Haryana |
One of the youngest states of the country, Haryana came into being in 1966 by getting carved out from the heart of the Indo-Gangetic plains. Roughly the size of Belgium, Haryana, today, is said to be the cradle of Part of India’s ancient civilization.The legendary Mahabharata battle was said to have been fought in this area. It was also here that Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered the timeless sermon contained in the Bhagvad Gita. |
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Being the home of many early Indian empires, Haryana was also the seat of the great kingdom of Harsha Vardhana. Many famous battles were fought on its soil, which played a major role in shaping the destiny of India. Haryana is 44,212 square kilometers in size and presently has a population of more than 15 million. Four national highways, Delhi - Agra, Delhi - Jaipur, Delhi - Amritsar and Delhi - Fazilka pass through this green land. Haryana is also a land of hot springs, rich in sulphur with the temperature ranging between 46.10 and 51.70 degrees Celsius. The land is famous for its fauna and is also the home of eloquent mynahs, gorgeous peacocks and the fluttering black partridges. Miles of rich-green countryside are crisscrossed by cart tracks and dotted with colourful clusters of picturesque villages interspersed with modern industrial complexes. Haryana has well-developed tourist complexes, lakes, motels, restaurants, bars, shopping arcades, swimming pools, sauna bath, golf courses and other recreational facilities. It has good facilities for the angler, the bird watcher or for just relaxing in a garden chair. PLACES OF INTEREST Surajkund or `Pool of the Sun' is one of the region's oldest and most interesting sights. It is believed to have been built by Raja Suraj Pal of the Tomar dynasty. It looks like a Roman amphitheatre having circular steps, paved in stone, that cup the blue waters of the serene pool. Close by are the remnants of a Sun temple and the Anangpal fort where one can walk in the shadows of the past. For two weeks every year (February 1-15), Surajkund is transformed into a bustling, colourful little village for the Surajkund Crafts Mela. For this hundreds of master crafts- people from all over India gather to display and sell their authentic and traditional handmade goods at prices far less than at regular stalls and shops. Apart from enjoying a variety of Indian foods and drinks, typical village performances by acrobats, magicians, singers, musicians, dancers, offer a rare glimpse into the folk art traditions of India. ACCESS Surajkund is 16 km from Delhi on the Delhi - Agra national highway. ACCOMMODATION Centrally air-conditioned Raj Hans hotel offers suites and deluxe rooms. Motels with A.C. rooms, twin-bedded camper huts for budget tourists. RECREATION Boating and angling in the Peacock Lake, 18 - hole golf
course, billiards, swimming pool, health club, deer park etc. |
Badkhal Lake, is a beautiful lake at Badkhal, 32 km away from Delhi. It is a popular weekend destination, boating and angling being the popular sport there. Dabchick, 92 km from Delhi, is a lovely wooded retreat having a small lake and freely roaming peacocks and ducks. Morni Hills, 45 km from Chandigarh, is a hilly terrain of the Shivaliks having a beautiful pine grove. Dharuhera, 70 km from Delhi, has been dubbed as `Beautiful Breather' and is an ideal place for weekend holidays. Karna Lake, 5 km north of Karnal on the Delhi -Amritsar highway, is both a weekend holiday spot and a mid-journey stopover for rest and relaxation after a two-hour drive from Delhi. Kalesar, 122 km from Karnal, is a wildlife reserve. Important tourist places in Haryana : Kurukshetra, Sohna, Panipat, Pinjore Gardens, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary For further information, please contact: The Managing Director, Haryana Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., 17-18-19 Sector 17-B Chandigarh 160017; or the General Manager, Hayana Tourism Bureau, Chandralok Building, Janpath, New Delhi 110001. |
