Sikar district General information
Sikar District is a district of the state of Rajasthan in western India. The town of Sikar is the district headquarters.
Location
The district is located in the north-eastern part of the state of Rajasthan. It is bound in the north by Jhunjhunu District, in the north-west by Churu district, in the south-west by Nagaur district and in the south-east by Jaipur district. It also touches Mahendragarh district of Haryana on its north-east corner.
The district has an area of 7742 km², and a population of 2,287,788 (2001 census). It is bounded on the north by Jhunjhunu District, on the northeast by Haryana state, on the east and southeast by Jaipur District, on the southwest by Nagaur District, and on the west and northwest by Churu District. Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts comprise the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan.The old name of Sikar was "VEER BHAN KA BAS"(Information by O.P. Verma). Sikar District has road length 2918 km.
History
Sikar is a Historical City and at present district head quarter. Sikar district presents a good many facts for the tourists. Sikar is as much part of Shekhawati as Jhunjhunu. It was the biggest Thikana (Estate) of the Jaipur State. It lie on the highway 11 in the midway on route Bikaner to Agra . It is 116 Km away from the Jaipur, 320Km from Jodhpur 240 Km from Bikaner and 301 Km. from Delhi. Sikar was the capital town of the Tikana Sikar.
It is escorted all around by the highwalls comprising of seven gates. The primitive name of Sikar was ‘Beer Bhan Ka Bass’. In order of mitigate the enmity on account of the murder of Daulat Singh’s father Jaswant Singh , Bahadur Singh the raja of Khandela gifted the village to Daulat Singh . He laid down the foundation stone of the fort on the raised ground of this village. Lateron his son Shiv Singh who was very strong ,clever, courageous and bold made a magnificent fort on it. Shiv Singh was the most prominent Rao Raja of Sikar. He developed the village into a beautiful town. It is surrounded by a strong boundary wall . He was a religious man.
Climate
The district has a hot summer, scanty rainfall, a chilly winter season and general dryness of the air except in brief monsoon season.
The average maximum & minimum temperature are 48 and 0 degrees Celsius respectively.
The normal rainfall, mostly received from south-west monsoon is 466 mm.But overall weahther is ok.
Education
Sikar, of late, has become a big hub for education in Rajasthan. Along with numerous government colleges providing arts, sciences, and commerce education; a number of private educational institutes have also opened up. Prominent among them is Nav Prerna Shikshan Sansthan [4], Sobhasaria Engineering College [5], Goenka Institute of Education [6], Shekhawati Engineering College [7] are some of the prominent educational institutes in higher education.In last few years a lot of coaching institutes have also come up though none of the coaching institute stands at par with institutes in cities like kota and jaipur.
Places of interest
Khatushyamji Temple
Khatushyamji is located 65 Km. away from SIKAR & 80 Km. from Jaipur via Reengus.
This little village is famous for Shyamji Temple built with white marbles. Ponds for holy dip and Shyam garden is worth visiting.
History
The legend of this immensely popular Krishna temple can be traced back to the medieval Mahabharat where, Barbareek the son of great Pandav brother Bhim and Nag Kanya (snake
princess) displayed his great warrior skills that pleased Lord Shiva who endowed his blessings in the form of Teen Ban (three arrows) and Agni Dev (fire god ) gave him a bow, so that he could conquer all the three worlds. In order to watch the famous war of Mahabharat he sat towards the battle field and in between his tryst with a Lord Krishna in disguise become a vital part of the history and thus the incarnation of KHATU SHAMJI. The lord asked the young Barbareek to sacrifice his head for charity, because otherwise the victory of pandavas would not be possible since he possessed the Teen Bans. The boy maintained his promise of Sheesh Dan as a true Kshatriya but at the same time wished to watch the war and his wish was granted. Later on, his head was buried in Khatu where the king had a dream and was inspired to construct a temple and place the head in a religious manner. Till this date his devotees are blessed by just pronouncing his name from the bottom of their heart with true Samarpan. The devotees from all around the world visit this pilgrimage temple at the time of the mela in the FALGUNSUDI EKADASI(Kartik) month. Their devotion and belief simply pours from their conscious belief. The temple today is run by trust and the offerings of the devotees is for the Kripa which the god bestows on his devotees.
Ganeswar
Ganeshwar & Baleswar both 15 km. away from Neem ka Thana on different roads and 80 km. from Sikar via Udaipurwati. Ganeshwar is a pilgrimage as well as a salubrious Picnic spot. The hot sulphur springs here is a major draw. A dip in the spring, it is believed, cures skin diseases. It is an ancient site. Excavations in the Ganeshwar areas have revealed the remains of a 4000 years old civilizations. Close by is Baleshwar, yet another worth visiting site, ponds and old Shiva temple is there surrounded by Aravali Hills
Jeen Mataji Temple
Jeen Mata is 30 Km. away from Sikar.There is an ancient Temple dedicated to Jeen Mata ( Goddess of Power) . It is said that this temple was built thousand years ago. Lacs of devotees congregate here every year in the month of CHAITRA & ASHWIN at the time of NAVARATRA fairs. There are a number of Dharamshala's to accommodate large number of visitors.
There is a popular belief which has come down to people through the centuries that in a village Ghoghu of Churu, King Ghangh loved and married an Apsara (nymph) on the condition that he would not visit her palace without prior information. King Ghangh got a son called Harsha and a daughter Jeen. Afterwards she again conceived but as chance would have it king Ghangh went to her palace without prior intimation and thus violated solemn vow he had made to the Apsara. Instantly she left the king and fled away with her son Harsha and daughter Jeen whom she abandoned at the place where presently the temple stands. The two children here practiced extreme asceticism. Later a Chauhan ruler built the temple at that place. Goddess Jeen Mata is Devi herself, the very embodiment of divine cosmic power. The deity is Mahishasura Mardini Durga having eight arms. The miraculous deity fulfills the wishes of her devotees. Whosoever acts unholily in the temple precincts is punished with a divine retribution. Mahishasura was demon in the form of a buffalo. He waged a fierce battle with Shri Durga. He with his forces affronted the goddess with all his demoniac powers. The battle with Durga has been beautifully described in the third chapter of Shri Durga Saptashati. Finally Durga pressed Mahisha with her foot and struck his neck with her lance. The lion too suppressed Mahisha (then in the buffalo form). This lion riding eight-armed form of Durga is Mahishasura Mardini. Here Jeen Mata is worshipped in her eight-armed form. The temple has been constructed in the style of architecture adopted by Pratihar and Chauhan clans of Rajputs. There are twenty four pillars with panels of figures finely carved on them. The main temple has a very high Shikhar (Pinnacle) in the midst . This is a unique temple from every point of view. It is believed that the Pandavas during their exile from Hastinapur came to the thick forests of this place where they spent their period here incognito. The daughter named Jeen of the King Ghangh also practised asceticism here. The place has acquired a great religious importance and is held sacred by all. Nestled amongst the high Arawali hills, the idyllic surroundings lend this sacred a natural grace of serenity and lushgreen vegetation with fauna and flora.
Harshnath Temple
Harshnath Temple is 14 km. away from SIKAR is an ancient site famous for the ruins old Shiva Temple (10th Century) located on the high hills of Aravali. The architectural display of the old temple is breath taking .
There is an another Shiva temple built by Shiv Singh of SIKAR in the 18th century.