Stand at the edge of the old town and the seven gates that ring Sikar come into view one after another: Bawari Gate, Fatehpuri Gate, Nani Gate, Surajpole Gate, Dujod Gate Old, Dujod Gate New and Chandpole Gate. This is a working Rajasthani city in the Shekhawati region, and its streets are lined with traditional havelis rather than staged for visitors.
Sikar suits travellers who are already in the region and want a base for the surrounding temples and forts, or who are curious about a city shaped by coaching institutes, agricultural trade and a long history as a former capital of Thikana Sikar. It is also a practical stop for anyone moving between Jaipur, Bikaner and the Shekhawati towns.
This guide covers the places worth your time in and around the city, plus how to string them together if you have a single day.
Top things to do in Sikar
1. Khatu Shyam Temple
This is a renowned pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Krishna's incarnation, Khatu Shyam Ji, and it draws devotees from all parts of the country. The temple sits in the town of Khatoo, which lies 45 km from Sikar city and 16 km from Reengus town.
Because it is a pilgrimage destination rather than a sightseeing stop, plan it as the anchor of a half day rather than something to squeeze between other visits. If you are coming from Reengus, the temple is the obvious reason to make the detour.
2. Harshnath Temple
Located about 11 kilometres from Sikar, this ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and dates back to 973 CE. It sits in a hilly area, giving the visit both historical weight and a change of scene from the city streets.
The temple is associated with Harsh Parvat, part of the Aravalli Range, which is known as a place to enjoy the monsoon season and the greenery of the mountains. Time your visit for the monsoon if you can, and treat the walk and the setting as part of the experience rather than just the building.
3. Laxmangarh Fort
Laxmangarh Fort was built by Rao Raja Laxman Singh in 1805. It is one of the named forts of the district and pairs naturally with the town of Laxmangarh, which is also home to Mody University of Science and Technology.
Give yourself time to take in the fort as a piece of Shekhawati history rather than rushing through it. It works well as part of a wider look at the region's forts, which also include Devgarh Fort, Raghunath Fort, Danta Fort and Ramgarh Fort elsewhere in the district.
4. The historic gates of the old city
Sikar is surrounded by fortified walls consisting of seven pols, or gates: Bawari Gate, Fatehpuri Gate, Nani Gate, Surajpole Gate, Dujod Gate Old, Dujod Gate New and Chandpole Gate. They are the clearest surviving markers of the city's past as the capital of Thikana Sikar.
Rather than treating them as separate stops, use them to orient yourself as you move through the old town. Passing through several in sequence gives you a sense of the walled city's extent.
5. The havelis of Sikar
Sikar has historical significance and contains several traditional havelis. These are the buildings that connect the city to the wider Shekhawati tradition of painted and finely built merchant houses.
Look out for them as you walk the old streets rather than expecting a single ticketed site. The new municipal council building is also built in Shekhawati style, like a mahal or haveli, and is worth noticing for the same reason.
6. Bheruji Temple, Reengus
This is a renowned pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Bhairava, in Reengus. It sits in the same direction as Khatu Shyam Temple, which is 16 km from Reengus town.
If you are already making the trip towards Khatoo, Reengus is the natural place to combine with it. Treat both as pilgrimage visits and plan your day around them rather than around the city.
7. Nehru Park
Nehru Park is one of the largest parks in Sikar. It offers a straightforward break from the streets and the heat, and it is an easy place to slow down between other stops.
Use it as a pause rather than a destination in itself, particularly if you are spending the middle of the day in the city.
8. Smriti Van
Smriti Van is one of the biggest parks in Sikar. Like Nehru Park, it gives you green space within the city.
It pairs well with Nehru Park if you want an unhurried afternoon, and it is a reasonable place to end a day of walking the old town.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start early and head out of the city to Harshnath Temple, about 11 kilometres away, to see the ancient Shiva temple and the hilly Aravalli setting of Harsh Parvat before the day warms up.
Afternoon: Return to Sikar and walk the old town, using the seven gates — Bawari Gate, Fatehpuri Gate, Nani Gate, Surajpole Gate, Dujod Gate Old, Dujod Gate New and Chandpole Gate — to orient yourself, and look out for the traditional havelis along the way. Notice the Shekhawati-style municipal council building as you pass.
Evening: Finish at Nehru Park or Smriti Van, then decide whether to give a full separate day to Khatu Shyam Temple and Bheruji Temple, Reengus, which sit together in the Reengus direction.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reach Sikar?
Sikar Junction railway station lies within the territory of the North Western Railway, and the city is connected by rail to Jhunjhunu, Rewari, Delhi, Churu, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Hisar, Jaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Udaipur, Abu Road, Indore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Mathura, Prayagraj and Alwar. By road, a four-lane national highway, NH-52, passes through the city and connects it with Jaipur and Bikaner, and the Jhunjhunu–Jaipur state highway also passes through Sikar.
What is the nearest airport?
The nearest airport to Sikar city is Jaipur International Airport, which operates daily flights to a range of domestic destinations as well as Dubai, Sharjah and Muscat. A small air strip at Tarpura village is also available for the landing of small private planes.
When is the best time to visit Harshnath Temple and Harsh Parvat?
Harsh Parvat is known as a place people come to enjoy the monsoon season and the greenery of the mountains, so the rainy months are the natural time for that part of a visit. The temple itself is an ancient Shiva temple dating back to 973 CE and can be visited year-round.
Can I visit Khatu Shyam Temple as a day trip from Sikar?
Yes. Khatu Shyam Temple is in the town of Khatoo, 45 km from Sikar city and 16 km from Reengus town, so it works as a day trip. Bheruji Temple, Reengus is in the same direction and can be combined with it.
Work out which of these fits your route through the Shekhawati region, and start planning your days around the temples and forts that sit outside the city first.