Sirsa

Sirsa is a city and a municipal council in Sirsa district in the westernmost region of the Indian state of Haryana, bordering Punjab and Rajasthan. It is located near to Thar desert. It is located 250 kilometres north-west of New Delhi and 260 kilometers south-west of state capital Chandigarh. Sirsa's nearest cities include Hisar, Fatehabad, Ellenabad, Bhadra, Nohar, Mandi Dabwali and Hanumangarh. Its history dates back to the time of the Mahabharata. At one time, the Sarasvati River flowed in this area.[6] Sirsa has been identified with two earlier names: Sarsūti in medieval sources and Śairīṣaka in ancient literature.[7]: 1 [8] Sarsūti appears to come from the name of the Sarasvati River, which once flowed near Sirsa. Ancient texts mentioning Śairīṣaka include the Mahābhārata, where it is mentioned as one of the places conquered by Nakula; the Aṣṭādhyāyī of Pāṇini; and the Divyāvadāna. The name Śairīṣaka may be derived from the siris tree, Albizia lebbeck, which is common in the area.[7]: 1