Podar Haveli in Nawalgarh, This haveli is not quite ancient and was built just about 90 years ago, in the 1920s under the Nawalgarhs. The Haveli boasts of some really beautiful frescoes with varied themes ranging from the illustrations of technological marvels like the air balloon or the modern railways or the Wright brothers’ attempt at flight to the paintings of Gods and Goddesses.
The Haveli has now been restored and turned into a museum. While your visit to this exquisite museum, the aid of a knowledgeable guide would help increase your knowledge about this place by leaps and bounds.
History of Podar haveli in Nawalgarh
Podar Haveli, also known as Anandilal Podar Haveli, is a historic mansion located in Nawalgarh, Rajasthan. Constructed in 1902 by Seth Anandilal Podar, a prominent Marwari businessman from Mumbai with interests in cotton mills, the haveli served as a residence for his family. The architectural design reflects the opulence and cultural richness of the era, featuring two expansive courtyards surrounded by intricately decorated rooms.
In 1955, the haveli was repurposed into a school under the guidance of Anandilal’s son, Ramnath Podar. Later, in 1995, his grandson, Kantilal Podar, transformed the haveli into a museum, naming it the Dr. Ramnath A. Podar Museum in tribute to his father. This museum showcases over 750 frescoes depicting various themes, including Hindu deities, scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, and elements of contemporary life such as steam trains and early automobiles.
The museum also houses 22 galleries displaying Rajasthani culture, featuring exhibits on musical instruments, turbans, jewelry, bridal costumes, and miniature paintings. The architectural grandeur, coupled with the rich cultural artifacts, makes Podar Haveli a significant landmark in Shekhawati’s heritage.
Places to Visit Near Podar Haveli Nawalgarh
Nawalgarh Tourism is one of Rajasthan’s largest cities, and an activity-filled city. It lies within the royal state of Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district. It is situated between Jhunjhunu and Sikar, halfway between. The region is famed for its havelis. The city has well-connected rail and road routes. Because it’s a big city, the positive thing is that anything can be reached and walked around The bus station is a walk away. The main attraction of this place is the Nawalgarh Fort that was founded during 1737 AD by Thakur Nawal Singh. Today, old havelis are converted into hotels. The havelis are rich in architecture and have beautiful paintings and murals.
Bala Kila Fort
You can visit Bala Kila Fort when you are on a trip to Nawalgarh. It is also called Fort Nawalgarh, and was built in 1737. The fort has several modern features, later built after the old one was destroyed. You can see various types of frescoes that can be found in the south eastern region. This portion actually contains some of the best and finest frescoes belonging to the Shekhawati region Nawalgarh Tourism.
Havelis
You can’t skip the Havelis, when you visit Nawalgarh Tourism. There are different havelis both large and small located in this area. In fact the whole town looks like a traditional and ancient art gallery due to the presence of the havelis. The Aath Havelis is fairly famous, dating back to 1900 AD. Even in these havelis you can see various types of painting styles. The paintings reflect the history and culture of the region. A tour to these havelis will help you to have a look at the royal heritage of the region.
Hira Lal Sarowgi Haveli
Hira Lal Sarowgi Havelis is one of Nawalgarh’s popular attractions among diverse tourist attractions. Tourists from all over the world come to visit this hasli. It is situated within 142 kilometers of Jaipur’s capital city. Beautiful works of sculpture, floral designs, woodwork and intricate designs can be seen here. This makes the hasli look nicer. The haveli has a typical old world charm and attraction of its own. This place is often visited by the art lovers Nawalgarh Tourism.
Roop Niwas Palace
Roop Niwas Palace was the Nawalgarh Thakur’s abode and residence before. This place is a strange yet beautiful combination of architecture and European and Rajput art. This ancient Royal dwelling was transformed into a heritage hotel. If you want a better look at the hotel in the palace, then you can stay at the hotel. Nawalgarh Tourism Many of the finest luxuries the hotel has to sell, and also organizes heritage tours to various places of attractions.
How to Reach Podar Haveli Museum:
Navalgarh is well-connected by road and can be easily reached from major cities in Rajasthan. The nearest airport is in Jaipur, which is approximately 160 kilometers away. From Jaipur, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to Navalgarh. The town is also well-connected by rail, with the nearest railway station being in Sikar, around 30 kilometers away.
By Road: Nawalgarh is approximately 140 km north of Jaipur and is well-connected by State Highway 8. You can drive or hire a taxi, which typically takes around 3 to 4 hours. Regular buses operated by RSRTC and private operators also ply this route, offering an economical choice.
By Train: Nawalgarh Railway Station (station code: NWH) lies on the Sikar-Loharu line and has direct connections to Jaipur, Sikar, and Jhunjhunu. From the station, the museum is about 3 km away and can be reached via auto-rickshaw or taxi.
By Air: The nearest airport is Jaipur International Airport. From there, you can proceed by road or rail as mentioned above.
Once in Nawalgarh, the Podar Haveli Museum is located on Rambilas Podar Road in the Naya Bazaar area. It’s within walking distance from other notable havelis, making it convenient to explore the town’s rich heritage on foot.
