Centuries Old Shop in Mahansar Features Entire Ramayana and Mahabharata Painted in Real Gold Ink

Built roughly 190 years ago by merchant Seth Harkanathrai Poddar in Jhunjhunu's Mahansar, Sone ki Saal showcases intricate mythological frescoes crafted by Greek artisans using pure gold ink.

In the town of Mahansar, situated within the Bisau tehsil of Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district, stands an unusual commercial building where visitors arrive not to purchase merchandise, but to marvel at the walls and ceilings. Known widely as Sone ki Saal, or the golden room, this nearly 190-year-old historic shop is celebrated for its breathtaking murals depicting episodes from the Ramayana, the life of Krishna, and the Mahabharata, all painstakingly rendered using real gold ink. Even after nearly two centuries, the metallic radiance of these intricate illustrations remains fully intact, making the site an essential stop for domestic and international travellers touring the Shekhawati region.

Global Bullion Merchant Seth Harkanathrai Poddar Commissioned the Structure
The establishment was commissioned in Vikram Samvat 1905 by prominent merchant Seth Harkanathrai Poddar for conducting his expanding commercial enterprise. During that era, Poddar was a leading trader in gold and silver, frequently undertaking overseas business journeys as far as China and Japan, while merchants from distant lands routinely travelled to his base for trade. Along with his sharp business acumen, Poddar was deeply spiritual, with profound devotion to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. When designing his commercial hall, he resolved to integrate his devotional faith into the architectural framework of the workspace itself.

Greek Artisans Spent Four Years Rendering Mythological Epics
To bring this elaborate vision to life, Seth Harkanathrai brought in specialized artisans from Greece who were masters of the delicate technique of painting with gold ink. The painting process inside the shop stretched across four continuous years. Because the artists were foreign to the subcontinent, every mythological narrative, character nuance, and dialogue from the Ramayana and the life of Krishna had to be explained to them in detail beforehand. Once the foreign craftsmen grasped the underlying stories, they transcribed each sequence onto the plaster using pure liquid gold ink. Poddar held the exceptional skill and microscopic precision of these craftsmen in higher regard than the sheer material worth of the gold itself.

Three Distinct Galleries Featuring 52 Divine Incarnations
The structure measures approximately 100 feet in length and 20 feet in width, systematically partitioned into three consecutive functional wings. The first wing showcases the narrative arc of the Ramayana, tracing the saga from the birth of Lord Rama through to the burning of Lanka. The central wing features an extensive pantheon of Hindu divinity, illustrating Lord Ganesha alongside 52 incarnations of gods and goddesses. It also includes the popular moral depiction of Shravan Kumar carrying his aging parents in baskets balanced on a shoulder sling during their holy pilgrimage. The third wing is dedicated entirely to Krishna's divine chronicles, the killing of King Kansa, and the climactic battles of the Mahabharata.

Dome Ceilings Trace the Epic Arc From Krishna's Birth to the Kurukshetra War
The interior architecture features a sweeping curved dome where the life story of Krishna unfolds in chronological order. Prominently featured scenes include King Kansa driving the chariot carrying Devaki following her wedding, the birth of Krishna within the confines of the Mathura prison, and Vasudeva safely crossing the turbulent Yamuna river to carry his newborn child to Gokul. The dome also captures the mischievous childhood antics of Krishna, all outlined in gleaming gold. The visual chronicle culminates in dramatic representations of the Kurukshetra war from the Mahabharata.

Preserved for Modern Travellers by the Shivbax Rai Poddar Trust
According to Kuldeep Poddar, a sixth-generation descendant of Seth Harkanathrai Poddar, the historic premises are currently maintained and safeguarded under the management of the Shivbax Rai Poddar Trust. To support the ongoing preservation of this fragile cultural asset, the trust charges a designated entry fee from visitors who travel from across India and around the globe. Standing as an extraordinary confluence of Shekhawati merchant enterprise, religious devotion, and classical foreign artistry, this golden gallery continues to serve as an enduring testament to the mastery of nineteenth-century painters.

What this means for you
This architectural wonder offers heritage travellers and art enthusiasts visiting Rajasthan an exceptional and relatively lesser-known cultural destination.

• For Tourists: Travellers planning journeys across Shekhawati can add this 190-year-old painted shop to their heritage itinerary. Visitors must purchase an entry ticket issued by the managing trust to access the hall.
• For Art Enthusiasts: Historians and art students can observe the rare application of 19th-century gold ink techniques executed by foreign artisans. The murals provide direct insight into how classical Indian epics were interpreted by European painters.
• In Mahansar: Sustained tourist footfall helps generate economic interest in local hospitality, transport, and artisanal crafts across the town. It reinforces community efforts toward preserving Shekhawati's unprotected architectural gems.
• For Pilgrims: Devotional travellers can view ornate depictions of 52 divine incarnations and the Ramayana inside an atypical commercial structure. The site offers a spiritual journey framed within commercial merchant heritage.

Why this happened
This rare monument was born out of a wealthy merchant's desire to merge his international trading success with deep religious devotion.

• Commercial Wealth and Devotional Zeal: Seth Harkanathrai Poddar had amassed substantial wealth through bullion trading across Asia while nurturing deep devotion to Rama and Krishna. He chose to dedicate his commercial headquarters to sacred art rather than keeping it purely functional.
• Recruitment of Greek Masters: During that period, Greek artisans were renowned for specialized techniques in gold ink fresco work. Poddar invested his fortune into hiring these foreign painters to ensure unmatched technical precision on the plaster surfaces.
• Bridging Cultural Understanding: Because the Greek artisans had no prior knowledge of Hindu mythology, local advisors spent four years explaining individual verses, characters, and dialogues. This intensive cross-cultural guidance made it possible to depict the intricate episodes of the epics accurately.

Questions & Answers

1. Where is this historic golden shop located?
It is located in the town of Mahansar within the Bisau tehsil of Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan.

2. Who commissioned the construction of Sone ki Saal and when?
It was built by bullion trader Seth Harkanathrai Poddar for commercial purposes in Vikram Samvat 1905.

3. Who painted the murals on the ceiling and walls?
Artisans brought from Greece painted the murals over four years using pure gold ink.

4. Which mythological narratives are depicted inside the shop?
The walls and ceiling feature the Ramayana, Krishna's life, the Mahabharata war, 52 divine incarnations, and Shravan Kumar.

5. What are the dimensions of this structure?
The shop measures approximately 100 feet in length and 20 feet in width, arranged across three distinct sections.

6. Who currently oversees and maintains the monument?
The site is managed by the Shivbax Rai Poddar Trust, which charges a fixed admission fee for visitors.

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