Churu is a city in the desert region of
Rajasthan state of India. It is known as gateway to the
Thar Desert of
Rajasthan. It is the administrative headquarters of
Churu District. It lies in the Thar Desert on the National Highway-65 connecting
Pali to
Ambala and is a junction station on the railway line to
Bikaner. It is near the shifting
sand dunes of the Thar Desert and has grand
havelis with marvelous
fresco paintings, namely Kanhaiya lal Bagla ki Haweli and Surana Haweli, with hundreds of small windows. It also has some fine
Chhatris. Near the town is a religious seat of the Nath sect of
Sadhus where there are life-size Marble statue of their deities and a place for prayers. There stands a Dharam Stup, a symbol of religious equality. At the centre of the town is a fort built about 400 years ago.