Dr. Ramnath A. Podar Haveli Museum,Nawalgarh

Situated in Nawalgarh, Rajasthan
Distance from New Delhi 250 km
Distance from Jaipur 140 km.
Can be reached via Rewari or Kothputli.

This is Haveli was built in the 1902 and was subsequently turned into a Museum.

The brochure describes the museum as the " Cultural Heritage of Rajasthan". The description could not have been more apt. The many galleries, depict different aspects of life style of the people of Rajasthan.
Some of the items on display are:

• Musical instruments of Rajasthan
• Gems and jewellery
• Bridal costumes
• Miniature paintings from different school of arts.
• Handicrafts of Rajasthan
• Turban gallery
• Stone art gallery

The most precious item of the museum is the intricate sculpture carved on a single stone of a women with veil covering her face. The woman's face can been seen through the veil.

Like all Havelis in the Shekawati region, the walls of this building are intricately painted and well maintained. The frescoes are mythological in nature. However they also have paintings of railway trains, when they were first introduced in India.

The museum is close to Mandava Desert Resort.

Snippets

The turban is worn with immense pride by the men of Rajasthan. The turban has many functions and significance. If a person dislodges the turban from another's head, it would tantamount to a gross insult. A man who surrenders to another person or accepts defeat, does so by removing the turban from his head and placing it on the feet of the conqueror.

When a man hands over the turban and give it to the wife which belonged to her husband it signifies the death of her husband. For different occasions Turbans with particular color are worn. Brown color turbans are worn when there is a death in the family.

However the best function of the turban that I liked was that it can be unfurled and tied to a bucket to draw water from deep wells to quench thirst!
Practical is isn't it!