Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966. It is a land of flat fields and villages where the patriarch is still the venerated figure and politics revolves around rural and village-community loyalties. Its history lies buried in the ground beneath our feet with recent excavations unearthing its distant past.

Haryana lies in the northern part of India and is bordered by the Indian states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Chandigarh is the capital of Haryana, a distinction it shares with Punjab.

It has a population of 2,10,83,000 (2001 Census), and an area of 44,212 sq km. Hindi and English are the official languages, but Haryanavi is most widely spoken. Punjabi and Urdu are also used in many areas. Haryana is known for its rustic humour, brave soldiers, dairy products, Murrah buffalos and Basmati rice.  The state bird of Haryana is Kala Teetar (Black Francolin).

Haryana has set up many tourist complexes, motels and camping sites in landscaped gardens to promote tourism. Haryana has one of the most successful tourist development programs led by Haryana Tourism department. The tourist complexes are named after Birds found in Haryana.

The state was the home of the legendary Bharata Dynasty, which gave the name 'Bharat' to India. Haryana continued to play an important part in the history of India till the coming in of the Muslims and the rise of Delhi as the capital of British India. In 1857 AD, the people of Haryana joined the Indian leaders in the revolt against the British Government.

Preserving their old religious and social traditions, Haryanvis celebrate festivals with traditional fervour. The region has its popular folklores, folksongs and musical instruments. The important festivals on the calendar are, Baisakhi, 'Mango Festival' and the 'Kurukshetra Festival.' The internationally famous Surajkund Crafts Mela is held every year in the month of February, to promote Indian arts and handicrafts.

The people have simple food habits. They are known for their love for cattle and the abundance of milk and curd in their diet. Haryana's Highways are replete with landscaped gardens, shops and hotels that prove to be weekend getaways for people of Delhi and neighbouring states.

Essentially an agricultural state, Haryana also has a few industries that produce tractors, bicycles and sanitary ware. Panipat is the main textile centre where cotton fabrics and carpets are produced. For tourists, the state has created a number of parks and lakes that add charm to the overall green scenery. The nineties brought in Adventure and Golf Tourism.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Agroha

Agroha remained an important centre of commerce and political activity till the period of Feroze Shah Tughluq as it was situated on the ancient trade route between Taxila and Mathura. Earlier excavations proved the potentiality of the site and its ancient name 'Agrodaka', headquarters of a Janapada.

The Agroha mound goes back to the 3rd century BC and is where Harappan coins were discovered apart from stone sculptures, terracotta seals, iron and copper implements, shells and a host of other things.

Recent excavations have yielded five cultural periods ranging from circa fourth century to fourteenth century AD. The excavations have also revealed two ancient shrines namely a Buddhist stupa and a Hindu temple.

Kurukshetra

Kurukshetra town is situated 160 km north of Delhi on the national highway NH1. Kurukshetra the holy pilgrimage in which 360 places of pilgrimage related to the Mahabharata can be seen. Kurukshetra has been the germinating ground of the essence of Hinduism. The call of duty is the supreme religion. Lord Krishna's dictate of  “believing in karma, not in results”, is a philosophy that has guided the Indian psyche for thousands of years. It is one of those holy towns that have borne the imprint of Lord Krishna's footsteps.

Kurukshetra is a place of great historical and religious importance, revered all over the country for its sacred association with the Vedas and the Vedic Culture. According to Hindu mythology, the name Kurukshetra applied to a circuit of about 48 KOS or about 128 Km, which includes a large number of holy places, temples and tanks connected with the ancient Indian traditions and the Mahabharat War 

Rakhigarhi

Rakhigarhi is about to rewrite the 5000 year old history of our civilization. Recent excavations at Rakhi Garhi in Hissar district of Haryana may push the history of the civilization back by over a thousand years. It could change the commonly held view about the Indus Valley civilization, as Rakhigarhi is situated on the bank of the now dry, Saraswati river. Archaeologists and historians are excited about the findings from Rakhigarhi, the largest Indus Valley site after Mohenjodaro. Senior archaeologists consider this to be no ordinary Harappan site and say it is the most important of all the archaeological sites of India. The unearthed clues may yield answers to questions that have remained unanswered so far. Rakhigarhi findings have already started showing new civilization contours.

There is a popular fable according to which a Titu bird had laid her eggs in the fields where the Mahabharat was fought and was worried about the safety of her children when she noticed the movements of the elephants. She prayed to God and a bell broke from the neck of an elephant and fell over the nest making it secure during the 18-day war of Mahabharata.

 Besides the idol of Lord Krishna, the main hall has portraits of Guru Nanak, Guru Gobind, Sant Ravi Dass, Guru Teg Bahadur, Ved Vyas and Tulsi Das along with their sayings.Janmashtami is celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm at the temple. For accomodation there is a dharamshala within the temple complex.

Morni Hills

Morni Hills are an offshoot of Shivalik range, which run in two parallel ranges. The village of Morni (Bhoj Jabial) lies on the mountainside, at 1220 meters or 3600 feet above sea level. Traditions assign the name of Morni to a Queen who is believed to have ruled this area. Situated in the lower reaches of the Shivalik range, Morni is ideal for a holiday with its cool clime, beautiful natural vistas and myriad opportunities for bird watching, trekking, rock-climbing and other adventure sports. The best time for visiting Morni Hills is from September to March.  

Just five hours drive away from Delhi and 45 km from Chandigarh, Morni in Panchkula district , combines the best of an idyllic retreat with action, adventure and fun. The road to Morni has breathtaking scenery as it goes past sleepy hamlets, cultivated terraces and hill forest.

Morni Hills have a fascinating range of flora and fauna. Pines crown the hilltops and trees like Sal, Neem, Mango, Ritha, Pipal, Jamun, Shisham, amaltas and jacaranda cover the slopes. When the flowering trees blossom, the hillsides are awash with color, presenting a delightful sight. Morni is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers with its teeming population of birds like Blue Peafowl, Kalij Pheasant, Red Junglefowl, Black Francolin, Quails, Himalayan Bulbul and Oriental Turtle Dove as well as animals like Jackals, Langur, Hare, hyenas, Neelgai, Sambar, Kakad and even Leopards.  

There are two lakes here, which seem to be mysteriously interconnected,  even though they are separated by a hillock. The water level in both the lakes always remains the same, as there is a hidden channel under the hill connecting them. The larger is about 550 meters long and 460 meters broad and the other about 365 meters either way.  Locals consider the lake auspicious and gather here on ceremonial occasions. A small temple on the banks contains a Trimurti (the Hindu Trinity), which dates back to the 12th century AD when a Shiva temple was also supposed to have existed at the site.  

Morni offers many interesting trekking options. One can trek to the lakes and the fort and for the more adventurous; there are treks to the bank of the river Ghaggar, which flows past Morni. Goat tracks lead out of the tourist complex for those keen on walks.

General Information

 Altitude: 304.8 to 365.78 metres.

Temperature (°C):

 Summer: Max 37, Min 23

 Winter: Max 24, Min 5

Rainfall : 111.4 cms.
Best Season: October to March. 

 Tourist offices:

Haryana Tourism (Head office) 111-113, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh 160 017

Haryana State Tourism Dev. Corp. Ltd. 36 , Janpath , Chanderlok Building, New Delhi 110 001, India

Haryana Bhavan, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi

HOW TO GET THERE

Air:Indian Airlines connect Chandigarh with Delhi, Jammu, Shrinagar and Leh. Vayudoot Services connect Chandigarh with Delhi, Kulu and Gaggad. 

Rail: Chandigarh, the terminus of Northern Railway, is connected with Bombay, Delhi, Kalka and other major cities in India. 

Road: Chandigarh is connected by good motorable roads with Amritsar 240 kms, Dehradhun 230 kms, Delhi 248 kms, Shimla 117 kms, Kulu 279 kms, Bhakra 116 kms, Kasauli 77 kms, Jammu 380 kms. 

Bus Services: Regular bus services connect Chandigarh with Amritsar, Delhi, Dharamshala, Kulu, Manali, Nangal, Pathankot and Shimla.