Entering the gates, onto the sandy courtyard, you leave behind all traces of the present, becoming a part of a legend, a fantasy! Towering high above the town of Mandwa is a rugged, handsome fort, which guides the tired and weary travelers. Mustachioed sword bearing guards stand at the immensely tall, spiked gate to welcome travelers.

War scarred turrets, lofty domes, heroic cannons that seem to look down at you, as silent retainers in green appear to whisk you away, the tails of their orange 'safas' flapping in the gentle breeze, mark your arrival to the fanciest destination in Shekhawati: Hotel Castle Mandawa. A two hundred and forty year old fortress, that has been converted by the family into a fine example of traditional hospitality.

Caparisoned camels and horses saunter in, carrying the guests as musicians blow horns and drums roll the Royal Welcome. In the Castle, step into an arched open-fronted verandah and relax over exotic refreshments, or wander in the under the high ceilinged 'Diwan Khana' (Darbar Hall), where the walls adorned with ancient portraits of the Mandawa family, recall a bygone era that was royal, rich and resplendent.