Shekhawati: Painted Townships

In just a few years, the region of Shekhawati has moved from relative obscurity to world renown. At the heart of this change is a very large number of town houses that are profusely painted. These frescoed settlements are the result of a new-found prosperity that left its indelible impression on the building and painting of large, impressive mansions, probably the densest the world has seen. While Shekhawati has had a history that dates back centuries, these marvellous homes were built over a period of only one hundred and fifty years. Abandoned a few decades ago, most left to go to ruin, they are an important open air museum of art that catalogues the religious and social beliefs of the people of this pocket of Rajasthan. This book brings you the magic of Shekhawati, in words and pictures, followed by a comprehensive guide, to enable you to make your own discovery of the painted homes of the desert.