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Voykit pocket guide · India
Sikar
सीकर
Half a day is enough to see the fort and a haveli; use it as a stop between Jaipur and Bikaner, not a base.
Sikar is a market town in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, known for its painted havelis and the Laxmangarh Fort on a hill. Most travellers pass through on the Jaipur–Bikaner road, spending a few hours on the fort and a haveli or two. The town itself is dusty and busy; the appeal is the fort view and the old quarter.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- सीकर
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (extreme heat), Jul–Sep (monsoon, humid)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 102 · All emergencies 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a stall | ₹10–20 |
| Vegetarian thali | ₹150–300 |
| Dal baati churma (local speciality) | ₹200–400 |
| Auto-rickshaw within town (up to 3 km (1.9 mi))Auto-rickshaw within town (up to 1.9 mi (3 km)) | ₹50–100 |
| Bus Sikar → Jaipur | ₹150–250 |
| Entry to Laxmangarh Fort | Free (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- JAI · Jaipur International
- About 120 km (75 mi), 2.5–3 h by taxi or busAbout 75 mi (120 km), 2.5–3 h by taxi or bus
Typical fares
- Sikar bus stand → Laxmangarh Fort
- auto-rickshaw about ₹150–200, 20 min (check)
- Sikar → Jaipur by bus
- about ₹150–250, 2.5–3 h (check)
- Sikar → Jhunjhunu by bus
- about ₹100–150, 1 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws within town; ₹50–150 for most rides. To reach Laxmangarh Fort, take a rickshaw from the bus stand (about 20 min).
See and do
Known for
- Laxmangarh Fort
- Painted havelis of Shekhawati
- Khatu Shyam Temple (30 km away)
- Harshnath Temple (20 km away)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Khatu Shyam Temple | Bus or taxi from Sikar bus stand, about 30 km (19 mi) southBus or taxi from Sikar bus stand, about 19 mi (30 km) south | About 45 min |
| Harshnath Temple | Taxi or auto-rickshaw, about 20 km (12 mi) eastTaxi or auto-rickshaw, about 12 mi (20 km) east | About 30 min |
| Jhunjhunu | Bus or taxi, about 60 km (37 mi) northBus or taxi, about 37 mi (60 km) north | About 1 h |
| Pilani | Bus or taxi, about 70 km (43 mi) north-eastBus or taxi, about 43 mi (70 km) north-east | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Near the bus stand
- Budget hotels and guesthouses; convenient for onward buses.
- Old town (near the fort)
- A few heritage haveli hotels; quieter but farther from bus stand.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Namaste | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much? | कितना?kitna? |
| Too expensive | बहुत महंगाbahut mehnga |
| Where is the bus stand? | बस स्टैंड कहाँ है?bus stand kahan hai? |
| I need a rickshaw | मुझे रिक्शा चाहिएmujhe rickshaw chahiye |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- The fort is on a hill with a steep climb; wear sturdy shoes and carry water.
- Havelis are mostly locked; ask a local guide or the tourist office for keys.
- Beware of touts at the bus stand offering overpriced rickshaws.
Sikar is generally safe for tourists, but watch for touts at the bus stand and keep valuables out of sight. The fort climb is steep and unshaded; carry water and a hat.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sikar yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Laxmangarh Fort
- Painted havelis of Shekhawati
- Khatu Shyam Temple (30 km away)
- Harshnath Temple (20 km away)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Sikar, revision 5319732 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5319732
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sikar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.