Dundlod

Dundlod is completely dominated by the 1750 built Dundlod Fort, and is only 7 km away from Nawalgarh. It is a very small town with hardly any facilities. The fort has an atmospheric Diwan-i-Khana, which is an exquisite old drawing room painted in hues of orange and filled with antique European furniture and books. The fort has been converted into a hotel, the Dundlod Castle. The Goenkas were among the first of the merchant families to settle in Dundlod. Shubhnarayan Anandram Goenka Haveli was constructed in 1870 by Arjun Das Goenka.

At the Seth Arjun Das Goenka haveli, the owner has attempted to recreate a merchant’s life in the Haveli, and the result is amazing. In the outer courtyard, there is a sitting room showing replica of a merchant negotiating a deal with businessmen and his accountant is writing. One attendant is seen operating a fan made of cloth to soothe the merchant and his guests. There are some old vessels and an ice-cream maker kept on display in the inner courtyard.

Cenotaph of Ram Dutt Goenka was built in 1888, this chhatri is a marvel. Its painted dome is lined with vibrant friezes (horizontal paintings). Scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagawat Purana, Dashavatar (Hindu mythological stories) are depicted on murals and paintings in the dome.