During the second part of XIX century, the British Colonial influence stifle commercial life of Shekawati. The indian products were obsolete comparing to european ones and overall the sea and railways transports hardly compete the caravans. Marwaris move to great ports like Mumbai or Kolkota. As they continue to succeed in the trade of jute and cotton, they still built huge havelis up to beginning of XX century, to affirm they social success.
But they came back less and less often. Now their descendants come back only to celebrate family ceremonies, like the birth of a child...Most of the time a guard (The chowkidar), watches, powerless, these beauties slowly falling to ruin.
(From : «Rajasthan, Des citadelles du désert à la douceur du Mewar» - by Annie Sorrel - Editions Olizane. Free traduction by Danad).