Best Tourist Places in Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
Kurukshetra is located in the state of Haryana on the Indian continent. The geographical coordinates puts the place at 29.9657170 N and 76.8370060 E. Kurukshetra is 260 meters above sea level. During the summer season the temperature ranges from 350 C to 450 C and in winter season the temperature ranges from -4 0C to 170 C. Kurukshetra district has great importance religiously and historically since the place once served as the battlefield for the Great War that occurred during the Mahabharat era.
History of Kurukshetra
According to historians the Kurukshetra was part of Punjab. As per ancient stories, the place Kurukshetra got its name from of the kings whose name was Kuru who happened to be the forefather of the Kauravas and Pandavas. According to the Mahabharata epic, it was the place where the Bhagavad Gita came into existence. There is a dilapidated fort built during the Mahabharata times in a village called Amin.
During the Medieval times, King Harshavardhana of the Jat clan made Thanesar, a place very close to Kurukshetra, his capital. Many battles were fought in places near Kurukshetra. Kurukshetra came under the reign of many different rulers before falling into the hands of the British Raj.
People & Culture at Kurukshetra
The major population worship Hinduism religion while other religion such as Jainism, Christianity too exists in Kurukshetra. Hindi and English are the languages spoken by the people in Kurukshetra district, with Hindi being the local language. Agriculture is the main occupation of the locals residing in Kurukshetra district.
Food and Shopping in Kurukshetra
All types of lip smacking food ranging from be it south Indian or north Indian or international, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian are available in Kurukshetra.
There are plenty of supermarkets, bazaars and shopping complex in and around Kurukshetra. Various products are sold at a reasonable price.
Tourist Places in and near Kurukshetra
There are plenty Religious places with amazing landscapes of interest in and around Kurukshetra. Some of them are listed below:
- Jyotisar
This is the famous location in where Lord Krishna speaks about Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.
- Krishna Museum
The museum has many collections of antiques, manuscript and other artifacts dating back to the Mahabharata era.
- Kalpana Chawla Planetarium
This Planetarium was built to honor the first Indian women Astronaut Dr. Kalpana Chawla.
- Bhishma Kund
Bhishma Kund is the spot where the Arjuna shots an arrow to draw water from the ground in order to quench his grandfather’s thirst.
Other tourist destinations in Kurukshetra are
- Sannihit Sarovar
- Brahma Sarovar
- Bhadrakali Temple
- Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre
- Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple
- Lakshmi Narayan Temple
- Pehowa
- Birla Mandir
- Kamal Nabhi
- Valmiki Ashram
- Gurdwara Raj Ghat Patshahi Dasvin
- Gurdwara Teesari Patshahi
- Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi
- Gurdwara Siddh Bati Patshahi Pahili
- Dharohar
- Brahmasarovar
- P Jindal Park and Musical Fountain
- Phalgu Tirtha
- Rantuka Yaksh
- Ararak Tirtha
- Pavanhrad Tirtha
- Kapil Muni Tirtha
- Sheikh Chehli Ka Makbara
Means of Commutation to Kurukshetra
The distance of Kurukshetra, via road, from cities within the state and Neighboring cities are mentioned below
- Chandigarh is located at a distance of 102 km
- Delhi is located at a distance of 160 km
- Jaipur is located at a distance of 496 km
- Kanpur is located at a distance of 588 km
- Lucknow is located at a distance of 642 km
Inter city transportation is facilitated by bus, taxis and auto rickshaws.
Trains from all over India arrive and depart at Kurukshetra railway station on a daily basis.
Kurukshetra is also connected to the rest of the world via airways. There are no airports in Kurukshetra district, however the nearest airport to Kurukshetra and their distance are mentioned below
- Delhi International Airport is located at a distance of 170 km
- Chandigarh Airport is located at a distance of 85 km
Accommodation Options at Kurukshetra
One can have a pleasurable stay at a three star or four star hotels at Kurukshetra. These hotels offer tourists outstanding services and their rooms are priced at Rs. 3500/- onwards per day. There are also budget hotels with rooms rented at Rs. 500/- on daily basis at Kurukshetra. The names of hotels in Kurukshetra are listed below
- Neelkanthi Yatri Niwas
- Silver Sand Hotel
- Alpine Hotel
- Jyotisar Tourist Complex
- Parakeet Hotel
- Saffron Hotel
- Hotel 9th Planet
- Crystal Hotel
- Bhavya Hotel
- Kimaya Hotel
- Mezbaan Regency
- Hotel Pearl Marc
- Hotel Heritage
- Hotel Grace
- Hotel Mohan Continental