of Barwasi, died sp in 1863.
- Kunwar Karan Singh
- Kunwar Mangal Singh
- Kunwar Shivnath Singh
- Kunwar Jagat Singh
- Thakur MADHO SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1823/1846, married Thakurani Suraj Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Budh Singh Bidawat of Harasar in Bikaner, died , and had issue. He died .
- Thakur Anand Singh (qv)
- Thakur ANAND SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1846/1884, born , married Thakurani Gopal Kanwar of Alaniyawas, and had issue. He died .
- Thakur Bhagwant Singh (qv)
- Thakur Hari Singh (qv)
- Rani Takhat Kanwar, married 8th July 1878, Maharaj Jawan Singh of Kishangarh.
- Thakur BHAGWANT SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1884/1901, born , married Thakurani Suraj Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Chiman Singh of Santha, died , and had issue. He died .
- Thakur RAM SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1901/1904, born , died .
- Thakur HARI SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1884/1924, born , married 1stly, Thakurani Sirey Kanwar of Bakhri, died sp in 1865, married 2ndly, Thakurani Juwar Kanwar of Jawala, and had issue, two sons and two daughters. He died .
- Thakur JAI SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1924/1994, born , he succeeded to Mandawa on 6th October 1924, married 4th March 1918, Thakurani Gulab Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Durjan Singhji of Daspan, and his third wife, Thakurani Bhatiyanijisa Nasoli, and had issue. He died .
- Thakur Devi Singh (qv)
- Thakur Bhim Singh, born , adopted in June 1933 to Thakur Inder Singh of Mandawa-Senior, see .
- Thakur DEVI SINGH, joint Thakur of Mandawa 1994/1999, born , B.A., MP for Jhunjhunu, Chairman of Rajasthan Kshatriya Mahasabha, Chairman of Jaipur Rajput Sabha, Trustee in Sawai Jai Singh Benevolent Trust, Trustee in Sood Sadovrat Trust, member of the Advisory Committee of Rajasthan University, Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly 1952/1957 and the Rajya Sabha 1964/1970; Secretary of the Rajasthan Swatantra Party 1962/1964, married 2nd February 1941, Thakurani Sajjan Kunwar, daughter of Rao Saheb Vijay Singh of Masuda, and had issue, four sons. He died .
- Thakur Bhanu Prakash Singh, born , succeeded as Tikai Thakur of the Junior line of Mandawa in January 1999, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; married 2nd March 1970, Thakurani Sarita Kumari, daughter of Maj. Thakur Rajendra Pal Singh of Kotla.
- Kartika Kumari Mandawa
- Radhika Kumari Mandawa, settled in UK, married to Dr Paranjothy Karunaharan and has issue, one daughter.
- Avantika Kumari
- Thakur Kesari Singh, born , educated at Mayo College, Ajmer and Delhi University (B.A. Hons.); married 10th July 1967, Thakurani Darshana Kumari, daughter of Kumar Shri Ghanshyamsinhji Chavda of Mansa, and has issue, one son and two daughters.
- Kunwar Shiv Arjun Singh, married 14th February 2009, Kanwarani Chandrika Kumari, born , daughter of Maharaj Vijayvardhan Singh of Vijaynagar, and his wife, Rani Asha Kumari, and has issue, one son.
- Bhanwar Anjaneya Singh, born .
- Baisaheb Sarvatmika Kumari, born .
- Baiji Lal Geetanjali Kumari [Kanwarani Geetanjali Kanwar of Tehri-Garhwal], married 30th May 1999, Kanwar Nripendra Bikram Shah of Tehri-Garhwal, and has issue, three children.
- Baiji Lal Priyanjali Kumari, married Kanwar Abhiudaya Chand Katoch of Kangra-Lambagraon.
- Kunwar Shiv Arjun Singh, married 14th February 2009, Kanwarani Chandrika Kumari, born , daughter of Maharaj Vijayvardhan Singh of Vijaynagar, and his wife, Rani Asha Kumari, and has issue, one son.
- Thakur Randhir Vikram Singh, born at Ajmer, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer and then graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, M. S. University of Baroda where he earned his B.A. in Fine Arts (Painting), President of the Indian Heritage Hotels Association, Member of the General Council and Board of Governors of the Mayo College, Ajmer, Chairman of the Mayo College Boys Committee, Past President FHTR, Chairman FICCI; married 10th May 1978 in Ajmer; Thakurani Manjul Kumari, daughter of Col. Rajkumar Guman Singh of Banera, and his wife Rajkumar-Rani Anand Kunwar, and has issue. He died on .
- Thakur Pradyuman Singh, born , educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; married 1979, Thakurani Hemant Kanwar, daughter of Kanwar Sahib Sher Singh of Chamba, and his wife, Kanwarani Bijaya Kumari, and has issue, two sons.
- Kunwar Anirudh Singh, born in Jaipur, married 30th April 2005, Baisaheb Namrata Kumari, daughter of Thakur Himmat Singh of Lasani, and has issue, one son.
- Bhawar Shivraj Singh, born .
- Kunwar Angad Deo, born in Jaipur. Schooling from Mayo College, Ajmer, Graduation in Hotel Management & Catering Technology from Jaipur National (Private) University. Working at Mandawa Hotels Pvt.Ltd.
- Kunwar Anirudh Singh, born in Jaipur, married 30th April 2005, Baisaheb Namrata Kumari, daughter of Thakur Himmat Singh of Lasani, and has issue, one son.
- Thakur Bhanu Prakash Singh, born , succeeded as Tikai Thakur of the Junior line of Mandawa in January 1999, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; married 2nd March 1970, Thakurani Sarita Kumari, daughter of Maj. Thakur Rajendra Pal Singh of Kotla.
