city, extreme western Haryana (Haryāna) state, northwestern India, on the edge of the Great Indian (Thar) Desert (Thar Desert). Sirsa town and fort, known in antiquity as Sarsuti, are said to have been built by a Raja Saras (c. 250 CE). It was one of the most important 14th-century towns of north India. Deserted after a famine in 1783, it was refounded in 1838 and incorporated as a municipality in 1867. It is a rail and road junction linking the locality with Rajasthan, and its industries include cotton ginning, power-loom weaving, and paper manufacturing. Sirsa has several colleges affiliated with Kurukshetra University. A large cattle fair is held in the city each summer. Agriculture (cotton, wheat, oilseeds, gram 【chickpeas】, and rice) in the area is supported by extensive canal irrigation systems. Pop. (2001) 160,735.