Haryana at a Glance :

Population : 16,317,715

Area : 44,212sq kms (approcx)

Population Density : 384 per sq km (appeox.)

Principal Languages : Hindi, Punjabi

Capital : Chandigarh

Literacy Rate : 55.3%

Religion : Hindus 89.35%, Sikhs 6.2%, Muslims 4.05%, Christians 0.09%

Max Temperature : 47° (Approx.)

Min Temperature : 5° to 9°

Average Annual Rainfall : 455 mm (approx.)

Best time to visit : October-March

Major crops : Barley, cotton, millets, oilseeds, pulses, rice, sugarcane, wheat

Mines & Minerals : Limestone, marble, sulphur,

Industries : Automobile, cement, dairy, sugar, textiles, paper, engineering

Airports : Chandigarh, Hisar, Jind and Karnal

About Haryana :

Haryana is a great treasure house of pre-historic and historic culture and has a grand history that dates back to the Vedic age. Rightly named, Haryana which means 'Land of Greenery and Vegetation', is predominately agricultural. Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab & Haryana and the language spoken is Punjabi. It is a typical north Indian city with an interest in Delhi. Historically, Haryana goes back to Mahabharat times, for it was here, at Kurukshetra, the epic battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. On the Mahabharata war battlefield, Lord Krishna preached his divine message the Bhagavad Gita, to Arjuna.

Places to See in Haryana :

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.

Badkhal Lake : Located 32 kms from Delhi , Badkhal Lake is a splendid lake retreat. A bastion of pleasure. A spot to holiday. Strange though it may seem, the lake is fringed by hills - 32 km from Delhi. Come winter and flocks of bird descend upon it. Here is an ornithologist's delight. Badkhal Lake, fringed by hills is a man-made embankment, which holds back the waters of the lake making it a perfect spot for water-sports. On one inlet in the surrounding hill there are rest huts, which are small, cozy and compact. On request, one can hire a private jetty for a pleasurable boat ride. The Badkhal Lake has also been provided with a compact and cool bath complex.

Birla Gita Mandir : Birla Gita Mandir, is an elegant piece of architecture, situated on the Pehowa Road diagonally across Yatri Nivas, two and half kilometres from the railway station, north of Brahma Sarovar. Enhancing the beauty of Kurukshetra. The temple, made up of white marble enhances the beauty of Kurukshetra. Birla Gita Mandir was built by late Shri Jugal Kishore Birla in 1952. A large sized marble chariot is installed in the garden. The chariot drawn by four horses has Lord Krishna and Arjun seated on it with one couplet from each of the 18 chapters of Gita inscribed on all sides. A 'Gaj Ghanta' made of white marble has also been placed in the garden. 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.

Hathni Kund : A short drive from the town of Yamuna Nagar begins the Sal forest reserve of Kalesar. At Poanta Sahib, the river Yamuna crosses over the last lap of the Himalayan foothills and flows into the plains of Haryana. And, the waters of the western Yamuna Canal are caught in the barrage at Tajewala. Each of these centres is within 5 kms. The tourism centre of Haryana Tourism at Hathni Kund forms a link between these attractions. Built on a raised plinth, the complex over looks the flowing waters of the Yamuna. In the far distance, stand the foothills of the Himalayas slowly blending into the skyline.

Jal Mahal : Built by Shah Quli Khan, a commander of 'Four Thousand' under Akbar in 1589 AD, Jal Mahal, a pleasure tank is a building surrounded on all sides by water. It represents a synthesis of Persian and Indian architecture and stands at the centre of a large water tank. Jal Mahal, a pleasure palace situated in the middle of a tank known by the name of Khan Sarovar, was built, according to a Persian inscription over the main entrance.The entrance to the palace is from the north through a gatehouse with rooms for guards, constructed over a bridge resting on sixteen arched spans. The palace consists of a square central chamber with four small chambers on the sides placed at its four corners.The corner chambers are double storeyed within the same height. Four staircases, two each in the north and south faces, give access to the upper storeys. The roof of the central chamber is crowned by an octagonal cupola surrounded by a hemispherical dome balanced by four smaller cupolas placed over the corner chambers. The Jal Mahal was constructed during the reign of Akbar in AD 1590 - 91. The tank was completed in AD 1592-93.

Rock Garden : Next to Sukhna Lake, in the city of Chandigarh , there is a world famous garden called Rock Garden. Situated in the thick forest area, the garden holds its own charms for the visitors. It is full of objects built from household and industrial waste. There are no flowers or plants in this garden.

Sprawling over several acres of woods in the form of an open-air exhibition hall, theatre trove and a miniature maze all rolled into one vast fantasyland of art and landscape. It is without doubt, a tourist spot that is a must on the itinerary of every visitor to Chandigarh . The city's internationally acclaimed artist Nek Chand created this unique sculpture garden. Here, the visitor is led through a maze of paths, chambers and canyons, each presenting a glimpse of a fantasy world. The visual delights and the strange history of Rock Garden, has charmed millions of visitors since it was first opened to the public in 1976.

Shopping in Haryana :

Shopping at Haryana is immensely enjoyable. Shopping at the Surajkund Crafts Mela is fun, it makes good sense as well as you are guaranteed of genuine and traditional handmade goods at prices far less than at regular stalls and shops. The main shopping and commercial centre of Chandigarh is Sector-17. This vast commercial complex is a partly pedestrian. It provides something for everyone, from hectic business activity to deliberate window shopping and even crowd gazing in the vicinity of the fountain. Big showrooms and departmental stores cater to the needs of shoppers.

Government Emporia, innumerable shops, eateries, coffee houses, bars & pubs keep the visitor completely occupied. Additionally, every sector in Chandigarh has its own shopping facility. Prominent among these are the shopping facilities provided in other sectors. Being well planned, the city offers a market in almost every sector. The Central Plaza of Sector 17 is the hub and has almost everything that one may desire. A great many departmental stores and trendy boutiques are strewn all over the city and a whole range of shopping possibles. Most of the state and cooperative emporia are in Sector 17 and 22. Sector 22 also has its own fare of shopping delights and jewellery shops with traditional and exquisite jewellery on display.

Places to Stay in Haryana :

• The Bristol Hotel, Gurgaon (5 Star Deluxe)
• Heritage Village, Gurgaon (3 Star)
• Best Western Country Club, Gurgaon (3 Star)
• Apra Motels, Gurgaon (3 Star)

How to Reach at Haryana :

By Air : The main airport of the state is in its capital Chandigarh. Which is well connected with the cities of North India. Some parts of Haryana is also very close to the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi which also provides an easy access to the state.

By Rail : The main railway station is Chandigarh. Apart from that, Delhi has four Railway Stations, which are within approachable distance from any part of Haryana.

By Road : Haryana can boast of an excellent road network to and from the state. Some parts of the state are within the National Capital Region and are at a short driving distance from Delhi. A good network of National Highways and State Highways also serves other parts of the state.