Sikar

Sikar is a city and municipal council in the Sikar district of the state of Rajasthan in India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Sikar district. It is largest city of the Shekhawati region, which consists of Sikar, Churu and Jhunjhunu. After Kota, Sikar is one of the major coaching hubs in the country for competitive examination preparations and has a number of engineering and medical coaching institutes.It is also known as Rajasthan's 'Mini Kota'.
Sikar is also a major hub for agricultural trade, given it is surrounded by large plains areas west of the Aravalli range. It is also a major rail and road junction.
Sikar is a historical city and contains many old havelis. It is 115 km (71 mi) away from Jaipur, 320 km (200 mi) from Jodhpur, 215 km (134 mi) from Bikaner, and 280 km (170 mi) from New Delhi.
Sikar district is also popular for Khatu Shyam Temple, situated in the town of Khatoo, 16 km from Reengus town and 45 km from Sikar city.
Another place for which Sikar is famous is the Harsh Parvat, part of Aravalli Range. Mainly, Harsh Parvat is known for the Harsh Temple, which is historical temple. Moreover, it is a tourist place where people come to enjoy the mansoon season and greenery of mountains.
Sikar had been the biggest Thikana (Estate) of the Jaipur state. Previously Sikar was known as Shekhawati Pradesh. It was the capital of Thikana Sikar. Sikar is surrounded by fortified walls consisting of seven "Pols" (gates). These historic gates are named: Bawari Gate, Fatehpuri Gate, Nani Gate, Surajpole Gate, Dujod Gate Old, Dujod Gate New, and Chandpole Gate. Previously Gaur dynasty ruled this estate but after defeated by Shekhawat Rajputs, shekhawat rajputs becomes rulers of this region.
Sikar city is the district headquarters of Rajasthan's Sikar district, which is situated in the eastern part of Rajasthan. It is the sixth most populous city of Rajasthan. It is located at27°37′N 75°09′E﻿ / ﻿27.62°N 75.15°E﻿ / 27.62; 75.15. It has an average elevation of 427 metres (1,401 ft).
Sikar City had a population of about 237,579 people according to the census of 2011. As per provisional reports of Census India, the population of Sikar in 2011 is 237,579; of which there are approximately 123,156 males and 114,423 females. The sex ratio of Sikar City is 929 females per 1000 males. Regarding education, total literates in Sikar city are 158,413 of which 91,403 are males while 67,010 are females. The average literacy rate of Sikar City is 77.13, male and female literacy status is 86.29 and 67.37, respectively. The total population of children (0–6) in Sikar City is about 32,189, consisting of 17,236 boys and 14,953 girls. The child sex ratio of girls is 868 per 1000 boys.
Sikar, a city rich in cultural heritage, offers several fascinating places to visit:
Sikar city is governed by a Municipal Council, which comes under the Sikar Urban Agglomeration. The new municipal council building is built in Shekhawati style like a mahal or haveli. Sikar city is divided into 60 wards. Although Sikar city has a population of 237,579 (in 2011), its urban/metropolitan population is 244,563 (in 2011). The Sikar metropolitan area includes Chandrapura (Rural), Radhakrishnpura, Samarthpura, Shivsinghpura and Sikar city.
Sikar is quickly gaining recognition as a leading education hub, like Kota. Known for its rich cultural heritage, Sikar attracts students from rural areas and neighbouring states such as Haryana. This city is home to several prestigious coaching institutes which provide extensive coaching for competitive exams like IIT-JEE and NEET. Unlike Kota, Sikar’s coaching centers frequently combine study and living facilities, fostering a more controlled and supportive environment for students. This approach has resulted in fewer stress-related issues, making Sikar a preferred choice for students and parents. As Sikar continues to expand, it is set to become a significant contributor to the education sector, enhancing the academic landscape of Rajasthan.
Sikar Junction railway station comes within the territory of the North Western Railway. Sikar City is connected to Jhunjhunu, Rewari, Delhi, Churu, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Hisar, Jaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Udaipur, Abu Road, Indore, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, Mathura, PrayagrajAlwar. New lines proposed since 2010 are Sikar to Nokha via Sujangarh and Sikar to Neem-Ka-Thana via Udaipurwati.
Sikar is well connected by roads from all the major cities of Rajasthan and nearby states. A four-lane national highway NH-52 passes through the city. NH-52 connects Sikar with Jaipur and Bikaner. The western freight corridor also pass through Ringas of Sikar, as a main project of the central government. Kotputali Kuchaman Mega Highway also passes through Sikar. Jhunjhunu-Jaipur state highway is also passes through Sikar.
The nearest airport to Sikar City is Jaipur International Airport, which operates daily flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Indore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Guwahati, Kolkata, Udaipur, Dubai, Sharjah, and Muscat. A new airport is proposed at Shahpura (a town in Jaipur district) that is very close to Sikar. A small air strip at Tarpura village is also available for the landing of small private planes against payment.