The state of Haryana is one of the oldest known states in India and its presence can be dated back to the 12th Century AD. The state resides to the south of Punjab and shares its border with Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. The state of Haryana also shares its capital, Chandigarh, with Punjab. The state possesses some of the well known historical sites of Kurukshetra, Panipat, and other Indus Valley Civilizations and is a major tourist attraction in Northern India. The ancient inscriptions dating 1328 AD describe Haryana as the “Heaven on Earth”. The state is prosperous with fertile land, ample water, and the best climate for cultivation. Apart from this, the state also has discrete scenic beauty and several enchanting tourist destinations. Thus, Haryana has become a major tourist destination since olden times and entertains a huge number of its visitors even today.
Major Cities in Haryana
Kurukshetra: Commonly known as the “Holy City”, Kurukshetra is the land of historical as well as religious importance. According to Hindu literature, the place was named after the great King Kuru, who was the ancestor of the Kauravas and Pandavas as depicted in the epic Mahabharata. The place is said to be important and holy as the great Kurukshetra War between the Kauravas and the Pandavas was fought on this land and during this war, Lord Shri Krishna preached the holy Bhagavad Gita to Arjun at this place. Thus, this place becomes one of the most famous tourist destinations in Northern India. Some of the major tourist attractions here include the Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple (one of the oldest temples in the vicinity), Amin (ruins of Abhimanyu’s fort), Brahma Sarovar (major attraction of Hindu pilgrims), Sannihit Sarovar, Krishna Museum, Saraswati Forest Reserve, and many more.
Panchkula: This place was given the name Panchkula because of the five irrigation canals present here. This place is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Haryana as well as Northern India. Panchkula district owns several hill stations, gardens, pilgrim destinations, and historical sites. Some of the highly visited tourist destinations in this district include Morni Hills (a ruined fort and two sacred lakes make this place worth visiting), Pinjore Gardens (includes beautiful landscape, lighted fountains, and a mini zoo), Gurudwara Nada Sahib (Guru Gobind Singh stayed here after the Battle of Bhangani), Mansa Devi Temple (built-in 1815 AD by Maharaja Gopal Singh; the temple is dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi), Cactus Garden (preserves over 2500 species of cacti), and Ramgarh Fort (350 years old fort). The other major attractions of Panchkula include Kasauli hill station, Chaki Mod, Timber Trail, and Nalagarh.
Hisar: This district is famous for the Indus Valley Sites and is a major attraction of researchers and archaeologists all over the world. The Hisar city is also commonly known as the “City of Steel”, as it has a large number of steel industries present here. The city of Hisar is one of the oldest cities in India and has seen the reigns of several dynasties including the Mauryan Empire, Tughlaqs, Mughals, and the British. Hisar is famous for various tourist attractions including Siswal (pre-historic site), Lahari Ragho (pre-historic site), Rakhigarhi (second largest Harappan settlement site after Mohenjodaro), Agroha (ruins from 3000 BC excavated here), Firoz Shah Palace Complex (a palace built by Firuz Shah Tughlaq in 1354), Asigarh Fort (a fort built in 1304), St. Thomas Church, Agroha Dham, O.P.Jindal Knowledge Center, Deer Park, and many more.
Panipat: It is a major district in Haryana and is well known for several historical events. The place was a famous war field, where three major battles were fought and are considered to be the turning points in Indian History. The major attractions of this place thus include the Panipat Battles Museum (chronological history of Panipat for about 200 years along with several armours, guns, swords, jewellery, etc.), Grave of Ibrahim Lodhi, Samrath Hem Chandra Vikramaditya Samadhi Sthal, Kabuli Baug (mosque and a tank built by Babur), Devi Temple, Kala Amb, Salar Gunj Gate, Tomb of Bu-Ali Shah Kalandar, and Shri Ram Sharnam are some of the places that are worth visiting here. Visiting this place gives us a glimpse of its historical importance and rich heritage.
Rohtak: Located at the centre of this state, Rohtak is also called the “Heart of Haryana”. Rohtak is considered one of the oldest known cities and dates back its presence to 500 BC. The district is famous for several tourist attractions including Dini or Adina Mosque (historical mosque depicting rich Muslin culture and architecture), Durga Bhawan Mandir (temple dedicated to Hindu Goddess Durga), Jama Masjid (a historical mosque converted to Gurudwara), Shiv Mandir (ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva), Bhindawas Lake, Gaokaran Tank, Tilyar Lake, Baba Mast Nath Math, Baoli of Giani Chor, Bohar Monastery, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Khokar Fort, and the Samadhi of Sadashiv Rao Bhau.
Must-Visit Tourist Destinations in Haryana
Firoz Shah Palace Complex: This palace was built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq of the Tughlaq Dynasty in 1354 AD. Fortified with four gates including Mori Gate, Nagauri Gate, Delhi Gate, and the Talaqi Gate, the palace is one of the major attractions in Haryana. Inside the palace is a mosque named Lat Ki Masjid, as it holds a Lat (sandstone) pillar about 20 feet high and is said to be an Ashokan Pillar previously. The other major attractions of this palace include its diversified architecture, underground apartments, Diwan-e-Aam, Gujri Mahal, a mound that is believed to be the ruin of Harappan civilization.
Asigarh Fort: This 12th Century fort was built by Prithviraj Chauhan and is said to be one of the most impregnable forts of ancient times. The strong fortification of this fort includes 52 feet high and 37 feet thick walls. Thus, one can understand the strength and importance of this fort during olden times. One still gets to see several carvings on the walls in this fort that depicts its Hindu origin. The fort, however, also holds a mosque that is believed to be constructed after the fall of Prithviraj Chauhan. The fort was said to be intact till the Revolt of 1857, after which it was abandoned and demolished by the British Raj. However, this fort still remains a worth watching destination in Haryana.
Banawali: This site is dedicated to the Indus Valley Civilization and is a major attraction of tourists, researchers, and archaeologists all over the world. The site is situated in the Fatehabad district of Haryana and has been categorized into three major ancient periods of 2500–2300 BCE, 2300–1700 BCE, and 1700–1450 BCE. The excavations carried out in this area have retrieved several planned houses made out of burnt bricks, pottery including vase and jar, fortification or a defence wall, well-planned house blocks, roads, toilets, storage cells, and sewage systems. Some of the surprising artefacts found here include cooking vessels, tandoors, painted earthen pots, painted motifs, seals, gold, copper, bronze, bangles, and shells.
Kalesar National Park: This national park is situated at the foothills of Shivalik hills and is an ideal place for bird-watching. This dense forest is rich in discrete flora and fauna and is home to several wildlife including wild boars, hares, monkeys, chitals, porcupines, and sambhars. The other major attraction in this national park is the hundred-year-old colonial bungalow and other forest rest houses that provide a great view of the forest, Yamuna river and the Shivalik hills. The Kelesar National Park is one of the best places to visit in the state of Haryana, and one must definitely visit this park on their trip to this state.
Sultanpur National Park: This national park is located in the Gurgaon District of Haryana and is one of the major tourist attractions of this state. The national park is famous as a bird sanctuary and is home to several species of birds including the Red-wattled Lapwing, Sarus Crane, Ashy Prinia, Common Hoopoe, Green Bee Eater, Purple Sunbird, Indian Cormorant, Grey Francolin, Bank Mynah, Crested Lark, Black Headed Ibis, Weaver Bird, Bank Mynah, Rose-ringed parakeet, Cattle egret, Crested lark, and many others. One must definitely visit this national park on their trip to Gurgaon or Haryana.
Haryana is one of the best places to visit in India and satisfies all the basic enjoyments of an ideal trip. This state will never hinder your expectations in regard to tourism.
