» Haryana

The small state of Haryana, spread over an area of over 44,000 square kilometers, was founded in 1966 when the former state of Punjab was divided into Haryana and the modern Punjab. It is both the oldest and most modern of places.

Most of tourists who come to India pass through Haryana, the state that surrounds Delhi on three sides, the capital of the country, and whose highways lead to Agra, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh. As they drive through, tourists are treated to the view of neat and abundant green fields, and a growing number of modern residential complexes and industrial townships. For those who want to relax for some time during the journey, there are numerous roadside resorts with which the state government has dotted all the major highways. However, there is much more to discover and enjoy in the state of Haryana.

Location
Located in the Northern part of India, Haryana is bound by Uttar Pradesh in the east, Punjab in the west, Himachal Pradesh in the north and Rajasthan in the South. The national capital territory of Delhi is next to Haryana. Haryana is situated between the latitude 30.30° North and longitude 74.60° East.

History
The treatise written by Manu, the lawgiver in Indian mythology, designated Haryana as Brahmavart from where the Brahmanical religion and social system grew up and spread outwards to the rest of the country. In a sense, therefore, one can say that much of the Hindu religion and society was formed on the flat, dry plains of the present day Haryana. In the epic of the Mahabharata, it was at Kurukshetra, during a battle between that Kaurava and Pandava princes that Lord Krishna delivered one of his most important messages through the celestial sermon-the Geeta. With Delhi as the prize awaiting generations of invaders, Haryana served as a sort of a geographical corridor.

Over the centuries, waves of invaders poured across the plains of Haryana, sometimes fighting battles there. At the end of the 14th century, Timur led an army through the state towards Delhi. In 1526, the invading Mughals defeated the armies of the ruling Lodi dynasty at the Battle of Panipat and 30 years later, in 1556, the Mughals won yet another decisive battle there. By the mid-18th century, the Marathas were in control of Haryana, an era that was brought to an end after the Afghans under Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated the Maratha forces in the third battle of Panipat in 1761.

» Major Attractions of Haryana

Surajkund : Just around the corner from south Delhi, a mere eight-kilometre drive away lies Surajkund with its large sun pool and amphitheatre. Built during the 10th century AD by Raja Suraj Pal of the Tomar dynasty, Surajkund combines proximity to the national capital with many amenities and comforts in an ambience that is typically rural and far away from the trappings of the urban centres.

Badkhal Lake : Also within an easy motoring distance from New Delhi is the Badkhal Lake. Here, the Aravali hills are on the fringe and the lake offers special opportunities for water sports such as canoeing, kayaking or just a simple boat ride. In addition, there is a luxury yacht for those interested. But the real attraction of Badkhal Lake are its serene waters around which small cottages have been built at an elevation, thus affording the occupants a splendid view of the lake alive with the activity of birds during the winter months.

Tilyar Lake : Haryana is proud of its many lake retreats besides Badkhal and Karna. There is the Tilyar Lake at Rohtak, 70 kilometres away from Delhi, with facilities like boating and kayaking. In a different direction and located 64 kilometres from Delhi on the old highway to Alwar, is the Damdama Lake with cottages built on higher ground and mirrored in the calm waters of the lake. A camping complex for the adventurous is also there and facilities for sports such as rock climbing on the surrounding Aravali ranges, canoeing, kayaking, cycling and trekking are all available.

Kurukshetra : Kurukshetra in Haryana is the name given to an area covering 48 kosas (an Indian unit of measuring land) where 860 places of pilgrimage related to the Mahabharata exist today. The important sites are the Brahma Sarovar, Sannihit Sarovar, Gurudwara Sadbhiti, Thaneswar Tirtha, and Rajghat.

» Fairs & Festivals of Haryana

Lohri : Besides all the other festivals common to the rest of the country, Haryana celebrates Lohri with deep religious fervour. It is celebrated on the 13th of January every year. The temperature at this time drops to an all time low and there is a biting chill in the air. Bonfires are made into which sugarcane, parched rice, sesame seeds and monkey nuts are put as offerings to the fire and the blessings of the goddess of Lohri are invoked.

Baisakhi : The Harvest festival (in April) of Baisakhi in Haryana is an experience of a lifetime. Both in Haryana and Punjab, farmers start harvesting with great jubilation. It is one of the liveliest celebrations and involves dance, music and feasting.

Sanjhi : In the rural parts of Haryana, the festival of Sanjhi is celebrated in the month of October. 'Sanjhi' is the name given to the image of the mother goddess Durga as designed by the women of rural Haryana.

» How to Get there

Air : The Chandigarh airport is connected to other places in the country like Delhi, Amritsar, and Leh. Proximity to the Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi gives the state greater access to places in India and abroad.

Rail : All the major places in Haryana are connected to Delhi and other important centers all over the country in India by a good network of trains. Both the Central and Northern Railways have extensive networks in the state.

Road : There is a good road network in the state that connects all the places in Haryana to each other as well as from the places outside the state boundary like Delhi, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. The Haryana State Road Transport Corporation and private operators have good services to all the places in the state.