Sikar is a city located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan state in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Sikar District. Sikar is a historical city and contains many old Havelis (big houses with Mughal-era architecture) which are a huge tourist attraction. It is 114 km away from Jaipur, 320 km from Jodhpur 215 km from Bikaner and 280 km from Delhi.
History
Sikar is as much part of Shekhawati as Jhunjhunu.[clarification needed] It was the biggest Thikana (Estate) of the Jaipur State earlier it was known as Nehrawati. Sikar was the capital town of the Thikana Sikar. It is surrounded by the high walls consisting of seven “Polsâ€(gates). These seven gates are Bawari gate, Fatehpuri Gate, Nani Gate, Surajpole Gate, Dujod Gate Old, Dujod Gate New and Chandpole Gate. The primitive name of Sikar was ‘Beer Bhan Ka Bass’.
Rao Raja Ram Pratap Singh who ascended the throne after Laxman Singh got the marble palace made .The golden painting on its walls is very attractive. The successive rulers of Sikar such as Rao Raja Bhairon Singh, Rao Raja Sir Madhav Singh Bahadur (1866/1922), he was granted the title of Bahadur in 1886 and Madhav Singh enjoys the credit of making huge Victoria Diamonds Jublee Hall & Madhav Niwas Kothi which are the excellent examples of his love for architecture and paintings. He was always anxious for the welfare of the public. During the terrible famine in 1899 (Samvat 1956), he started many famine relief works for the poor and hungry people. It is evident from ‘Madhav Sagar Pond’ which was built in 1899. This pond was made at the cost of Rs.56000/- it clearly speaks the fame of his ruler. It was in the times of Madhav Singh that Sikar saw the first light of electricity. The roads were also constructed in his time. The old monuments, forts, palaces, boundary walls and temples were repaired in his time. He was very strong and courageous. He had very cordial relations with the British Government. The survey of Railway from Jaipur to Sikar was accomplished in his period. After Madhav Singh the throne of Sikar was ascended by Kalyan Singh.
Rao Raja Kalyan Singh was the last ruler of Sikar (1922/1967). Kalyan Singh had been famous for their love of magnanimous building, palaces, temples and ponds He had ruled over Sikar for 32 years. He built clock tower, which adds beauty to the town. For the welfare of public he got the Kalyan Hospital & Kalyan College built. He died in 1967. To commemorate the sweet memory of his late son Kunwar Hardayal Singh.
Sikar is a very fascinating and charming place for the tourist. The fresco Painting on the ancient havelies, temples and forts captivate the tourist from abroad.
Sikar was the kingdom of royal Shekhawat rajas. Today also many royal Shekhawat family reside in Sikar. One of the great shekhawat is Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, former Vice President of India also belongs to (Khachriyawas) Sikar. Three most prominent business homes of the country viz. the Bajajs, the Birlas and the Goenkas also belong to the district. Most of the Marwari businessmen community residing in Assam, W.Bengal, Surat, Bengaluru and Hyderabad also belong to Sikar.
Geography and Climate
Sikar is the district headquarters of Rajasthan's Sikar district which is situated in the eastern part of Rajasthan. It is located at 27°37 N 75°09 E / 27.62°N 75.15°E / 27.62; 75.15. It has an average elevation of 427 meters (1401 feet).
Sikar has a hot semi-arid climate, rains occur in the monsoon months between June and September. Temperatures remain relatively high throughout the year, with the summer months of April to July having average daily temperatures of around 30 °C (86 °F). The maximum temperatures during the months of May & June can reach close to 50 °C (122 °F) with little to no humidity. During the monsoon there are frequent, heavy rains and thunderstorms, but flooding is not common. The winter months of November to February are mild and pleasant, with average temperatures ranging from 15–18 °C (59–64 °F) and with little or no humidity. There are however occasional cold fronts that lead to temperatures near freezing.
Demographics
Sikar city has a population of about 237,579[2] people according to the census of 2011. As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Sikar in 2011 is 237579; of which male and female are 123156 and 114423 respectively. The sex ratio of Sikar city is 929 per 1000 males. In education section, total literates in Sikar city are 158413 of which 91403 are males while 67010 are females. Average literacy rate of Sikar city is 77.13 percent of which male and female literacy was 86.29 and 67.37 percent respectively. Total children age group (0-6) in Sikar city are 32189 as per figure from Census India report on 2011. There were 17236 boys while 14953 are girls. Child sex ratio of girls is 868 per 1000 boys.
Administration
Sikar city is governed by Municipal Corporation which comes under Sikar Urban Agglomeration. Sikar city divided into 45 wards. Although Sikar city has population of 237579; its urban/metropolitan population is 244563 of which 126964 are males and 117599 are females. Sikar metropolitan areas includes Chandrapura (Rural), Radhakrishnpura, Samarthpura, Shivsinghpura and Sikar city.
Transport
Sikar comes under the territory of Norther Western Railway. Recently from the beginning of September, 2012 Norther Western Railway started gauge conversion of the Sikar-Loharu line section into the broad gauge section. It is expected that it will be completed till March, 2013. As of now Sikar city is connected through meter gauge railway line section to Delhi, Jaipur, Loharu, Rewari, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Churu, Jhunjhunu. But from the beginning of September, 2012 rail operation is shut downed on Sikar-Loharu line section due to Gauge conversion activity.
Reproduced from Wikipedia
