Also known as Shir'Kahr or ShirKahr, legislative capital of Vulcan, located in the province of Shi'Al.
The ancient name ξyà-Laêkh'ahr - Place of The Ten - refers to the ten wells of Shi'Kahr oasis.
History
Located within reach of the Llangon Mountains and at the crossing of several important trade routes, Shi'Kahr has been fought over throughout its history. Sacked and rebuilt dozens of times before the Awakening, the city sports an eclectic mix of styles and cultures divided into quarters and neighborhoods, some still separated by walls built millennia ago.
Artisan Quarter
As might be expected, this is where some of the best artists on Vulcan can be found. Recommended shops for offworld tourists are the Vishtarya (Weaver's Market) where one may find high quality fabrics like Yel-dara Highland silks and Xir'Tan Sha'amii cashmere, but also traditional desert garments made of sturdy, lightweight materials; the Lat'ralash where musical instruments are still built in the traditional way and one may custom order anything from goatherd flutes to the famous Ka'athyra; and the quaint Solek'tam (Potter's District) which offers anything from sand sculptures to fine semi-precious stone jewelry.
The Quarter is also dotted with art galleries (more than half of them offering a variety of off-world art) and small cafes as well as antique stores.
Old Quarter
Generally regarded as the first place a market settlement was established outside the ancient fortress of Pelasht, the Quarter still retains much of its bazaar-like character. While elegant hotels and restaurants have sprung up to cater to offworld dignitaries, the original residents have taken great care to preserve the ancient designs which give the Old Quarter its unique flair.
Traditional spires and low sandstone buildings blend with ornate temples such as the famous Suta Temple which was among the first to embrace Surak's teachings. The ancient spice market is also located in the Old Quarter.
Outskirts
Mostly a residential area, Shi'Kahr's outskirts also contain several excellent restaurants and small, specialized markets. Much of the Western part of the city took heavy damage during the attack in YS9022 (2410) and had to be rebuilt, including the Shi'Kahr spaceport.
After lengthy discussions in the planetary council it was decided to leave a part of the destroyed area undeveloped and instead re-create parts of the ancient oasis as a nature preserve.
By YS9026 this new preserve has already attracted a small population of the rare 'Lara' songbird and the Science Academy is considering extending the area to include a botanic garden of rare Vulcan plant species.
Government Quarter
Located northwest of the Old Quarter and the Science Academy, the Council Chambers are among the tallest buldings in Shi'Kahr. All but private offices and a few administrative sections are open to the public, but the most well known and frequented part of the Government Quarter is the Hall of Voices; a huge enclosed amphitheater several meters underground. Traditionally open debates are held in the Hall of Voices, in which each side presents its case to an audience who may ask questions or request clarification at any time. It is not uncommon for such debates to last several days, and since Vulcans greatly appreciate a good argument, a few tendays of discussion are not unheard of. The rumors of such affairs becoming turbulent however are probably exaggerated.
The Government Quarter also houses the foreign embassies of Federation member worlds and unaligned planets.
Science Academy
Located just East of the Central Oasis Gardens and North of the Old Quarter one finds Shi'Kahr's claim to fame - the Science Academy; fondly called Shi'oren ("The Academy"). A plethora af buildings grown outward from the ancient fortress of Pelasht (which today serves as banquet hall and houses most of the central administrative offices), the Academy blends old with new much in the style of the Old Quarter. Modern research labs may be found in a 5000 year old temple, and sweeping glass domes connect buildings of sandstone and honey-colored granite.
With Infinite Diversity as its mandate, the Academy's major focus are the hard sciences, engineering and computer sciences as well as philosophy and medicine, but it also incorporates archaeology, arts, political sciences, and Kiri-kin-tha's School of Metaphysics. The Academy Medical Center also serves as Shi'Kahr's major hospital, and its research facilities are famous throughout the Federation.
High Command
Originally located in Vulcana Regar, the High Command was first and foremost responsible for space exploration and Vulcan's first steps towards a merchant fleet. Founded by an alliance of clans eager to mine Vulcan's sister planet T'Khut and the 40 Eridani system's asteroid belt, High Command played a mostly administrative role in regulating in-system traffic and overseeing spaceports, until the events of The Sundering when it was suddenly tasked with the construction of generation-ships and the organizing of a mass-exodus.
Much of the High Command was relocated to Shi'Kahr during this time to take advantage of the research facilities of the budding Academy, although the great shipyards and the offices of V'Shar (originally a port-authority entity) remain in Regar to this day.
By the 22nd century High Command had become a de-facto military government. Absorbing the ancient warrior-priest order of the V'Ket into the Vulcan fleet as their elite military unit, High Command effectively changed the office of f'rel-barr from a civilian affair with informal ranks and structures to that of a Fleet Admiral, answerable only to the Administrators.
While control of the government was returned to the Vulcan Council after discovery of the Kir'Shara (occasionally referred to as "Second Awakening'), many of the administrative structures (at least those that were deemed practical, and Vulcans are hardly prone to throw out the sehlat with the sandbath) remain in place. The main purpose of High Command has returned to scientific exploration, and Vulcan maintains a small but extraordinarily well equipped fleet of science vessels. The V'Ket have remained under the aegis of the f'rel-barr, tending almost exclusively to plantary defense.
The High Command's buildings are located just West of the Government Quarter, with ample room for small shuttle ports and easy access to the Academy. Constructed in the traditional red and gold granite of Shi'Al the sweeping lines of the central administrative tower are visible from a distance and a familiar landmark to residents and tourists alike.