Haryana Sightseeing, Quick Facts, History, Packages, Tours & Excursions

Haryana is a state in the north of India that was carved out of the larger state of Punjab in 1966. It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in the north, Rajasthan in the west and south and Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal in the east. It surrounds the state of Delhi on three sides and a large part of Haryana is included in the Delhi's National Capital Region.

Most of the state lies in the plains surrounded by the Shivalik hills in the north, Aravalli hills in the west and Yamuna River in the east. Chandigarh, which is a Union Territory and administratively not part of Haryana is the capital of the state. A majority of the population is involved in agriculture, wheat being the main produce, and in dairy farming. Faridabad, Sonepat, Panipat and Ambala are the important industrial centers in the state, but the fast growing satellite town of Gurgaon is emerging as the major hub for information technology and automobile industry.

Suraj Kund is an 11th century water reservoir just south of Delhi and popular as a picnic spot. The Suraj Kund Crafts Mela (craft's fair) is an annual event held in the month of February and showcases folk art and culture. Badhkal Lake in Faridabad and the sulphur springs at Sohna are retreats in the Aravalli hills. North of Delhi is the ancient town of Kurukshetra, believed to be the site of the war described in the great Indian epic Mahabharata and the place where Lord Krishna recited the Bhagvat Geeta. Kurukshetra is visited by millions of pilgrims, especially during solar and lunar eclipses.

The Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is host to more than a 100 species of migratory birds during the winter season. Morni Hills is a retreat in the Shivalik hills near Chandigarh. Haryana is also known for its innovative highway tourism: along the main arteries in the state are some popular motels like Kingfisher at Ambala, Magpie at Faridabad and Parakeet at Pipli.