SIKAR, Rajasthan

Main Attraction: Havelis of Sikar

Most villages of Shekhawati have kept their rustic charm intact and taking a trip through these painted towns can be a wonderful experience. The painted mansions are the focal points, as well as the unique architectural style of the havelis. They are marvels of good design. Several courtyards and inner chambers were designed to keep the women folk safe and comfortable but segregated. These havelis are so ingeniously planned that they provide adequate protection from the harsh summers. Fatehpur has some beautiful frescoes in the Indian as well as the Western style particularly the Chamariya and Singhania havelis. 

If there is one region that stands out for its consummate artistry it is the Shekhawati region where the streets are lined with havelis painted in the nature of a vast open-air gallery. The style of fresco painting is locally known as Ala Gila. The colours mixed into a paste were applied on to the damp wall finished with a plaster of lime paste. The colours were made to seep into the damp plaster through a process that consisted of beating, burnishing and polishing.

Brief History

Prior to the formation of Rajasthan, the territory now known as District Sikar, used to be a part of the erstwhile Jaipur State and is composed of the then Thikana of Sikar, 11 villages of the former thikana of Shyamgarh and the tehsils of Danta Ramgarh (excluding 48 villages transferred to tehsil Phulera) and Neem-Ka-Thana of the former Jaipur state.

It was the biggest Thikana (Estate) of the Jaipur State earlier it was known as Nehrawati. 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. After the death of Daulat Singh a descent of 9th generation of Shekhaji, his son Shiv Singh who was named ‘Beer Bhan Ka Bas’ as Sikar and is known as the first founder ruler of Sikar. 

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. Sikar was carved out as a separate district after merger of the Jaipur state into the United State of Greater Rajasthan, in 1949, and continues till date.