The district of Shekhawati in Rajasthan, India, is well-known for its rows of abandoned homes. The region, discovered in the 1400s and developed at the start of the 19th century, was once home to India’s millionaires. Nevertheless, many of the stately palaces, known as havelis, are now in disrepair.
The havelis flourished until the early twentieth century, when the wealthy business tycoons who lived there departed for greater chances in places like Mumbai and Kolkata. With trade shifting elsewhere, growth in Shekhawati came to a halt, and the artwork-covered marvels were abandoned for forever.
The Havelis were all constructed in the same way. They frequently feature four courtyards spread across two stories, two for socializing and the other two for cooking and animal stables. The entrances are ornately carved wood, with mirror work and elaborate paintings throughout.
The majority of the Havelis are now in decay. Officials in the region will only sell the homes to those who would preserve their heritage and restore them to their former beauty.
Several of Shekhawati’s homes nevertheless have an aura of elegance despite their condition of decay, reminiscent of Europe’s abandoned palaces. One of the rooms of this haveli still contains an ancient 1930s phonograph.
Abandoned Abercrombie’s Castle
The house was left to the remainder of the family after his death in 1931, until it was sold in the early 1940s. The castle sat unoccupied for more than a decade after WWII, and it has subsequently had a series of owners, none of whom took the time to restore it to its former magnificence. It previously had 25 rooms split across two storeys and measured 4,337 square feet.
The house was left to the remainder of the family after his death in 1931, until it was sold in the early 1940s. The castle sat unoccupied for more than a decade after WWII, and it has subsequently had a series of owners, none of whom took the time to restore it to its former magnificence. It previously had 25 rooms split across two storeys and measured 4,337 square feet.
Several of the original elements of the house remain, including arched entrances, a cast-iron spiral staircase, and courtyards nestled amid the ruins. The entry is reached through a flight of curving stone stairs that lead to a glass conservatory where Mr. Abercrombie maintained his plants.
The mansion, which sits on just under 50 acres of land, has arched and square doors and windows, curving stone and iron circular staircases, exposed stone chimneys, and vaulted masonry porches. The term “celebration” refers to the act of celebrating a milestone in one’s life, such as the birth of a child or the completion of a project.
The inside may have been vandalized and left to rot, but the exterior is still standing tall, with a steel frame and a façade of granite and fieldstone, the majority of which was gathered from within the grounds. It was last listed for sale in 2020 for $3.2 million (£2.4 million); only time will tell if it rises again!