The Abandoned Mansions of Shekhawati

The Shekhawati region of Rajasthan is often referred to as the world's largest open air art gallery. From the 14th century onwards Shekhawati’s towns were important trading posts on the caravan routes from Gujarati ports and the area was once home to many of India’s wealthy businessmen who adorned their walls with intricate painted frescoes. Today the billionaires’ grand havelis (mansions) are crumbling – the fading frescoes marking the only vestiges of the area’s vanished glory.

I would love to see them.

Images: Neelima Vallangi

Read more about these painted palaces here