Khatoo, Rajasthan

For the Hindu deity temple, see Khatu Shyam Temple.

"Khatu" redirects here. For the town in Iran, see Khatu, Iran.

Khatushyam Ji
Town
Khatoo
Entrance gate of Khatoo
Khatushyam Ji Location in Rajasthan, India Show map of Rajasthan Khatushyam Ji Khatushyam Ji (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 27°21′50″N75°24′09″E / 27.363954°N 75.402557°E / 27.363954; 75.402557
Country	India
State	Rajasthan
District	Sikar
Government
• Type	Nagar Palika Khatu
• Body	Sikar-Khatoo Nagar Palika
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 code	RJ-IN
Vehicle registration	RJ-

Khatoo or Khatu, also known as Khatushyam Ji, is a town of religious importance located in the Sikar district of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is approximately 43 km from Sikar city and 17 km from Reengus town. Situated in the Dhundhar region, Khatoo is known for the Khatu Shyam Temple, one of Rajasthan’s most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites. ^[1]

Demographics

As per the 2011 census of India, the total population of Khatu was 11,374, out of which 5800 are males and 5574 were females. The literacy rate of Khatu was 73.9%, slightly higher than state average of 66.11%. ^[2]

Khatu Shyam temple

Main article: Khatu Shyam Temple

In Khatoo, a Khatu Shyam temple is situated dedicated to Lord Krishna, worshipped here as Shyam Baba or Barbarika, the temple is a pilgrimage site for devotees across India. According to legend, Barbarika, a warrior from the Mahabharata, sacrificed his life to fulfill a vow, and his head was granted divine status by Lord Krishna, leading to his veneration at this site. The temple attracts millions devotees during the annual Phalguna Mela festival. ^[1]

The Earliest Literary evidence of this shrine dates back to The 17th century in a poem containing 25 couplets known as Shyam Pacchisi composed by Durga Das Mathur in Braj Bhasha during 1675. But in this poem Shyam isn't referred to and identified with Barbarika but instead he's identified with Krishna and Khatu is referred to as his capital. ^[3]

Notable people

• Bajrang Lal Takhar, Indian rover and gold medalist at the 2010 Asian Games
• Narayan Singh Burdak, Indian politician and former president of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee
• Virendra Singh Burdak, Indian politician and son of Narayan Singh Burdak

References

1. "Khatu Shyam Ji Birthday: The legend of Khatu Shyam and why he is the most revered form of Krishna". The Times of India. 12 November 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 26 June 2025.
2. "PCA: Primary Census Abstract C.D. Block wise, Rajasthan - District Sikar - 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
3. "Shri Shyam Pachisi - 350 years old Khatu Shyam Ji Pachchisi". Khatu | Latest Updates about Khatu Shyam Mandir and Darshan (in Hindi). 17 May 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2025.