Fatehpur Shekhawati

Fatehpur , SIKAR, Rajasthan


A beautiful haveli purchased by a French artist Nadine Le Prince. It has been built in 1802 by a rich family of traders, the Devra, who were also officers at the court of the local Kings. Since 1999, Nadine Le Prince has entirely restored this palace and all the frescoes, restoring these to their originals. . She is doing much to preserve and restore the wonderful and unique heritage of havelis in Shekhawati working with other associations to give them a second life.


That's why she has opened a cultural center , which she created in order to exhibit french and Indian modern artists, and to confront old and contemporary art. The "Kala Dirga Gallery of Contemporary Art" shows especially pieces made by artists about India ; the "Saraswati Gallery" is more about traditional themes of Rajasthan, through different kinds of painting ; there are also two little "Tribal Art Galleries" exhibiting the artistic work of tribes, as Patachitras and Madhubani. The aim of this project is to offer to the visitor a large panorama of works and points of view toward India. Thus, the exhibited artists belong to very differents origins : French renowed artist, Jaipur Fine Art Schools Teacher or Shekhawati Local Painters.

Nadine Le Prince has also established a program for artists in residence and she's planning to organize some cultural events as dance and music shows to make this enchanting palace becoming a lively place for art in all his shapes. The others havelis, which are notable are Harkishan Das Saraogi Haveli and Vishnunath Keria Haveli.
The town has blessings of many religious mentors, it includes Dargah of Hazrat Nazmudin , Temple of Do-Janti Balaji Dham (which is famous for its exterior hand made stone bricks construction and in-side Lord Sun painting)etc. It got few workshops which repair and create antic furniture and other suff for sale, some of which are very good and available for purchase.