Khandela is a town and municipality in the Sikar district of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Situated in the Shekhawati region of north-eastern Rajasthan, it has historically been the seat of a small Rajput principality and is today an administrative tehsil headquarters within Sikar district.
Key facts
| Type | Town and municipality |
|---|---|
| District | Sikar |
| State | Rajasthan |
| Country | India |
| Region | Shekhawati |
| Language | Hindi, Rajasthani (Shekhawati) |
Geography
Khandela lies in the semi-arid plains of north-eastern Rajasthan, in the Shekhawati cultural region. The terrain around the town is characterised by low Aravalli outcrops and dry agricultural land, with cultivation depending largely on monsoon rainfall and groundwater. The town is connected by road to Sikar, the district headquarters, and to other Shekhawati centres such as Reengus and Srimadhopur.
History
Khandela was historically the centre of a Rajput chiefship and is one of the older settlements of the Shekhawati region. The Shekhawat clan of Kachhwaha Rajputs, who later gave their name to the wider Shekhawati tract, traces its rise to chiefs associated with Khandela and the surrounding area. During the medieval and early modern periods, Khandela functioned as a thikana under the suzerainty of the Kachhwaha rulers of Amber and later Jaipur.
Under British paramountcy in the colonial period, Khandela came within the territory of the princely state of Jaipur. After the integration of the princely states, it became part of the state of Rajasthan formed in 1949–1956, and was incorporated into Sikar district.
Civic administration
Khandela is administered as a municipality (nagar palika) and serves as the headquarters of Khandela tehsil within Sikar district. Local civic functions, including sanitation, water supply, street lighting and local markets, are managed by the municipal body, while revenue and law-and-order administration falls under the tehsil and district authorities.
Economy
The economy of Khandela is largely based on agriculture and allied activities, retail trade serving surrounding villages, and small-scale industry. Common crops in the surrounding tract include bajra (pearl millet), wheat, mustard and pulses, in line with the broader cropping pattern of the Sikar region.
Culture and religion
The town has several old temples and stepwells associated with the Shekhawati tradition. Khandela is particularly noted in religious tradition for its association with the Khandelwal community, a mercantile group of Rajasthan that takes its name from the town and includes both Khandelwal Vaishyas and Khandelwal Brahmins. Members of the community trace their origins to Khandela and have spread widely across northern and central India.
Transport
Khandela is linked by state highways and district roads to Sikar, Jaipur and other towns of the Shekhawati region. The nearest major railway junction and airport are at Jaipur, while Sikar town also offers rail connectivity.
Related topics
References
- Wikidata entity: Q2120436
- Government of Rajasthan, Sikar district administration.
- Census of India, town directory entries for Sikar district.