Rajasthan’s Shekhawati region is home to stunning frescoes and majestic havelis. But these beautiful structures are slowly fading, with their painted walls crumbling under the weight of neglect. Yet, one determined architect has taken it upon herself to save this invaluable heritage.

“With every passing day, painted havelis in Shekhawati are falling apart, and their beautiful frescoes are crumbling to dust, erasing a significant part of history,” says Urvashi Srivastava, the veteran conservation architect who is fighting to preserve this once-glorious region.

Urvashi has dedicated over 24 years to this cause. Her NGO, Centre for Advancement of Traditional Building Technique & Skills (CATTS), works tirelessly to conserve Shekhawati’s architectural gems through an initiative called ‘Shekhawati Virasat Abhiyan’.

Spanning 30,000 sq km, Shekhawati boasts nearly 4,000 havelis and over 15 royal palaces. Once a thriving trade hub, the region’s historical splendour now faces the threat of gradual ruin.

Shekhawati's architectural style flourished in the 19th and early 20th centuries when wealthy merchants commissioned elaborate frescoes. These murals depicted diverse themes, from mythology to scientific advancements, including the Wright brothers’ first aeroplane.

As merchants migrated to cities like Kolkata and Mumbai, their magnificent havelis were abandoned. “Their successors placed little value on their rich ancestral architecture, leading to years of neglect,” Urvashi notes.

Shekhawati murals were painted with vegetable colours and mineral pigments, creating vivid, lasting images on lime-plastered walls. “The frescoes were painted on wet plaster, following the Italian Buon fresco style,” explains Urvashi.

“Decades of negligence have led to the crumbling of these murals,” Urvashi says. Modern restoration efforts using cement have failed to match the original brilliance of the frescoes, leaving many walls in ruin.

In her mission, Urvashi battles more than just indifference. Urban encroachment poses a major threat, with land mafias demolishing heritage structures to make way for skyscrapers.

She has conducted extensive field research and collaborated with traditional craftsmen. Through CATTS, she’s uniting stakeholders under the 'Shekhawati Virasat Abhiyan' to conserve the region's heritage.

Urvashi’s NGO aims to raise awareness about Shekhawati’s architectural significance. They have educated locals and tourists, restored some structures, and are seeking broader support for conservation efforts.

“We show tourists the conservation gaps and why this heritage is fragile. Many enthusiasts have contributed, and we want to spread this awareness to locals, encouraging them to avoid shallow renovations and elitist approaches,” Urvashi shares.

CATTS also launched the ‘Heritage Asset Maintenance and Management Program’ in 2019 to help haveli owners maintain their properties using traditional construction techniques, thereby preventing further decay.

Additionally, through its ‘Aaraish’ heritage souvenir range, CATTS is generating awareness about Shekhawati's fading heritage, with proceeds helping fund the conservation of these historic structures.

Their digital platform, ‘India Heritage Hub’, preserves unprotected heritage, offering a dynamic space for people to explore and learn about India’s rich architectural legacy, while advancing their mission to safeguard Shekhawati’s historic havelis.