Sikar is a city located midway between Agra and Bikaner on National Highway 52 in the state of Rajasthan, India. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Sikar District. Sikar is a historical city and is known for its many old havelis (large houses) featuring Mughal-era architecture. It is situated 114 km from Jaipur, 320 km from Jodhpur, 215 km from Bikaner, and 280 km from Delhi.

History

Sikar was the largest Thikana (estate) of the Jaipur State. Previously, Sikar was known as Nehrawati and served as the capital town of Thikana Sikar. The city 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. The primitive name of Sikar was “Beer Bhan Ka Bass.”

Geography and Climate

Geography
Sikar is the district headquarters of Sikar District in Rajasthan and is situated in the eastern part of the state. It is located at 27.62°N latitude and 75.15°E longitude. The city has an average elevation of 427 meters (1401 feet).

Climate
Sikar has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSh), with rainfall occurring mainly during the monsoon months from June to September. The summer months, from April to July, have an average daily temperature of around 30°C (86°F). The maximum temperature during May and June can reach close to 50°C (122°F), with little to no humidity.

During the monsoon season, there are frequent heavy rains and thunderstorms, although flooding is generally not persistent. The winter months, from November to February, are also quite harsh, with average temperatures ranging from 0°C to 15°C (32°F to 59°F), along with low humidity. Occasionally, cold waves may cause temperatures to drop below freezing, ranging between -8°C and 0°C (18°F to 32°F).

Modes of Transportation

Rail
Sikar Junction Railway Station falls under the North Western Railway zone. The city is well connected by rail to Jhunjhunu, Rewari, Delhi, Churu, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Abu Road, Indore, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.

Road
Sikar is well connected by road to all major cities of Rajasthan and nearby states. A four-lane National Highway (NH-52) passes through the center of the city, connecting Sikar with Jaipur and Bikaner. The Western Freight Corridor, a major project of the Central Government, will also pass through Sikar. Additionally, the Kotputli–Kuchaman Mega Highway runs through the city.

Air
The nearest airport to Sikar is Jaipur International Airport, which operates daily flights to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Indore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Udaipur, as well as international destinations like Dubai, Sharjah, and Muscat. A new airport has been proposed at Shahpura (a town in Jaipur District), which is located close to Sikar. Additionally, a small airstrip at Tarpura village is available for the landing of private aircraft upon payment.