Overview of Churu district :

 The town of Churu is the administrative headquarters of the district. Churu lies in the Jangladesh region of northern Rajasthan and shares boundaries with the Hanumangarh District to the north, the Haryana state to the east, the Jhunjhunun and Sikar districts to the southeast, the Nagaur District to the south, and the Bikaner District to the west.

Location of Churu District :

The district came into existence in 1948 comprising three tehsils- Churu, Rajgarh and Taranagar when the administration of Bikaner state was reorganized. The district, having a diversified climate and culture, occupied nearly 4.5 percent of the total area of the state. It is bound on the north by the Ganganagar district, on the east by Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan and Hissar district of Haryana, on the south by Nagaur district and on the west by Bikaner district. Now it comprises of 5 sub-divisions, 6 tehsils, 2 sub-tehsils, 10 Municipalities and 908 villages. 

Demographics :

According to the 2011 census, Churu district has a population of approximately 2,041,172, roughly equal to the nation of Botswana or the US state of New Mexico. This gives it a ranking of 224th in India (out of a total of 640 districts).The district has a population density of 148 inhabitants per square kilometre (380/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-11 was approximately 6.1%. Churu has a sex ratio of 938 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of about 67.46%.

Economy :

Cultivation, which is dependent on monsoon, is the chief occupation of the people of the district. Irrigation is scarce. So the people migrate to other states and gulf countries for their livelihood. In such adverse conditions, the District Industries Centre has been trying to put the district among the industrially developed districts of the state. The major produce of the industries includes Wooden and Iron handicraft, Flour mill, P.V.C. wire, Cable, Condiments, Stone Door Frames, Mosaic Tiles, Cold Drinks and Mineral Water, Washing Soap, Namkeen and Bhujia industries, Plaster of Paris, Wooden Furniture, Gwar Gum, Papad, Namkeen, Oil Mill, Water Cooler Body, etc. Bidasar is a newly established industrial area. 

A majority of the district's power supply is provided by the Bhakra Hydel Complex through 132 kV lines coming via Hissar in Haryana. 902 of the district's 926 villages have access to electricity. Water is available at the depth of 30 to 48 metres, with the exception of places such as Sujangarh and Taranagar Tehsils.

The district has good connections within and outside the state. National Highway Nos. 11 (Agra-Bikaner), 65 (Ambala-Pali), and 709 Ext. (Rohtak-Rajgarh) pass through the district. The total length of roads in the district is 3,010 km and is 240 km from Delhi via Hisar and 210 km. via Behal. The Churu district is served by broad gauge lines of the Northern-Western Railway. The total length of rail line is 363 km. The broad gauge is developing in some areas of the district. The nearest airport is at Jaipur (approximately 245 km outside the district).

Churu was ranked as 423rd in a ranking of 423 districts for the National Urban Sanitation Policy in 2009-2010. In the absence of citizen awareness, it continues to hold that rank, making it officially India's dirtiest district.

Tourist attraction :

Churu gives the enchantment of its past glory and treasure to the visitors while one walks through the meandering streets, lined on either side by the largest havelis in the area. There are beautiful temples, chhatris (cenotaphs), the fort, the Johra (water tank) and wells which are all decorated with bright multicoloured wall paintings in various subjects. The city also has a museum named 'Nagarshree'. The famous wealthy merchants of the town, having business connections all over India, added to its splendour by building beautiful majestic havelis, made of lime and brick and decorated them by the best of the frescoes on the facade as well as inside of the rooms. The best of the masons and 'Chitera' or painters were employed to decorate these buildings. Blackbuck sanctuary, having more than 1680 black bucks and migratory birds, is the major attraction for wild life enthusiasts. The other attractions are grand palatial havalies in Ratannagar, Ratangarh and Sardarshahar towns, the Hanuman temple at Salasar, the Venkateshwar temple at Sujangarh, the birth place of local deity Goga Pir in Dadrewa and the Gurudwara in Sahawa. 

The Kothari and Surana Havelis are a group of handsome painted havelis built by two prominent Oswal Jain merchant families, the Kothari and Surana clans. Amongst them are 'Malji Ka Kamra' (Malji's Haveli), an exotic stucco extravagaza built by Malaji Kothari around 1925 and the massive Surana Double Haveli, said to boast 1111 windows and doors built in the 1870s. Just south of the main bazaar, this haveli built around 1880 boasts the finest frieze in the entire Shekhawati region. It illustrates Dhola and Maru on a camel fleeing the wicked Umra-Sumra, Sassi and Punu side by side on horseback, two set of lovers from folk tales. To the south-west is a mosque, Jama Masjid, and a little Muslim haveli decorated with non-figurative work. 

Sethani ka Johara is situated some 3 kms west by the Ratangarh road. It is a beautiful reservoir built by Bhagwan Das Bagla's widow as a relief project during the terrible 'Chhapan Akaal', the Famine of 1956 Vikram Samvat era (1899AD). The water attracts birds and mammals such as 'Nilgai', a large antelope. 

Churu has some good memorial domes, chattris, mostly raised to rich merchants, north of town. Historically the most significant is 'Aath Kambh Chhatri' (Eight Pillar Dome) west of the vegetable market. It was built in 1776 on a Rajput's cremation site. Its base has been virtually buried by windblown sand. The interior is covered with murals, one detail depicting an early European mercenary on foot, bearing a musket. Further north are chhatris of the Mantri , Bagla and Lohia merchant families. 

Ratannagar, the mini Jaipur, is said to have been built and developed by Seth Nand Ram Kedia from Bissau, in Vikram Samvat 1917 (1860 A.D.) and named after Bikaner ruler, Raja Ratangingh. The town was developed in a planned manner having wide pathway crossing one another at a 90 degree angle and proper drainage system. At every Chouraha, there is a beautiful circular tree stand. Beautiful gardens and well decorated palatial havelis in a sequential row give a heritage look to the same.

Salasar houses the famous Balaji Temple which attracts a large number of devotees from all over India. Shri Hanumanji, the famous Hindu deity of vigour and loyalty, having been pleased by the devotion and worship of Shri Mohan Das Mahraj, appeared in the form of a statue on Saturday, Shrawan Sukla Navami, Virat Samvat 1811 at Asota village. The statue was brought to Salasar where the temple was built. Later, the devotees added more buildings to the main temple. Two large fairs are held on Chaitra (April) and Ashwin purnimas(October) every year. Lacs of devotees from all over the country and abroad come and offer their wishes to great Lord Hanuman in the temple and have a 'Darshan' of Shri Balaji throughout the year. 

Talchhapar Sanctuary is famous for the endangered black-buck. Other wild animals found in the sanctuary are chinkara, fox, jungle cat and rojra along with many resident and migratory birds. It lies along the way of the migratory passage of many birds and therefore it is also popular with bird lovers. Talchhapar, which is actually a flat saline depression, has a unique ecosystem. Talchhapar area was a game reservoir for the erstwhile Maharaja of Bikaner State and was declared a reserved area for the protection of wild animals and birds in the year 1962. Total area of Talchhapar Sanctuary is 719 hectares. The sanctuary area is mostly covered by grass with very few and sparse trees of Khejri, Salvadora, Ber, Ker and Neem tree. Main types of grass found in the area are Sewan, Doob, Dhaman Lampla, Lana and Moth etc. The area has a lush green look during the rainy season but dries up again during the summer season. 

                        Churu, like an oasis, situated in the middle of the shifting golden sand dunes, opens the gate to the great Thar Desert in India. Churu District has a proud history from the time when its people fired silver cannon balls to defend its honour and freedom. Churu has freezing temperatures in winter and scorching heat in summer and its people have always struggled against famine and drought.