Kothari
& Surana Haveli :-
A group of handsome painted havelis built by two prominent Oswal Jain
merchant families, the Kothari and Surana clans. Amongst them are 'Malji Ka
Kamra' (Malji's Haveli), an exotic stucco extravagaza built by Malaji Kothari
around 1925 and the massive Surana Double Haveli, said to boast 1111 windows
and doors built in the 1870s.
Kanhaiya
Lal Bagala Haveli :- Just south of the main bazaar, this haveli
built around 1880 boasts the finest frieze in all the Shekhawati region. It
illustrates Dhola and Maru on a camel fleeing the wicked Umra-Sumra, Sassi and
Punu side by side on horseback, two set of lovers from folk tales. To the
south-west is a mosque, Jama Masjid, and a little Muslim haveli decorated with
non-figurative work.
Sethani
Ka Johda :- Around 3 km west by the Ratangarh road, a
beautiful reservoir built by Bhagwan Das Bagla's widow as a relief project
during the terrible 'Chhapan Akaal', the Famine of 1956 V. Samvat (1899AD). The
water attracts birds and mammals such as 'Nilgai' (blue bull – a large
antelope)
Chatriyan
:-
Churu has some good memorial domes, mostly raised to rich merchants, north of
the town. Historically the most significant is 'Aath Kambh Chhatri' (Eight
Pillar Dome) west of the vegetable market. Built in 1776 on a Rajput's
cremation site. Its base has been virtually buried by windblown sand. The
interior is covered with murals, one detail depicting an early European
mercenary on foot, bearing a musket. Further north are chhatris of the Mantri
,Bagla and Lohia merchant families.
