Shekhawati, north-east outpost of Rajasthan!

Havelis (5 pics.); and forts of Badalgarh (1 pic.), Mandawa (2 pics.) and Dundlod (3 pics.), Portraits:top: the Thakur and Thakurani of Dundlod; below: the Rawal of Bissau. (there is a very complex family structure of these nobility of Shekhawat, but they all trace descent from Rao Shekha-see below.)

The Shekhawati region, occupies the north east corner of Rajasthan, (some 180 kms north of Jaipur), the largest Nizamat ( roughly sub-kingdom/fief) of Jaipur State. The Shekhawat chieftains of the region retained a nominal loyalty to the Kachhawaha Rajput's capital state of Jaipur, who in turn honoured them with the hereditary title of Rawal (ruler.); a typical royal lineage see this link

Shekhawati derives its name from the Rajput Kachhawaha chieftain Rao Shekha , hence this Rajput clan is called Shekhawat. The story of Shekha's birth is interesting to understand the origin of Shekhawati. Mokal Ji and his wife were troubled as they had no son for several years. They heard about the miraculous powers of Sheikh Burhan, a Muslim saint. They decided to pay the man a visit. After receiving the blessing of this saint, a son was born to the couple. In honour of the mendicant, the couple named their son Shekha!
For full details of the Shekhawati region see link.
To an Indian familiar with his great business and industrial families and groups, he would be surprised that Mittal (one of 4 richest in the world-Forbes), Bajaj, Birla, Dalmia, Goenka, Poddar, Singhania and many others are from the Shekhawati region!!!
Places of tourist interest, with forts, palaces and havelis, erstwhile sub-kingdoms include Bissau, Dundlod, Mandawa, Fatehpur,
Nawalgarh (see above link.) here are links to some of these antiquated places: Dundlod;
this link is a superb haveli (houses within an enclosure of sorts) restored & converted to an art gallery ;
one more link that covers the Shekhawati region.
and this superb link with pictures of paintings on Shekhawati havelis/houses
hotel booking link 1
hotel booking link 2

Shekhawati region, getting there