Hin: सीकर sīkar
‘Shekha’s Estate’ [Thikana Sikar, Shekhawati] – City/District, Rajasthan
From Shekha and Skt: ṭhikānā, ‘estate’, ‘region’.
Maha Rao Shekha (a.k.a. Shaikha) was a 15th-C chieftain. The Shekhawati or Thikana Sikar region (which includes Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Churu) in NE Rajasthan gets its name from him. His name is probably related to Sikar and the Seka/Shekha/Shaikha Jat clan of a neighbouring region in Pakistan.
Sikar is surrounded by fortified walls with seven “Pols” (gates): Bawarpol, Fatehpuri , Nanipol, Surajpol, Dujod Old, Dujod New and Chandpol.
The Harshnath Shiva temple, dating back to the 10thC has been partially rebuilt using the ruins of the old.
Harshanath Shiva Temple, Sikar Ashish Choudhary
