Discover Tonk

When planning a trip to Tonk, historic architecture, decorative art and calligraphic culture offer different starting points. If you are looking for a hotel in Tonk, you can first consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay. Sunehri Kothi with the Sheesh Mahal, Jama Masjid and the Arabic and Persian Research Institute represent different cultural interests; the wider Tonk destination has additional places to explore.

Historic architecture and art

Sunehri Kothi, also known as the Golden Mansion, is a 19th-century attraction in Tonk. The Government of Rajasthan has designated it a significant historic monument. Its construction history and official status give the building a clear historical connection.

The Sheesh Mahal, the glass hall of Sunehri Kothi, is decorated with glass and floral work as well as examples of Meenakari art. This brings two different aspects together: you can view the Kothi through its history, while the decorative details take centre stage in the glass hall. If you are interested in design, the glass, floral work and Meenakari offer specific features to look out for.

Jama Masjid in Tonk is an example of Mughal architectural style. This distinguishes its architectural focus from the decorative work in the Sheesh Mahal: here, the emphasis is on classifying the architectural style, while there it is on the furnishings of a hall. The Clock Tower is also one of Tonk’s historic sites and is known locally as Ghanta Ghar. If you look up information about the tower, you can identify both names as referring to the same structure.

Calligraphy and collections

The Arabic and Persian Research Institute in Tonk offers another cultural focus. Its art gallery displays calligraphy and is open to visitors. Check the gallery’s current accessibility before your visit. The institute also houses one of the oldest collections of Persian and Arabic books and manuscripts. The gallery and collection have different emphases: calligraphy brings the art of writing into focus, while the books and manuscripts define the Persian and Arabic collection. You can therefore consider the visual design of writing and the written holdings as two separate interests.

Further perspectives in the wider Tonk destination

In the wider Tonk destination, Sunehri Kothi was built by Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan, the Nawab of Tonk, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for music, dance and poetry performances. This purpose adds a connection to the performing arts to the way the building can be viewed. Jama Masjid has another historical connection in this wider context: it is one of the largest mosques in India, and Nawab Amir Khan began its construction. Many worshippers travel to Tonk to visit the mosque as an Islamic shrine. Architecture, construction history and religious reasons for visiting thus offer different perspectives on the same building.

In the wider Tonk destination, the Arabic and Persian Research Institute Rajasthan is located in the centre of Tonk, in the valley of the two historic hills, Rasiya and Annapoorna. This location adds a geographical dimension to the institute’s cultural themes without changing the focus of its gallery and collection.

Further points of interest in the wider Tonk destination are in Bisalpur and near Deoli. The Gokarnesvara Temple in Bisalpur is also known as Bisal Deoji’s Temple and is a centrally protected monument in Tonk district. The Bisalpur Dam is a gravity dam on the Banas River near Deoli, also in Tonk district. The two places represent different subjects: a protected religious monument and a dam on a river. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between cultural history and infrastructure as interests.

Discover more destinations: Kherwara, Dharmpura, Mawal, Balesar, Santpur Rural, Bandanwara, Tadgarh, Kharda

To the wider travel guide: Rajasthan.